Drilling Commences at Empire's Karapinar Copper Porphyry Project, Turkey; New Mapping Shows Porphyry to Extend to at Least 1,500 Meters by 450 Meters at Surface

Empire Mining Corporation (TSX VENTURE:EPC) ("Empire") is pleased to announce that an initial 3,000 meter, ten hole diamond core drilling program has commenced at its Karapinar copper porphyry project in Turkey. First Quantum Minerals Ltd. is funding the program and can earn an initial 51% interest by among other things, completing $8.5 million in exploration expenditures. For additional information on the First Quantum option, please see Empire's news release of August 20, 2012.

Drilling by Empire at Karapinar in 2011 intersected a 60 meter zone of chalcocite enrichment grading 0.93% Copper, 0.11 gpt Gold and 0.017% Molybdenum from a hole depth of 79.6 to 139.6 meters.

The secondary enrichment lies beneath a 48 meter zone of oxide mineralization. The hole was one of the easternmost holes drilled at Karapinar, revealing significant expansion potential. Geological mapping has defined a porphyry footprint at least 1,500 meters x 450 meters at surface and a follow-up IP/Resistivity survey carried-out by Empire located and outlined a strong chargeability anomaly 800 x 800 meters across with circular shape partially exposed at surface. The most western flange of the anomaly correlates with the area where drilling intersected the 60 meter zone of chalcocite enrichment, suggestive of a possible extension of leached porphyry east of the existing deposit.

The planned drill-holes are mainly, but not exclusively, focused on the area north east and east of drill-hole KDH018 which intersected the 60 meter zone of chalcocite enrichment. This area was identified as having potential for further secondary enrichment copper as a result of extending IP coverage under an area mapped as 'undetermined lithology' and will be tested by seven holes. Mapping from new road cuts has confirmed the presence of leached granodiorite porphyry in this area and has now demonstrated porphyry style mineralization over a distance of 1,500 meters.

Two evident zones of potassic alteration at surface have been identified during recent mapping. The first is the potassic zone that has been tested in the previous drilling campaigns and has undergone partial sericitic alteration overprinting the potassic, suggestive of a possible telescoped porphyry system. The sericitic footprint identified surrounding the potassic core widely extends to the east and northeast, where it also correlates with an IP anomaly. The second identified zone of potassic alteration lies approximately 500 meters to the north-west from the previously drilled cluster and will initially be tested by a single hole.

IP and drilling has opened up the potential to the east and northeast of the previous drill-hole groupings and led to a complete review of all the geological data based primarily on re-logging of core and additional mapping into areas that have little or no exposure. The re-logging of diamond drill core identified at least four porphyry phases, two of them with significant copper mineralization.

A stockworked granodiorite (Phase 1) that typically grades up to 0.3% copper and is assumed to be the initial mineralized event. This phase comprises dominantly potassic (biotite) alteration.

A sheeted vein granodiorite containing disseminated chalcopyrite (Phase 2) which yields slightly enhanced primary grades compared with Phase 1. This type is most amenable to leaching and secondary enrichment mineralization and is dominantly sericitic altered.

A zone of quartz-magnetite-chalcopyrite overprint veining has also been identified, where primary mineralization yields copper grades typically in excess of 0.6% copper and 0.2 gpt gold. This style has been observed in a number of holes, particularly in KDH006, as well as in outcrop discovered during the course of mapping 750 meters west-northwest of the previous drill cluster and grading 0.3% copper, despite leaching at surface. This will be tested by a single hole initially.

In addition to the holes described above, two further holes are planned. One is aimed at a copper soil anomaly and chargeability response in an area of intensely weathered lithology interpreted as granodiorite and lying approximately 600 meters east-southeast of KDH018. It is also planned to deepen hole KDH016, which stopped prematurely in leached and oxide copper mineralization and above a possible secondary copper zone.

The planned drilling, photos from the newly opened porphyry outcrop, an alteration map, and a section of KDH018 with the potential enrichment zone extension coincident with an IP anomaly, can be viewed at the following link:

www.empireminingcorp.com/i/nr/2012-10-picsmap.pdf

As well as testing the potential for near surface secondary enrichment copper, the drilling campaign will also incorporate at least two deeper holes along with core orientation. Because mapping and re-logging has demonstrated the different phases and mineralization styles, as well as two evident zones of potassic alteration at surface, it is important to collect additional fundamental information to support further work.

Notwithstanding the fact that the mapped porphyry has been extended from a previously drilled area of some 450 meters by 450 meters to 1,500 meters by 450 meters, a threefold extension of the mapped footprint, the Phase 2 intrusive which is more amenable to leaching and secondary enrichment brought about by a hydromorphic process has been confirmed well beyond KDH018 to the northeast.

Quality Assurance/Quality Control

All core was sawn in half with sample widths determined by geology and mineralization. Individual samples within visible mineralization did not exceed 1.0 m, while the maximum sample interval was 2.0 m. Samples were bagged, security tagged and sent to the ALS Chemex sample preparation facility in Izmir, Turkey and, following preparation, to the ALS Chemex laboratory in Vancouver. Gold was determined by fire assay with AA finish, ore grade repeats were run with ICP-AES and a total of 33 elements determined by ICP after four-acid digestion. Blank, replicate and Certified Reference Material QAQC samples were distributed regularly in the assayed batches and their total numbers are presented in Table 1.

In addition, ALS Chemex performed internal check assaying on about 5% of the samples, and also included analyses of internal standards inserted into the sample string.

Empire's Qualified Person, David C. Cliff, BSc (Hons), MIMMM, C Eng., FGS, also Empire's President & CEO, has reviewed and approved the content of this news release.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

David Cliff, President & CEO

This release contains forward-looking information and statements, as defined by law including without limitation Canadian securities laws and the "safe harbor" provisions of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 ("forward-looking statements"), respecting Empire's exploration plans. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including without limitation that plans may change as results are obtained; the ability to acquire necessary permits and other authorizations; environmental compliance; cost increases; availability of qualified workers; competition for mining properties; risks associated with exploration projects, mineral reserve and resource estimates (including the risk of assumption and methodology errors); dependence on third parties for services; non-performance by contractual counterparties; title risks; and general business and economic conditions. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions that may prove to be incorrect, including without limitation assumptions about: drilling plans based on present knowledge and expectations; general business and economic conditions; the timing and receipt of required approvals; availability of financing; power prices; ability to procure equipment and supplies; and ongoing relations with employees, partners and joint venturers. The foregoing list is not exhaustive and Empire undertakes no obligation to update any of the foregoing except as required by law.

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