TORONTO, April 22, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pure Nickel Inc. (TSX-V:NIC) (the "Company") is pleased to announce favourable results for a nickel deportment study completed for the Eureka Zone Nickel (Ni) –Copper (Cu) –Cobalt (Co) –Platinum Group Elements (PGE) occurrence on the MAN Property in Alaska. The results indicate that the majority of the nickel in the Eureka Zone mineralization is hosted by potentially recoverable Ni- Iron (Fe) sulphides (63%) and Ni-Fe alloys (12.3%). Only 20% of the nickel is unrecoverable in silicate minerals. These results confirm the favourable deportment of nickel between sulphides and silicates, and provide an important step forward in our understanding of the potential for economic recovery of metals from the Eureka Zone on the MAN Property.

The nickel deportment study employed QEMscan (Quantitative Evaluation of Materials by Scanning Electron Microscopy), XRF, XRD, electron microprobe and wet chemistry methods to determine the nature and proportions of nickel bearing minerals for a composite sample of the Eureka Zone mineralization. The composite was prepared from coarse rejects of assay samples for the Eureka Zone intersection in drill hole PNI-13-069. Intersection depths were between 160.3 meters and 294.0 meters in this drill hole, an estimated true thickness of 126.6 meters for the zone. Assay results for the original sampling of PNI-13-069 were reported in a press release dated October 29, 2013. Metal concentrations for the composite sample as determined at SGS Minerals Services as part of the deportment study are reported in Table 1.

Table 1. Eureka Zone composite sample head grade. Gold (Au), Platinum (Pt) and Palladium (Pd) by fire assay analysis. Silver (Ag) by 4 acid digestion with AA finish. Ni, Co, Cu by XRF. Sulpher (S) by Leco.

The purpose of the study was to identify the potentially recoverable nickel-bearing minerals in the mineralized zone. The study concluded that 75.3% of the nickel in the composite sample occurs in the potentially recoverable phases Ni-Fe sulphides and Ni-Fe alloys. Only 20% of the total nickel in the composite sample occurs in unrecoverable silicate phases. The remaining proportion of nickel occurs in Fe-sulphides, Fe-alloys, chromite, and sulphide alteration minerals. Nickel deportment results are summarized in Table 2.

Table 2. Nickel deportment in composite sample from the Eureka Zone. Based on QEMscan analysis (see www.sgs.com for details)

The Eureka Zone is a zone of disseminated Ni-Cu-PGE bearing sulphide mineralization that occurs in the Alpha mafic-ultramafic intrusive complex on the Company's MAN Property. The Alpha intrusive complex measures 33 kilometers in length and up to 3 kilometers wide at surface. To date, the Eureka Zone has been identified over a 15 kilometer-long strike length (Figure1), and it is likely that additional work will extend the mineralization further along the complex. Based on 21 drill hole intersections in the central 5.7 kilometer-long portion of the Eureka Zone, the mineralization has a weighted average thickness of 203 meters, and a weighted average grade of 0.23% Ni, 0.08% Cu, 0.02% Co, 170 ppb Au+Pt+Pd and 0.51 g/t Ag. Insufficient drilling has been completed on the Eureka Zone to complete a compliant resource estimate.

Figure 1. Distribution of the Eureka Zone in the Alpha mafic-ultramafic complex on the MAN Property. Approximately half of the Alpha Complex remains to be investigated for continuations of the zone. Collar locations are shown for drill holes that intersected the Eureka Zone.

A photo accompanying this release is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=24855

To view an enhanced image of the MAN Project, please visit: http://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/1014/9572_enhancedx2x1.jpg

Analytical Methods

All analytical work was performed by SGS Minerals Services, an ISO 9001 certified testing laboratory. A composite sample was prepared from the coarse rejects from 87 original assay samples from drill hole PNI-13-069 by riffling 5% of each sample and blending to produce a composite weighing approximately 7 kg. A 1 kg split of the composite was riffled off for QEMscan analysis as well as qualitative XRD analysis, whole rock and PGE analysis by XRF and fire assay, and Davis Tube testing. A split of 420 g was used in the QEMscan analysis: this split was pulverized to a P80 of 106 μm and screened into three size fractions, +53 μm, -53/+20 μm, and -20 μm. A split from each screen size was analyzed for whole rock majors and trace elements and sulphur by XRF, fire assay and Leco analyses. The remaining sample from each screen size was riffle split to produce 1 g subsamples, which were then prepared as polished sections for analysis by QEMscan and electron microprobe.

Jon Findlay, Ph.D., P.Geo, Pure Nickel's senior geologist, is the designated Qualified Person (QP) for the MAN project.

About Pure Nickel Inc.

Pure Nickel Inc. is a mineral exploration company with a diverse collection of nickel, copper and platinum group element exploration projects in North America. In 2013 the Company completed a US$3,000,000 exploration program on the MAN Property in Alaska. In addition, the Company has recently received permitting for a drill program on its 100% owned Salt Chuck Property in south-eastern Alaska.

Forward Looking Statements

Some of the statements contained herein may be forward-looking statements which involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization and resources, exploration results, expectations, plans, and objectives of Pure Nickel are forward-looking statements that involve various risks. The following are important factors that could cause Pure Nickel's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements: changes in the world wide price of mineral commodities, general market conditions, risks inherent in mineral exploration, risks associated with development, construction and mining operations, the uncertainty of future exploration activities and cash flows, and the uncertainty of access to additional capital. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events may differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Pure Nickel undertakes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

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CONTACT: Pure Nickel Inc.
         David McPherson
         T. (416) 644-0066
         [email protected]
         www.purenickel.com
         
         CHF Investor Relations
         Cathy Hume
         T. (416) 868-1079 x 231
         [email protected]
         www.chfir.com