Western Copper Continues Extension of Higher Grade Supergene Mineralization

September 15, 2010

Western Copper Continues Extension of Higher Grade Supergene Mineralization

VANCOUVER, B.C. Western Copper Corporation (“Western Copper” or the “Company”) (TSX:WRN) is pleased to announce the final results from the 2010 exploration program at its wholly owned Casino Project, located in the Yukon.

The 2010 drill program completed in August confirmed the flat-lying, shallow copper and gold enriched supergene zone extends over a 2.0 km by 1.2 km area — a significant expansion over its previously outlined extent as identified in the 2008 Pre-feasibility Study (Figure 1). The average core length of the supergene from the drilling is 85 m. The copper and gold enriched zone remains open to the north for further expansion.

Notable results from the 14 holes drilled since the last update include hole CAS-074 with 241.9 m of 0.80 CuEq, which continued the expansion of the supergene zone to the southwest. Expanding the zone to the still open north is hole CAS-079 with 30.0 m of 0.45 CuEq.

Additional infill drilling was also completed as part of this drilling campaign which confirmed the excellent grades through the supergene and hypogene zones in the south of the deposit with CAS-082 returning 117.0 m of 0.87 CuEq in the supergene and 226.2 m of 0.56 CuEq in the hypogene.

Highlights of the holes drilled and assayed since the last press release are summarized in Table 1 and a complete listing of drill-holes and results drilled in 2010 are shown in Table 2. Hole locations are shown on Figure 1.

Table 1: Highlights from current drilling program

Drill-hole From (m) To (m) Width (m) Au (g/t) Cu (%) Mo (%) CuEq (%)
CAS-074 124.0 241.9 117.9 0.38 0.33 0.036 0.80
CAS-079 61.0 91.0 30.0 0.10 0.25 0.024 0.45
CAS-082
Supergene 117.0 234.0 117.0 0.52 0.40 0.020 0.87
Hypogene 234.0 460.2 226.2 0.28 0.25 0.021 0.56

Copper Equivalent Metal Prices: US$2.00/lb copper, US$875.00/oz gold and US$11.25/lb molybdenum

Western Copper has now completed 26,400 m of new drilling since the pre-feasibility was completed in 2008. Nearly all of the new drilling has been drilled in areas outside of the previously defined area of mineralization or in areas previously considered waste.

“The expansion of the higher grade, near surface supergene mineralization into areas previously thought to waste should positively impact the economics of the Casino deposit by lowering the stripping ratio” said Dale Corman, Chairman & CEO, “This higher grade supergene gold and copper mineralization remains open to the north showing there is further potential to improve both the size of the supergene mineralization and the economics of the project”.

The Casino project is located 380 km northwest of Whitehorse, Yukon and has a NI 43-101 compliant reserve estimate containing 8 million oz of gold, 4.4 billion lb of copper, and 475 million lb of molybdenum, contained in approximately 1 billion tonnes of ore.

Scott Casselman, P.Geo., is the qualified person responsible for the execution of the Casino Project exploration program and the preparation of the technical information in this news release.

QA/QC including assurance of chain of custody has been implemented in accordance with industry best practices. Split core samples are prepared and analyzed by ALS Chemex. Prepared samples are initially run using a four acid digestion process and conventional multi-element ICP-AES analysis. Additional assaying for total copper and molybdenum is run using a 4 acid digestion — AES or AAS method to a 0.001% detection limit. Gold assays are run using 30 gram sample fire assay with an AA finish to a 0.005 ppm detection limit. The QA/QC procedure involves regular submission of CertifiedAnalytical Standards and blanks andproperty specific duplicates, with check assaying performed by Acme Analytical Laboratories Ltd.

ABOUT WESTERN COPPER CORPORATION

Western Copper is a Vancouver-based exploration and development company with properties containing significant copper, gold and molybdenum resources and reserves. The Company has 100% ownership of four Canadian properties. The two most advanced projects are the Casino Project and the Carmacks Copper Project, both located in the Yukon Territory. The Casino Project is one of the world’s largest open-pittable gold, copper, silver and molybdenum deposits. For more information, visit http://www.westerncoppercorp.com

 

Casino_Fig1_PlanMap_CAS-074 - CAS-082
Figure 1: Plan map of drill holes

On behalf of the board,

“Dale Corman”

F. Dale Corman
Chairman & CEO
Western Copper Corporation

For more information, please contact:

Paul West-Sells
President & COO, Corporate Development

Julie Kim
Manager, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications

Call: 1.888.966.9995 or 604.684.9497
Email:

Cautionary Notes

This press release includes certain “Forward-Looking Statements” within the meaning of section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, including without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization and reserves, exploration results and future plans and objectives of Western Copper Corp. are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.

