Ero Copper Corp. (TSX: ERO) is pleased to provide a quarterly update on the ongoing exploration drill programs at its Pilar and Vermelhos mineral districts, both part of its 99.6% owned Vale do Curaçá Property located in Bahia State, Brazil, as well the first exploration update on the Company’s 97.6% owned NX Gold Mine located in Mato Grosso State, Brazil.  This update encompasses drill results received for the Company’s ongoing exploration programs from December 2018 through to the end of March 2019. 

HIGHLIGHTS

Twenty four drill rigs are currently operating throughout the Curaçá Valley, including 11 within the Vermelhos District and 13 within the Pilar District. Three of these drill rigs are testing high-priority regional exploration targets located within these districts.

Within the Vermelhos District, where 11 drill rigs are currently operating including eight focused on long-term exploration, drill results during the period reflect meaningful increases in both previously modeled thickness and the known extent of mineralization of the Vermelhos Mine and District.  When combined with results of the recently completed regional airborne geophysical survey and data compilation programs, the results continue to indicate significant potential for extensions of the Vermelhos Mine along a north-northeast trending structure that, to-date, has been interpreted to extend over 5.5 kilometers.  Vermelhos Mine and District drill results are highlighted by the following zones (please refer to complete table of results for additional information):

°  Southern extension of high-grade mineralization adjacent to existing infrastructure, including hole FVS-354 that intersected 17.0 meters grading 6.76% copper including 3.0 meters grading 17.19% copper, and hole FVS-364 that intersected 9.4 meters grading 1.66% copper and 24.6 meters grading 7.56% copper including 7.7 meters grading 15.97% copper. These holes indicate mineralized continuity in areas previously defined as discrete lenses south of the Sombrero orebody.

°  Central expansions of the mineralized thickness of the Toboggan orebody, highlighted by hole FVS-337 that intersected 23.8 meters grading 8.06% copper including 8.0 meters grading 9.20% copper and hole FVS-355 that intersected 25.0 meters grading 7.32% copper including 16.0 meters grading 9.67% copper, a 70% increase in the modeled thicknesses of the mineralization in the immediate area surrounding these new results.

°  Regionally within the Vermelhos District, exploration drilling below the known extent of mineralization at Vermelhos West (now referred to as the “N8 Deposit”), located approximately 1.1 kilometers north of the Vermelhos Mine, demonstrate continuity of mineralization at depth. Results are highlighted by hole FV-130 that intersected multiple lenses of mineralization including 17.2 meters grading 1.16% copper and 15.4 meters grading 1.81% copper.

°  While the aforementioned programs remain ongoing, exploration drilling within the Vermelhos District is now focused on a north-northeast mineralized trend encompassing the Vermelhos Mine, East Zone, N8 Deposit and several high-priority regional targets located south and to the north of the Vermelhos Mine – a combined strike length of approximately 5.5 kilometers.

Within the Pilar District, where 13 drill rigs are currently operating, including nine focused on long-term exploration, underground drilling has identified a high-grade zone of mineralization in the southern portion of the West Limb.  In addition, a newly identified and now digitized historic drill database encompassing 53 drill holes, of which 20 have been validated under the Company’s quality assurance and quality control (“QA/QC”) program, has significantly extended the drilled extent of the West Limb. The historic database was discovered during the Company’s ongoing data digitization program. The data encompasses an area within the West Limb measuring approximately 300 meters in length by 275 meters in depth located immediately south of the previously defined resource model of the West Limb. The 33 remaining historic drill samples are being systematically reviewed and validated via re-assaying and twin-hole drilling as required.  West Limb results during the period are highlighted by:

°  A newly identified and digitized historical database resulting in a significant extension of the drilled extent of the West Limb, highlighted by hole FC3798 that intersected 11.0 meters grading 1.95% copper and hole FC3837 that intersected 20.0 meters grading 1.23% copper.

°  New results drilled by the Company in the southern portion of the West Limb are highlighted by a cluster of high-grade holes including: FC38157 that intersected 16.7 meters grading 3.31% copper including 3.0 meters grading 7.85% copper and FC38159 that intersected 10.5 meters grading 4.00% copper including 3.0 meters grading 8.70% copper. These drill results are significant as they were drilled approximately 100 meters south of the previously defined resource model of the West Limb zone and approximately 250 meters south of the P1P2W mining area within the West Limb and within the area of the newly discovered historic database. In addition to these results, hole FC3482 that intersected 9.0 meters grading 1.82% copper and hole FC3843 that intersected 6.3 meters grading 2.16% copper were drilled approximately 250 meters south of the previously defined resource model of the West Limb zone, and another 150 meters south of the holes highlighted previously.

