Nighthawk Reports 45.3% Increase in Contained Gold Ounces and 59% Increase in Average Grade in Updated Colomac Resource Estim...

Nighthawk Gold Corp. ("Nighthawk") (TSX VENTURE:NHK) is pleased to report an
updated Inferred Mineral Resource estimate, prepared in accordance with National
Instrument 43-101, ("NI 43-101"), of 39.815 million tonnes with an average grade
of 1.67 grams per tonne gold for 2.101 million ounces gold using a cut-off grade
of 0.6 g/t gold (see Table 1) at its 100%-owned Colomac gold property in the
Northwest Territories. 


HIGHLIGHTS:



--  The average grade of the current resource increased by 59% and total
    contained ounces increased by 45.3% over the previous Inferred Mineral
    Resource estimate of 42.650 million tonnes with an average grade of 1.05
    g/t gold for 1.446 million ounces gold using a cut-off grade of 0.6 g/t
    gold. (February 22, 2012 news release); 

--  Grade sensitivity tables show that a significant number of ounces are
    present even when cut-off grades are increased. By increasing the cut-
    off from 0.60 g/t gold to 1.0 g/t gold the average grade increases to
    1.95 g/t gold resulting in a total of 1.835 million ounces gold, and by
    increasing the cut-off grade to 1.50 g/t gold the average grade
    increases to 2.45 g/t gold resulting in a total of 1.340 million ounces
    gold (see Table 2);

--  Colomac's five known gold deposits (Fig. 1) outlined in this reporting
    include: Colomac Sill, Goldcrest North, Goldcrest South, Grizzly Bear,
    and 24-27, of which the Colomac Sill currently accounts for 93.5% of the
    resource. All deposits are open laterally and to depth (see Fig. 1);

--  Nighthawk's 2012 drilling tested portions of a 2.5 kilometre section of
    the 5.5 kilometre sill outlined in the resource. This section contains
    30.010 million tonnes at an average grade of 1.75 g/t gold for a total
    of 1.687 million ounces gold, representing only 40% of the sill's
    potential mineralized length to a depth of 450 metres;

--  A steeply plunging higher grade shoot at Zone 3.5 (Figs. 2a, 2b),
    located within the southern portion of the sill, contains 0.528 million
    ounces gold at 2.15 g/t gold. Similar shoots have been identified over
    the seven kilometre length of the sill that require further drilling;
    and

--  Goldcrest Sill, 400 metres west of the Colomac Sill, has the highest
    average grade (2.2 g/t gold) and represents a high priority target for
    resource growth given its grade and limited shallow historic drilling
    (generally less than 100 metres depth).



"The increase in the resource estimate's contained ounces well exceeded our
expectations and the average grade is now in line with the former head grade at
the past producing Colomac Mine. More than 60% of the Colomac sill's
historically defined near surface gold zones remain untested by Nighthawk and
the other four satellite deposits represented in the resource update have
significant exploration upside potential as well," said David Wiley, President
and CEO of Nighthawk Gold. "In addition to the unexplored opportunities at
Colomac, the balance of our 222,203 acre property package hosts numerous gold
deposits and showings, illustrating the area's vast potential beyond Colomac.
The updated resource estimate at Colomac represents an inflection point for the
company. We look forward to reporting our progress as we continue to grow and
develop the project."


Table 1 - Colomac Gold Project Inferred Mineral Resources by Zone 

Using Block Model Cut-off Grade of 0.6 g/t gold, up to 450 metres depth



----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zone                                       Tonnes     g/t gold       Oz gold
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Colomac North                           6,963,000         1.24       276,900
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Colomac Central                        19,170,000         1.63     1,002,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Colomac South                          10,840,000         1.96       684,500
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Goldcrest North                           678,500         2.23        48,650
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Goldcrest South                           434,900         2.14        29,880
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grizzly Bear                              807,000         1.04        27,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
27                                        528,000         1.21        20,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
24                                        390,000         0.96        12,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                                  39,815,000         1.67     2,101,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------