Notice to US Investors: The United States Securities and Exchange Commission permits U.S. mining companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only those mineral deposits that a company can economically and legally extract or produce. We use certain terms on this news release, such as “measured,” “indicated,” and “inferred” “resources,” that the SEC guidelines strictly prohibit U.S. registered companies from including in their filings with the SEC. U.S. investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in Western’s Form 20-F, File No. 000-52231, which may be secured from the Company, or from the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml.

Table 2: Complete 2010 Drill results

Hole From To Width (m) Au(g/t) Ag g/t Cu % Mo % Cu Eq% Category
CAS-041 no significant mineralization
CAS-042 8.00 44.1 36.1 0.13 0.7 0.03 0.000 – Leached CAP
44.10 83.8 39.7 0.17 0.2 0.20 0.000 0.31 Supergene
83.80 248.5 164.7 0.08 0.2 0.02 0.000 0.07 Hypogene
CAS-043 21.34 41.6 20.3 0.24 1.6 0.11 0.052 – Leached CAP
41.60 91.5 49.9 0.15 1.1 0.24 0.013 0.42 Supergene
91.45 243.8 152.4 0.11 0.5 0.10 0.027 0.33 Hypogene
CAS-044 6.80 50.7 43.9 0.16 1.2 0.04 0.012 – Leached CAP
50.65 97.5 46.9 0.16 1.1 0.39 0.020 0.62 Supergene
97.50 224.0 126.5 0.10 0.2 0.07 0.013 0.21 Hypogene
CAS-045 3.05 41.0 38.0 0.15 1.0 0.05 0.008 – Leached CAP
41.00 83.0 42.0 0.15 1.0 0.35 0.007 0.50 Supergene
82.95 198.1 115.2 0.25 1.3 0.13 0.010 0.36 Hypogene
CAS-046 7.11 37.2 30.1 0.21 1.3 0.07 0.012 – Leached CAP
37.20 114.7 77.5 0.12 1.3 0.16 0.016 0.33 Supergene
114.70 211.2 96.5 0.07 0.4 0.07 0.018 0.22 Hypogene
CAS-047 3.05 60.6 57.6 0.11 1.2 0.04 0.010 – Leached CAP
60.60 151.0 90.4 0.09 0.9 0.18 0.016 0.34 Supergene
151.00 193.6 42.6 0.13 0.9 0.09 0.012 0.25 Hypogene
CAS-048 4.30 60.7 56.4 0.11 0.9 0.04 0.013 – Leached CAP
60.70 95.6 34.9 0.12 1.4 0.29 0.009 0.43 Supergene
95.60 208.2 112.6 0.29 1.0 0.10 0.012 0.36 Hypogene
CAS-049 9.80 53.3 43.5 0.14 1.7 0.06 0.023 – Leached CAP
53.30 146.2 92.9 0.15 0.9 0.21 0.018 0.41 Supergene
146.20 244.2 98.0 0.13 1.0 0.11 0.022 0.32 Hypogene
CAS-050 8.30 61.9 53.6 0.15 1.1 0.05 0.017 – Leached CAP
61.90 186.2 124.3 0.16 1.0 0.19 0.015 0.38 Supergene
186.20 219.5 33.3 0.08 0.4 0.09 0.019 0.24 Hypogene
CAS-051 50.20 51.8 1.6 0.36 1.0 0.06 0.007 – Leached CAP
51.80 94.4 42.6 0.20 1.0 0.32 0.010 0.51 Supergene
94.37 268.2 173.9 0.16 1.2 0.16 0.009 0.31 Hypogene
CAS-052 12.00 80.6 68.6 0.15 1.1 0.20 0.009 0.35 Supergene
80.60 248.1 167.5 0.10 0.8 0.09 0.019 0.26 Hypogene
CAS-053 14.50 39.8 25.3 0.13 1.2 0.07 0.004 – Leached CAP
39.80 71.3 31.5 0.16 0.6 0.25 0.002 0.37 Supergene
71.25 236.2 165.0 0.16 0.6 0.15 0.004 0.28 Hypogene
CAS-054 53.00 55.8 2.8 0.14 2.6 0.05 0.003 – Leached CAP
55.75 175.4 119.7 0.24 1.2 0.22 0.003 0.40 Supergene
175.40 249.9 74.5 0.14 1.2 0.16 0.006 0.29 Hypogene
CAS-055 26.50 36.8 10.3 0.18 0.9 0.04 0.002 – Leached CAP
36.75 104.2 67.4 0.23 1.3 0.32 0.004 0.50 Supergene
104.15 201.5 97.4 0.10 3.0 0.12 0.007 0.25 Hypogene
CAS-056 11.40 61.1 49.7 0.19 0.6 0.08 0.008 – Leached CAP
61.10 125.8 64.7 0.17 1.0 0.21 0.015 0.40 Supergene
125.80 199.6 73.8 0.13 0.8 0.11 0.016 0.29 Hypogene

