Atacama Pacific Reports Cerro Maricunga Gold Recoveries of 76% from Coarse Crushed Oxide Mineralization

Atacama Pacific Gold Corporation (TSX VENTURE:ATM) ("Atacama Pacific") is
pleased report that gold recoveries of up to 76% have been achieved from column
percolation leach tests undertaken on 141 millimeter ("mm") (5 1/2 inch) crushed
gold mineralization from its Cerro Maricunga Oxide Gold Project located in
northern Chile. 


Two 563 kilogram ("kg") column tests were completed on the oxide-associated gold
mineralization collected from a surface trench cutting the Phoenix Zone. Gold
recoveries of 76% (non-agglomerated) and 68% (agglomerated) were achieved from
coarse crushed material grading 0.39 grams per tonne gold. Table 1 provides a
summary of the results.




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                                           Consumables                      
                                     ----------------------                 
           Head        Gold     Crush                                       
          Grade Recovery(i)      Size   NaCN Ca(OH)2 Cement                 
                                     ----------------------                 
Test # (g/t Au)         (%) (P100=mm) (kg/t)  (kg/t) (kg/t) Notes           
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
65860      0.39          76       141   0.18     5.9      1 Non-agglomerated
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65863      0.39          68       141   0.60     5.9      1 Agglomerated    
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(i) recovery determined from an average of the 1) head and tails assays; 2) 
 gold in solution vs head grade; and 3) gold on granular activated carbon vs
 head grade.                                                                



Considering the positive gold recoveries achieved from the current test work,
Atacama Pacific is examining the impact of changing the process flow sheet
envisioned in the January 28, 2013 preliminary economic assessment ("PEA"),
replacing the currently proposed 3-stage crushing system and conventional leach
pad with a simpler single stage crushing unit and a valley fill leach pad
located immediately adjacent to the deposit. This updated flow sheet would
eliminate the capital and operating costs associated with the secondary and
tertiary crushers and then six kilometer conveyor system required for moving
crushed material to the proposed conventional leach pad. 


Gold recoveries of 79.5% on 19 mm (3/4 inch) crushed mineralization were
projected in the PEA based on extensive metallurgical testing. Gold recoveries
of 77 to 80% have been achieved from mineralization crushed to 100 mm and
moderately lower gold recoveries would be assumed at a crush size of 141 mm. The
primary crusher considered in the PEA was to produce material crushed to a P80
size of 130 mm. Additional samples have been collected for further metallurgical
testing at a coarse crush size. 


As noted in the previously released metallurgical results (May 9, 2013),
agglomerating mineralized host rock at Cerro Maricunga negatively impacts gold
recoveries by tying up the fine gold grains and by reducing the porosity of host
rock. Upon completion of the current test work, a microscopic examination of the
tails from the agglomerated column (65863) revealed the presence of exposed gold
grains suggesting that the grains were not available for leaching. These columns
were the final two from the previous set of metallurgical testing which examined
the impact of agglomeration on gold recoveries. 


Metallurgical Test Details 

The two column tests, conducted by Kappes, Cassidy and Associates, Reno, Nevada,
were run for 132 days with 80% of the extractable gold recovered within 75 days.
Each test consisted of 563 kg of mineralized material stacked in 440 mm diameter
columns. The crushed material in both columns was blended with 5.9 kg/t of
hydrated lime (Ca(OH)2) in order to maintain protective solution alkalinity at
pH level of 9 to 11. Test 65860 had 1 kg/t cement blended with the crushed
material and Ca(OH)2 while the column was stacked. Test 65863 was agglomerated
with 1 kg/t of cement prior to stacking. No additional Ca(OH)2 or cement was
required to maintain the alkalinity during the test. The blending of cement into
the column provides longer term maintenance of solution alkalinity and has a
positive impact on sodium cyanide ("NaCN") consumption and gold recoveries.


NaCN consumption was low (0.18 kg/t) to moderate (0.60 kg/t). The initial leach
solution for each column contained 1.0 gram NaCN per litre of solution and
during the test, the continued cyanide strength was maintained at a target level
of 0.5 grams NaCN per litre. 


Atacama Pacific's metallurgical testing program is managed by AMTEL Advanced
Mineral Technology Laboratory Ltd., London, Canada. 


National Instrument 43-101

Michael Easdon, a professional geologist registered with the American Institute
of Professional Geologists, is the independent qualified person for the current
exploration program and has reviewed, approved and verified the content of this
press release. Carlos Guzman, a mining engineer, Fellow of the Australasian
Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and a registered member of the Chilean Mining
Commission, is the independent qualified person as defined by National
Instrument 43-101 for the January 28, 2013 Preliminary Economic Assessment for
the Cerro Maricunga project. Mr. Guzman is a Principal and Project Director with
NCL Ingeneiria y Construccion Ltda., Santiago, Chile.  


FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains forward-looking statements, including predictions,
projections and forecasts. Forward-looking statements include, but are not
limited to, statements with respect to the PEA, including the potential for
annual gold production in the first five years of production of 298,000 ounces,
total gold production of 2.7 million ounces over a 10.1 year mine life, initial
life of mine estimated operating cash costs of $652 /oz Au, preliminary initial
capital cost estimate of $514.6 million with sustaining capital of $249.0
million, pre-tax pay-back period of 2.5 years at $1,450/oz Au and 1.7 years at
$1,700/oz Au, pre-tax NPV of $741 million at $1,450/oz Au and a 5% discount rate
After-tax NPV5% of $531 million, pre-tax NPV5% of $1,247 million and an
after-tax NPV5% of $923 million at $1,700/oz Au, pre-tax IRR) of 33.9% at
$1,450/oz Au (after-tax IRR of 26.6%), statements regarding the expectation to
increase mineral resources, statements regarding expectations for receipt of
permits and environmental approvals, exploration results (including with respect
to water resources), statements regarding gold recoveries, the success of
exploration activities generally, mine development prospects, and potential
future gold production. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be
identified by the use of words such as "plans", "planning", "expects" or "does
not expect", "continues", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends",
"potential", "anticipates", "does not anticipate", or "belief", or describes a
"goal", or variation of such words and phrases or state that certain actions,
events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or
be achieved. 


Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, future events,
conditions, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results,
performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results,
prediction, projection, forecast, performance or achievements expressed or
implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others,
the results of due diligence activities, changes in economic parameters and
assumptions, the interpretation and actual results of current exploration
activities; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; the
results of regulatory and permitting processes; future prices of gold; possible
variations in grade or recovery rates; failure of equipment or processes to
operate as anticipated; labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry;
the results of further economic and technical studies, delays in obtaining
governmental approvals or financing or in the completion of exploration, as well
as those factors disclosed in Atacama Pacific's publicly filed documents. 


Although Atacama Pacific has attempted to identify important factors that could
cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those
described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause
actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended.
There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be
accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those
anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue
reliance on forward-looking statements. 


Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that
term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: 
Atacama Pacific Gold Corporation
Carl B. Hansen
President and CEO
416 861 8267
416 861 9116 (FAX)
[e-mail]
www.atacamapacific.com