Ascendant Copper Intersects Significant Copper and Molybdenum Mineralization at Chaucha Project in Ecuador

DENVER, COLORADO or ("the Company") (TSX: ACX)(TSX: ACX.WT)(TSX: ACX.WT.A)(BERLIN: A0HMLE)(FRANKFURT: A5C)(WKN: A0HMLE) today provided an update on its Phase III, 16 hole, 5,000 meter drilling program at the Company's wholly-owned Chaucha Project in West Central Ecuador. Assays from the first four holes have returned significant mineralized zones from near surface to depth including a 58 meter section of 0.97% copper ("Cu") & 0.024% molybdenum ("Mo") on Hole NA-19, an 84 meter section of 0.80% Cu & 0.013% Mo on Hole NA-20, and a 112 meter section of 0.59% Cu & 0.023% Mo on Hole NA-22.

"The goal of this program is to move the known mineralization into internationally recognized, modern inferred and indicated resource categories," said Gary Davis, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We believe, based on historic drilling by previous owners and our own work in 2006 and 2007, that this program will demonstrate a significant resource in the Naranjos zone alone."

The program is designed to determine the extent of mineralization on the Naranjos zone and to achieve sufficient drill density to establish a National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI43-101"), compliant resource. Ascendant expects that a pre-feasibility study, incorporating both the Naranjos and Gur Gur sectors of Chaucha, will commence following completion of the program.

Drill holes NA-19, 20, and 21 were all drilled from the same drill pad at the NE extension of the Naranjos sector. NA-19 was drilled vertically and encountered 168 meters of 0.52% Cu and 0.023% Mo. NA-20 was angled to the NW into an area previously unexplored and encountered 184 meters of 0.56% Cu and 0.014% Mo. NA-21 was angled to the SE to verify structural information and intersected 216 meters of 0.42% Cu and 0.016% Mo. NA-22 was drilled on a separate pad and returned preliminary results of 250 meters (0 to 250 meters) of 0.46% Cu and 0.021% Mo. All of the holes encountered zones which assayed over the laboratory limit of 1% copper. A maximum value of 1% copper was used for these samples potentially skewing results slightly lower.

Hole NA-22 was a twin of Hole 83T drilled by the Japanese Overseas Mineral Resource Development Corporation (OMRD), and over similar intervals (18 to 202 meters) Hole NA-22 returned 0.50% Cu versus 0.046% Cu for OMRD's Hole 83T over a distance of 184 meters. This is in line with other twinned holes on the property which show similar increases in copper grades of approximately 10% (See Figure 1, Preliminary Results, Naranjos Zone).

James Stonehouse, the Company's resident manager and technical expert as well as a Qualified Person as defined by NI43-101, has reviewed the assay results reported in this release. Mr. Stonehouse confirms that quality controls and correct assay procedures were followed by the Company and the geologic observations of the samples are correct. Assaying of the samples was conducted by Acme Labs, an ISO certified laboratory in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

About Ascendant Copper

Ascendant Copper Corporation is a mineral exploration and development company that is focused on becoming a mid-tier copper and molybdenum producer. The Company is responsibly advancing its copper-molybdenum projects in Ecuador toward verifiable economic base metal discoveries. Ascendant is also evaluating near-term production scenarios for the U.S. copper properties that it is proposing to acquire from St. Genevieve Resources Ltd.

Ascendant Copper Corporation, Chaucha Property -
Figure 1 Naranjos Drill Results

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Preliminary Results- Naranjos Zone, Chaucha
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NA-19           from       to   meters     Cu%      Mo%
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                  38      290      252    0.47    0.024
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Including         38      206      168    0.52    0.023
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Including         70      128       58    0.97    0.024
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NA-20           from       to   meters     Cu%      Mo%
                ---------------------------------------
                  56      240      184    0.56    0.014
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Including         56      140       84    0.80    0.013
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NA-21           from       to   meters     Cu%      Mo%
                ---------------------------------------
                  34    302(i)     268    0.39    0.016
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Including         34      250      216    0.42    0.016
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(i)Hole NA-21 ends in mineralization.
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NA-22           from       to   meters     Cu%      Mo%
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                   0      250      250    0.46    0.021
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Including         18       56       38    0.76    0.021
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Including         18      130      112    0.59    0.023
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Including         18      168      150    0.53    0.022
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Contacts: Ascendant Copper Corporation Rana S. Gill Chief Financial Officer 1-866-907-6047 Email: [e-mail] Ascendant Copper Corporation John Haigh Manager of Investor Relations 1-866-907-6047 [phone] (FAX) Email: [e-mail] / [e-mail] Website: www.ascendantcopper.com