 

Hole From To Width (m) Au(g/t) Ag g/t Cu % Mo % Cu Eq% Category
CAS-057 28.53 130.0 101.5 0.10 1.0 0.05 0.003 – Leached CAP
130.00 249.9 119.9 0.20 1.4 0.17 0.003 0.32 Supergene
CAS-058 no significant mineralization
CAS-059 15.54 50.6 35.1 0.22 1.6 0.08 0.006 – Leached CAP
50.60 102.0 51.4 0.20 1.2 0.35 0.011 0.54 Supergene
102.00 210.3 108.3 0.14 0.9 0.13 0.015 0.32 Hypogene
CAS-060 20.70 44.6 23.9 0.14 0.4 0.03 0.005 – Leached CAP
44.60 119.1 74.5 0.15 1.2 0.19 0.004 0.31 Supergene
119.08 249.9 130.9 0.37 1.5 0.12 0.012 0.44 Hypogene
CAS-061 13.72 50.2 36.5 0.13 2.2 0.06 0.008 – Leached CAP
50.24 154.8 104.6 0.20 1.4 0.22 0.004 0.38 Supergene
154.80 249.9 95.1 0.25 3.7 0.19 0.006 0.42 Hypogene
CAS-062 11.90 75.6 63.7 0.09 1.3 0.02 0.026 – Leached CAP
75.60 173.7 98.1 0.24 2.5 0.27 0.021 0.57 Supergene
173.65 250.2 76.6 0.36 3.3 0.26 0.010 0.57 Hypogene
CAS-063 9.00 67.5 58.5 0.21 1.4 0.03 0.034 – Leached CAP
67.50 197.8 130.3 0.34 2.6 0.37 0.020 0.72 Supergene
197.78 201.2 3.4 0.23 2.1 0.24 0.008 0.45 Hypogene
CAS-064 1.52 55.2 53.7 0.10 1.4 0.03 0.010 – Leached CAP
55.20 163.8 108.6 0.10 1.9 0.17 0.012 0.31 Supergene
163.80 203.3 39.5 0.14 1.2 0.10 0.009 0.25 Hypogene
CAS-065 5.00 26.0 21.0 0.16 1.4 0.01 0.029 0.29 Hypogene
26.00 249.5 223.5 0.05 0.7 0.02 0.003 0.07 Waste
CAS-066 20.60 59.3 38.7 0.34 3.4 0.02 0.032 – Leached CAP
59.30 178.8 119.5 0.36 3.2 0.22 0.020 0.59 Supergene
178.83 201.2 22.3 0.14 0.9 0.05 0.003 0.17 Hypogene
CAS-067 2.45 79.7 77.3 0.08 1.5 0.04 0.015 – Leached CAP
79.70 199.7 120.0 0.15 1.5 0.18 0.005 0.31 Supergene
199.70 249.9 50.2 0.11 0.7 0.05 0.009 0.17 Hypogene
CAS-068 8.10 46.3 38.2 0.14 1.2 0.03 0.011 – Leached CAP
46.30 229.9 183.6 0.15 1.7 0.15 0.011 0.32 Supergene
229.90 304.8 74.9 0.13 1.1 0.05 0.006 0.18 Hypogene
CAS-069 0.40 61.3 60.9 0.06 0.8 0.05 0.012 – Leached CAP
61.30 99.5 38.2 0.08 0.7 0.14 0.034 0.39 Supergene
99.50 250.2 150.7 0.10 0.8 0.08 0.008 0.20 Hypogene
CAS-070 0.00 116.0 116.0 0.13 1.3 0.01 0.018 – Leached CAP
116.00 239.0 123.0 0.16 3.6 0.21 0.025 0.48 Supergene
239.00 295.6 56.6 0.12 1.5 0.11 0.030 0.37 Hypogene
CAS-071 7.62 72.6 65.0 0.09 1.1 0.03 0.020 – Leached CAP
72.60 160.6 88.0 0.10 0.9 0.17 0.018 0.34 Supergene
160.60 251.5 90.9 0.06 0.7 0.07 0.004 0.14 Hypogene
CAS-072 no significant mineralization
CAS-073 4.77 105.4 100.6 0.13 0.9 0.01 0.043 – Leached CAP
105.40 219.8 114.4 0.34 1.8 0.34 0.072 0.98 Supergene
219.80 330.7 110.9 0.24 1.5 0.16 0.064 0.69 Hypogene

