Ascendant Copper Reports on Relogging of Core Samples at Junin Copper Porphyry Project, Ecuador.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Ascendant Copper Corporation ("Ascendant" or "the Company") (TSX:ACX)(TSX:ACX.WT) announced today that it has completed the relogging of approximately 10,000 meters of core samples from its Junin copper prospect, located in Northern Ecuador. The geological observations from this work confirm the presence of a large porphyry copper, hydrothermal, system similar in mineralization and alteration to the copper deposits of Chile. These core samples are part of the information obtained from the Bishi Metals exploration program on the project done in the mid to late 1990s. Copper and molybdenum mineralization on the Junin project occurs primarily as bornite, chalcopyrite and molybdenite associated with multiple staged stock work veining and breccias. Logging shows that the intensity of cupriferous mineralization occurs at depth. Of the 30 original core holes drilled by Bishi Metals, only four reached a vertical depth of 600 meters. Each of these four holes bottomed in intensely altered and mineralized porphyry of plus 0.75% copper with significant molybdenum. Three of the four holes have encountered plus 0.75% copper over an intercept in excess of 200 meters.

The Company has recently retained the services of John R. King, B.S. Geology, M.S. Economic Geology, to support its technical staff in Ecuador. Mr. Gary E. Davis, President of Ascendant, states, "I have known Mr. King for over 20 years. He has earned a reputation as an expert in copper porphyries and will provide much added value to furthering our understanding of both of the Company's primary assets -- the Junin Project as well as the Chaucha copper porphyry." In his career, Mr. King has worked for such notable copper companies as ASARCO and Anaconda Minerals. He has also been involved in preparation of numerous feasibility studies.

Obtaining the social license for the advancement of the Junin Project remains the top priority of the Company. The Company has completed the initial draft of the Environmental Impact Study ("EIS") for the proposed exploration program on the Junin Project and has commenced the process of obtaining comments from representatives of the community and the local governments, prior to submitting the EIS to the Ecuadorian Ministry of Energy and Mines for final approval.

Unfortunately, this consultation process is being contested by a small but vocal faction of the community that does not want mineral exploration or development of any kind in the area. Last week, in two separate incidents, five persons -- four of whom are contracted to the Company, as well as one government official -- were detained for up to eight hours. "It is believed that several of the people who may have been responsible for these actions were also involved in the destruction of the Company's medical clinic and demonstration farm in December 2005," said Davis. In response to these activities, five arrest orders have been issued by the local authorities and should be served within the next few days. The Ecuadorian Ministry of Energy and Mines has promised its full support in seeing that law and order is restored and maintained in the region.

"While these acts are unfortunate, they are acts of a small and distinct minority in the region," said Davis. "We will continue to finish the EIS and submit it to the Ministry in order to obtain the drilling permits necessary to take advantage of the upcoming summer season. The vast majority of the people in these communities want this project -- which is committed to adhering to best industry practices on environmental and social matters -- to move forward, and they recognize the many economic, as well as environmental, benefits to the region that will result from it," concluded Davis.

Ascendant's principal business is the exploration for copper in Ecuador. The primary property is the Junin Project located in northern Ecuador, a copper-molybdenum, gold and silver porphyry property with an inferred mineral resource of 982 million tonnes grading 0.89% copper, 0.04% molybdenum and 1.9 grams per ton of silver, at a 0.4% copper cut-off grade(1). The Company also is advancing the Chaucha property located in southern Ecuador, a copper-molybdenum porphyry overlain by an extensive supergene blanket. The Chaucha property is currently classified as a geologic mineral property(2).

Ascendant Copper Corporation

Gerald E. (Gary) Davis, President and CEO 

(1) See www.sedar.com "Technical Report Review of the Quartz Porphyry-Hosted Copper-Molybdenum Mineralisation at Junin, Otavalo, Ecuador" prepared by Qualified Person, Paul D. Gribble, C. Eng., Senior Mineral Resources Geologist, of Micon International Co Limited.

(2) See www.sedar.com "Technical Report dated April 8, 2005, and amended August 5, 2005, Review of the Quartz Porphyry-Hosted Copper-Molybdenum Mineralisation at Chaucha, Cuenca, Ecuador" prepared by Qualified Persons, Paul D. Gribble, C. Eng., Senior Mineral Resources Geologist, and David T. Wells, Senior Metallurgist, of Micon. The Chaucha property is presently classified only as a geologic mineral property.

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Ascendant Copper Corporation (TSX:ACX) (TSX:ACX.WT)