Nickel North Exploration Corp.: Hawk Ridge Exploration Program Initiated

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwire - Aug. 14, 2012) - Nickel North Exploration Corp. (TSX VENTURE:NNX) ("Nickel North" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce that upon the completion of the Qualifying Transaction the Company immediately began the 2012 exploration program at the Hawk Ridge Property in Northern Quebec. The Company has an option to earn 100% control of Hawk Ridge which is a 50 km belt of Ni-Cu-PGM deposits over 18,000 hectares in size.

The Hawk Ridge exploration program began August 9th and will include mapping, sampling, splitting and sampling historic diamond drill core and 1,000 meters of diamond drilling. Exploration supplies including jet fuel and drill equipment were delivered by barge in mid-July. The 2012 diamond drilling is designed to test extensions of the known mineralized zones and new mineralized zones identified by the recently flown 2,400 line km Geotech VTEM airborne survey. The Geotech airborne survey was flown over the entire 50 km length and breadth of the Hawk Ridge property and will provide further insight into the understanding for the structural and geological features outlined by the historic 23,000 meters of diamond drilling.

Troymin Resources Ltd. drilled 117 holes during their 1996 to 1997 drill campaign at Hawk Ridge. The Nickel North exploration team will be re-logging and re-sampling the historic drill core previously unsampled or core that was split but was not analyzed for PGM (Platinum Group Metals). Historic geological reports completed in 2001 and 2003 by independent consulting geologists identified potential for PGMs at Hawk Ridge. Analysis of the historic core together with the previously collected data will provide for a better understanding for the unexploited potential for PGMs at Hawk Ridge.

A geological and structural mapping program by our Company's geological consultant, Dr. Gall, is underway on the historically explored mineralized zones. In addition, Nickel North's geophysical consultant, Dr. Shore, is currently selecting potential drill targets from the recently flown Geotech airborne VTEM survey. The Geotech survey was completed by the optionor of the Hawk Ridge Property, Virginia Energy Resources Inc., previously in 2012. The results of the survey were sequestered and unavailable to the Company until Nickel North completed the Qualifying Transaction and became listed on the TSX Venture Exchange.

Phillip Mudry, President and Chief Executive Officer states, "We are very pleased to begin exploration activities at Hawk Ridge. The property has had little to no field work carried out since 1997 allowing us an opportunity to apply new technology and exploration methodologies to a known nickel and copper rich belt."

The 2012 exploration program and analyses will be ongoing in the coming months and results will be released as received and documented.

The technical information in this news release has been reviewed by Phillip Mudry, P.Geol., Nickel North's President and CEO, and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. The Hawk Ridge NI 43-101 technical report has been filed on SEDAR and is available on the company's website at www.nickelnorthexploration.com.


About Nickel North Exploration Corp.

Nickel North is a Canadian based explorer focused on defining a Ni-Cu-PGM resource at our Hawk Ridge Project in Northern Quebec. The board of directors, advisor committee and management team are experienced mine finders. The Hawk Ridge Property, with an option to earn 100% control, is a 50 km belt of Ni-Cu-PGM deposits over 18,000 hectares in size and is located on tidewater. Over 23,000 meters of drilling to date has defined four zones of known mineralization. Quebec is a mining friendly jurisdiction. Nickel North is conscientious corporate citizen, maintains good relations with first nations, and is committed to sustainable development. www.nickelnorthexploration.com


ON BEHALF OF NICKEL NORTH EXPLORATION CORPORATION

Phillip Mudry, President and Chief Executive Officer



Neither 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.



Contact

Nickel North Exploration Corp.
Anthony Srdanovic, Vice President of Finance
(604) 609-6182
www.nickelnorthexploration.com