 

Hole From To Width (m) Au(g/t) Ag g/t Cu % Mo % Cu Eq% Category
CAS-074 6.20 124.0 117.8 0.32 2.8 0.02 0.041 – Leached CAP
124.00 241.9 117.9 0.38 3.7 0.33 0.036 0.80 Supergene
241.85 379.8 138.0 0.19 1.6 0.14 0.013 0.35 Hypogene
CAS-075 no significant mineralization
CAS-076 3.05 94.0 90.9 0.04 0.6 0.04 0.001 – Leached CAP
93.96 127.0 33.0 0.13 0.5 0.14 0.004 0.25 Supergene
126.96 263.7 136.7 0.18 0.9 0.13 0.004 0.27 Hypogene
CAS-077 4.60 46.8 42.2 0.13 1.0 0.04 0.010 – Leached CAP
46.80 170.7 123.9 0.14 0.9 0.24 0.010 0.39 Supergene
CAS-078 9.00 45.7 36.7 0.17 1.8 0.03 0.015 – Leached CAP
45.65 150.3 104.6 0.14 0.8 0.27 0.008 0.39 Supergene
CAS-079 3.25 61.0 57.8 0.19 0.9 0.04 0.009 – Leached CAP
61.00 91.0 30.0 0.10 0.3 0.25 0.024 0.45 Supergene
91.00 153.3 62.3 0.09 0.4 0.04 0.013 0.17 Hypogene
CAS-080 0.00 8.0 8.0 0.22 0.5 0.07 0.006 – Leached CAP
8.00 145.2 137.2 0.17 1.6 0.25 0.008 0.41 Supergene
145.20 157.0 11.8 0.11 1.3 0.12 0.013 0.27 Hypogene
CAS-081 2.00 208.7 206.7 0.17 0.9 0.02 0.001 – Leached CAP
207.70 238.7 31.0 0.19 1.0 0.14 0.001 0.28 Supergene
238.70 451.1 212.4 0.13 0.8 0.06 0.001 0.16 Hypogene
CAS-082 0.00 117.0 117.0 0.45 2.2 0.03 0.015 – Leached CAP
117.00 234.0 117.0 0.52 3.0 0.40 0.020 0.87 Supergene
234.00 460.2 226.2 0.28 1.9 0.25 0.021 0.56 Hypogene
CAS-083 4.00 65.4 61.4 0.17 1.1 0.05 0.005 – Leached CAP
65.40 233.6 168.2 0.14 0.8 0.15 0.010 0.30 Supergene
233.60 374.9 141.3 0.09 0.6 0.09 0.010 0.21 Hypogene
CAS-084 0.00 116.5 116.5 0.27 1.9 0.04 0.007 – Leached CAP
116.50 315.0 198.5 0.32 2.4 0.27 0.016 0.58 Supergene
315.00 448.7 133.7 0.29 1.9 0.30 0.021 0.62 Hypogene
CAS-085 3.96 154.0 150.0 0.26 0.9 0.01 0.002 – Leached CAP
154.00 217.0 63.0 0.30 1.3 0.25 0.012 0.51 Supergene
217.00 365.8 148.8 0.17 1.4 0.08 0.002 0.21 Hypogene
CAS-086 4.00 30.0 26.0 0.17 1.2 0.04 0.035 – Leached CAP
30.00 183.0 153.0 0.22 1.8 0.23 0.022 0.51 Supergene
183.00 385.6 202.6 0.22 2.0 0.18 0.044 0.58 Hypogene
CAS-087 4.01 166.1 162.1 0.22 1.4 0.00 0.003 – Leached CAP
166.12 234.0 67.9 0.37 3.0 0.28 0.014 0.62 Supergene
234.00 397.5 163.5 0.17 0.9 0.11 0.009 0.28 Hypogene

 

 

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