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El Nino Ventures reports high grade drill results on the Kasala Project in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Posted on: Monday, 12 January 2009, 08:30 CST

------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Numerous intercepts with widths from 50 metres to 91 metres of mineralization - High grade intercepts: 7 metres @ 7.07% Cu (Hole MDB-DD-019) 10 metres @ 6.07% Cu (Hole MDB-DD-011B) 11 metres @ 3.68% Cu (Hole MDB-027) 21 metres @ 2.42% Cu (Hole MDB-026) - IP program indicates extension of Kasala Main Zone to the south east -------------------------------------------------------------------------

VANCOUVER, Jan. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - El Nino Ventures Inc. ("ELN" and the "Company") (TSX.V: ELN; Frankfurt: E7Q) is pleased to announce the drilling results from its Kasala Project (P.R. 5214) in the Democratic Republic of Congo ("DRC"). These results confirm the presence of significant mineralization within the Kasala Main Zone with the potential for expansion based on our recently completed Induced Polarization ("IP") Survey. The Company has a 70 percent interest in this project with an option to earn up to 90 percent on terms to be negotiated and the Company holds title to this property through one of its Congolese subsidiaries.

The Company completed 56 Reverse Circulation ("RC") drill holes (totaling 5883 metres) and 20 Diamond Drill ("DD") drill holes (totaling 3583.6 metres) across the P.R. 5214 permit. Of these holes, 35 RC holes (totaling 3336 metres) and 15 DD holes (totaling 2458.6 metres) were completed within the Kasala Main Zone area (Figure 1).

Allan Lines, exploration manager for El Nino Ventures Inc., reports that "with the latest assay results we have confirmed that copper mineralization in the Kasala area has a minimum strike length of approximately 800 metres and a width of approximately 250 metres. Intersections in some of the drill holes completed in 2008 indicate thicknesses of as much as 91 metres. The Kasala Main Zone is still open in all directions and at depth.

The copper mineralization at Kasala is hosted in a series of pervasively fractured (due to the intersection of two, and possibly three, faults) dolomitic shales and breccias of the Mwashya Group. The Mwashya is the upper-most unit of the Roan Supergroup which hosts the majority of large copper and cobalt deposits in the Congolese Copper Belt.

Figure 1. - Kasala Main Zone Area http://www.elninoventures.com/i/misc/map1eln.jpg

Three distinct types of copper mineralization have been noted at Kasala: firstly, oxide copper mineralization (malachite) as fracture coatings and small agglomerations in the fractured shales and breccias; secondly, mixed oxide (malachite) and sulphide (chalcocite) copper mineralization in iron-rich mudstones in which the oxide mineralization is found as veinlets and fracture coatings and the sulphide mineralization occurs as disseminated grains; and, thirdly, sulphide (chalcopyrite) mineralization as stockwork veinlets and disseminated grains in a graphitic shale which was discovered in a faulted contact with overlying breccias in MDB-DD-019.

The oxide copper mineralization in the fractured shales and breccias is typically lower-grade but often presents as a very thick sequence, resulting in drill intercepts of as much as 90 plus metres. The mixed oxide/sulphide copper mineralization is typically high grade material (3% to 6% Cu) found to be between 5 and 10 metres in thickness. The sulphide copper mineralization as found in the graphitic shales can be high grade (between 3% and 7% Cu), with a thickness in some instances greater than 20 metres.

Another important indication of the potential of the Kasala area comes from RC Hole MDB-016, which returned an intercept of low grade copper mineralization over a width of 12 metres (between 57 and 69 metres), with a one metre intersection (59 to 60 metres) within this zone delivering grades of 1.22% lead and 1.51% zinc, providing the first positive indication of polymetallic mineralization in the Kasala area. The area of MDB-016, which is located approximately 100 metres south of the Kasala Main Zone, will be the target of additional investigations to gauge the extent of lead and zinc mineralization in this area.

An IP survey has now been completed across the Kasala area and an additional area to the northwest of the Kasala Main Zone which is being referred to as Kasala Nord. The IP program over the Kasala Main Zone has delineated an extension of the zone to the southeast of the area of the 2008 drilling campaign, this has identified a number of additional drill targets which will be tested during the 2009 drill program. The IP program over the Kasala Nord area has also generated several targets for additional testing - a detailed soil sampling program is planned for this area, the results of which, in conjunction with the IP data will be used to plan a scope drilling program over the Kasala Nord area.

The 2009 field campaign is planned to include additional detailed soil sampling on the Kasala Main Zone and Kasala Nord, an extension of the IP grid on the Kasala Main Zone towards to the south east, and 7,500 metres of DD to test newly determined targets on the Kasala Main Zone."

Jean Luc Roy President & CEO of ELN states: "These results confirm that our 2008 drilling campaign has proven to be very successful. The Kasala project will be the primary focus for the Company's 2009 advanced exploration program. This project, combined with our other highly prospective research permits in the DRC, position El Nino to grow and succeed in its goal of confirming a mineable deposit in the DRC.

The Kasala project has returned for the Company very consistent and significant results which the Company will build upon in 2009. An extension of the Main Zone has been identified by the IP program that was completed in December 2008. The Company has a 70 percent interest in the Project and has an option to earn up to 90 percent on terms to be negotiated. This project is not subject to the Mining Review being carried out by the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo and title on this property is held by a Congolese Subsidiary controlled by the Company, with a 70 percent interest in the share capital."

The content of this press release has been reviewed by Mr. Benoit M. Violette, P. Geo., consulting geologist and the Qualified Person under NI-43-101.

All samples from the drilling program were collected following strict quality controls and were then dispatched to ALS Chemex Laboratories in Johannesburg, South Africa for assay.

About El Nino Ventures

El Nino Ventures is a junior exploration company, focused on exploring for Copper/Cobalt in the DRC. El Nino has an option to acquire a 70% interest in over 350 square kilometers in the world renowned copper belt in the DRC. In addition to our copper and cobalt projects in the DRC, the Company has zinc properties in Ireland and holds a 50 percent interest on an extensive land package in the Bathurst Mining Camp of Xstrata Zinc Canada.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors (signed) Jean Luc Roy, President and CEO Table 1: Drilling Highlights - Kasala Project http://www.elninoventures.com/i/misc/table1eln.jpg The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Note: this release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements may differ materially from actual future events or results and are based on current expectations or beliefs. For this purpose, statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements include statements in which the Company uses words such as "continue", "efforts", "expect", "believe", "anticipate", "confident", "intend", "strategy", "plan", "will", "estimate", "project", "goal", "target", "prospects", "optimistic" or similar expressions. These statements by their nature involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially depending on a variety of important factors, including, among others, the Company's ability and continuation of efforts to timely and completely make available adequate current public information, additional or different regulatory and legal requirements and restrictions that may be imposed, and other factors as may be discussed in the documents filed by the Company on SEDAR (www.sedar.com), including the most recent reports that identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake any obligation to review or confirm analysts' expectations or estimates or to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

SOURCE El Nino Ventures Inc.

Source: PR Newswire

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