Notes: 



1.  A block cut-off value of 0.6 g/t gold was applied to all resource
    blocks. 
2.  Tonnes and ounces have been rounded to reflect the relative accuracy of
    the mineral resource estimate; therefore, numbers may not total
    correctly. 
3.  Mineral Resources were calculated with Micromine mining software. Drill
    holes traces showing lithology and gold grade were reviewed in plan and
    cross section. Colomac and Goldcrest geological domains were created
    using Leapfrog Implicit Geological Modeling Software. Assays within each
    domain were top cut to 31 g/t and then composited to regular 1.5 metre
    intervals. Block model grade interpolation was undertaken using Ordinary
    Kriging (OK). 
4.  The estimation methodology and results for the Grizzly Bear, 27 and 24
    zones is the same as reported in 2012. 
5.  The resource estimate was prepared by Leon McGarry, B.Sc., Geologist,
    ACA Howe. 
6.  A default average specific gravity (SG) value of 2.7 has been used. 
7.  Mineral resource tonnes quoted are not diluted. 
8.  No Measured or Indicated Resources or Mineral Reserves of any category
    are identified.  
9.  Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and by definition do not
    demonstrate economic viability. This mineral resource estimate includes
    Inferred Mineral Resources that are normally considered too speculative
    geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would
    enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves. There is also no
    certainty that these Inferred Mineral Resources will be converted to the
    measured and indicated resource categories through further drilling, or
    into mineral reserves, once economic considerations are applied.



Table 2 - Colomac Gold Project Global Block Model Cut-off Grade Sensitivity Table



----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Block Model                                   Block Model Avg.              
Cut-off Value g/t     Block Model Tonnage       Grade g/t gold Total Oz gold
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.00                            9,587,000                 3.01       925,400
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.50                           17,048,000                 2.45     1,340,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.00                           29,415,000                 1.95     1,835,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.80                           34,469,000                 1.81     1,982,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.60                           39,815,000                 1.67     2,101,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.50                           43,562,000                 1.57     2,169,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.40                           51,351,000                 1.40     2,281,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------



Note: The reader is cautioned that the figures in this table are not a Mineral
Resource Statement. The figures are only presented to show the sensitivity of
the block model estimates to the selection of cut-off grade.


DETAILS

2013 Resource Estimate

The mineral resource estimate was prepared in accordance with NI 43-101. Gold
zones are characterized by significant mineralized widths representing
near-surface bulk tonnage deposits. Resources were defined using a block cut-off
grade of 0.6 g/t gold. The 2013 Resource Estimate utilizes historic diamond
drilling results from approximately 916 holes, with 30 holes drilled during
Nighthawk's 2012 program and the balance of which were completed between 1987
and 1997. All resources have been assigned to the Inferred category due to the
historic nature of the data and the need for additional verification work. Mined
volumes of the Colomac Sill have been deleted from the current resource model. 


Mineralized Zones

Zone 2.0 hosts a well-defined mineralized shoot with true widths ranging from 40
metres near surface to 80 metres at depth (see Fig. 2a). Steeply plunging to the
northeast, this style of mineralization constitutes a key opportunity as recent
drilling has confirmed its continuation and increasing widths with depth. Zone
3.5, similar to Zone 2.0 but with significantly less drilling, has near surface
true widths of 20 metres ranging to 40 metres at depth (see Fig. 2a). The
continuity and widths of mineralization characterizing these two zones
establishes them as important prospects for resource expansion. Although less
well defined than Zone 2.0, Zone 3.5 contains 0.528 million ounces gold at 2.15
g/t gold, or over 1/4 of the current global resource with approximately 20%
higher grade. Of the sill's 7.0 kilometre strike length, 5.5 kilometres are
outlined in the current estimate. Since Zones 2.0 and 3.5 account for only about
20% of that mineralized length, the potential for the intrusion to host similar
higher grade shoots exists and represents a significant opportunity.  


The Goldcrest Sill lies parallel to and 400 metres west of the compositionally
similar Colomac Sill. Two zones, Goldcrest North and South, lie along the sill's
2.5 kilometre length and are included in the current resource. Zone estimates
are based exclusively on limited historic drilling generally to less than 100
metres depth. The Goldcrest resource, having the highest average grade at 2.2
g/t gold, represents a primary underexplored target that is open laterally and
to depth.


Figure 1: Plan View of Deposits at Colomac 

To view Figure 1, please visit this link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/nhk.jpg

Figures 2a - Contoured True Width of Mineralization & 2b - True Width x Grade
(Metal Factor)


To view Figure 2a and 2b, please visit this link:
http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/nhk2.jpg


About The Colomac Gold Project

The Colomac Gold Project lies within the central portion of Nighthawk's Indin
Lake Gold Property, 220 kilometres northwest of Yellowknife, Northwest
Territories. Access is by winter road from Yellowknife or year round by
chartered aircraft to a 5,000 foot airstrip at the former Colomac Gold Mine
site. Nighthawk has secured a contiguous land position fully surrounding the
Colomac Gold Project by consolidating more than 90% of the Indin Lake Greenstone
Belt including the related Indin Lake Gold Camp. The Colomac Gold Project
contains at least five separate gold deposits open in all dimensions (Colomac
Sill, Grizzly Bear, Goldcrest North, Goldcrest South, and 24/27), only one of
which, the Colomac Sill Deposit, was historically mined. Intermittent mining
from 1990 to 1997 was limited to three shallow open pits developed on a steeply
dipping differentiated mafic intrusion (Colomac Sill). Historical production is
reported to be 527,908 ounces gold with an average head grade of 1.66 g/t gold.
Mining activities impacted only a small portion of the sill's 7 kilometre
mineralized strike length. All mining and processing equipment and
infrastructure have been removed from the Colomac Property.


About Nighthawk Gold Corp.

Nighthawk is a Canadian-based exploration company focused on acquiring and
developing gold mineral properties in the Northwest Territories. Its primary
land position covers 222,203 acres or 900 square kilometres in the Indin Lake
Gold Camp and includes an Inferred Mineral Resource estimate of 39.815 million
tonnes with an average grade of 1.67 g/t gold for 2.101 million ounces gold
using a cut-off grade of 0.6 g/t gold. 


The technical aspects of this press release have been reviewed by Michael Byron,
Ph.D., P.Geo., Chief Geologist and Director for Nighthawk, who is the "Qualified
Person" as defined by NI 43-101 for this project. 


Technical information related to the mineral resource estimate contained in this
news release has been reviewed and approved by Ian Trinder, M.Sc., a Senior
Geologist with A.C.A. Howe International Limited, who is an independent
Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, with the ability and authority to
verify the authenticity and validity of this data. The technical report
supporting the mineral resource estimate will be filed on SEDAR within 45 days. 


An Inferred Mineral Resource as defined by the CIM Standing Committee is "that
part of a Mineral Resource for which quantity and grade or quality can be
estimated on the basis of geological evidence and limited sampling and
reasonably assumed, but not verified, geological and grade continuity. The
estimate is based on limited information and sampling gathered through
appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, working
and drill holes." 


Neither 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. 


Forward-Looking Statements 

Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking
statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties,
including, but not limited to, the timing of future drilling, the expansion of
the mineralization, and the remediation of historic reclamation sites. These
forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties,
certain of which are beyond the control of Nighthawk, including, but not limited
to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, volatility
of commodity prices, risks associated with the uncertainty of exploration
results and estimates, currency fluctuations, dependency upon regulatory
approvals, the uncertainty of obtaining additional financing and exploration
risk. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such
information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may
prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on
forward-looking statements. This press release is not, and is not to be
construed in any way as, an offer to buy or sell securities in the United
States.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: 
Nighthawk Gold Corp.
David Wiley
President and CEO
[phone]
[phone] (FAX)
[e-mail]


First Canadian Capital Corp.
Daniel Boase
Investor Relations
[phone] ext 232
[e-mail]