Drilling in the Deepening Extension zone, located in the Pilar Mine, continues to extend mineralization beyond what was previously believed to be the southern limits of the mine’s mineral resources at depth.  The results are highlighted by hole FC38162 that intersected 13.2 meters grading 1.58% copper including 6.0 meters grading 2.06% copper.  These new results, when combined with previously announced exploration results (see press release dated December 11, 2018), highlight that the Deepening Extension remains open to depth and to the south.

At the Company’s 97.6% owned NX Gold Mine, where six long-term exploration drill rigs are currently operating, a significant new discovery was made.  The new discovery, known as Santo Antonio, is a new zone of mineralization located between and on-trend of the Bras and Buracão veins. To-date, mineralization has been delineated over approximately 400 meters in strike-length and approximately 200 meters down-dip and remains open to depth. Development into this new vein has commenced while drilling to confirm the extent of mineralization remains ongoing. The Santo Antonio discovery is highlighted by drill holes:

°  SA13 that intersected 3.0 meters grading 19.38 grams per tonne gold

°  SA22 that intersected 3.8 meters grading 19.03 grams per tonne gold

°  SA31 that intersected 8.8 meters grading 6.89 grams per tonne gold

Expansions and extensions as referenced herein reflect mineralization not captured in the Company’s mineral resource and mineral reserve models used in the current National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”) compliant mineral resource and reserves.  Currently, 24 drill rigs are operating within the Curaçá Valley and six drill rigs are operating at the NX Gold Mine.

VERMELHOS DISTRICT

The Vermelhos District is located approximately 80 kilometers to the north of the Pilar Mine and Caraíba Mill complex and includes the newly constructed high-grade Vermelhos Mine.  Drilling is focused on expansion and new discovery initiatives (including the Vermelhos East Zone) within and immediately adjacent to the Vermelhos Mine, and on near-mine targets identified during the Company’s regional airborne survey and subsequent data compilation work. The Vermelhos system, encompassing the Vermelhos Mine, East Zone and N8 Deposit, is now believed to extend over 5.5 kilometers in strike length.  Eleven drill rigs are currently operating within the District, including eight focused on long-term exploration.

Vermelhos Main Orebody Expansions

Exploration drilling within the main Vermelhos orebodies continues to target expansions and extensions of the mineral resource, with a focus during the period on both infill drilling and testing several electromagnetic (“EM”) anomalies identified during the Company’s systematic and ongoing bore hole EM programs.  Drilling during the period continued to expand and extend the mineral resource and mineral reserve models of the Vermelhos Mine as set out in the current NI 43-101 compliant technical report.

Thirteen holes drilled during the period highlight both extension and expansion of the previously modeled southern extent of the mineralization within the Sombrero orebody of the Vermelhos Mine.  Significant results are highlighted by hole FVS-326 that intersected 21.4 meters grading 5.52% copper including 9.2 meters grading 7.64% copper; hole FVS-354 that intersected 17.0 meters grading 6.76% copper including 3.0 meters grading 17.19% copper, and hole FVS-364 that intersected 9.4 meters grading 1.66% copper and 24.6 meters grading 7.56% copper including 7.7 meters grading 15.97% copper.  These holes are significant as this area of the Sombrero orebody was previously modeled as small discrete lenses at the southern edge of the orebody, rather than as a more continuous high-grade extension of the mineralization of the Sombrero orebody.

Additionally, nine drill holes were drilled during the period that demonstrate central expansions of the Toboggan orebody of the Vermelhos Mine.  The results are highlighted by hole FVS-337 that intersected 23.8 meters grading 8.06% copper including 8.0 meters grading 9.20% copper and hole FVS-355 that intersected 25.0 meters grading 7.32% copper including 16.0 meters grading 9.67% copper.  The mineralized thicknesses of these intercepts are significant as, together, they represent an approximate 70% increase in the modeled thicknesses of the mineralization in the immediate area surrounding these holes when compared to the current mineral resource and reserve estimate.

Please see Figure 1 for drill collar locations and Figure 2 for a north-south long section of the Vermelhos Mine including the N8 Deposit and the East Zone.

Sombrero South Expansion

Toboggan Central Expansion

Vermelhos East Zone Extension

The Vermelhos East Zone discovery (see press release dated September 25, 2018 for announcement of the Vermelhos East Zone discovery) is located approximately 100 meters to the east of mineralization comprising the main Vermelhos Mine orebodies and lies on the eastern side of an intrusive body.  The zone of mineralization, to date, has been delineated from surface copper oxide mineralization to an interpreted depth of approximately 500 meters below surface.

During the period, results from 15 drill holes were received that highlight extensions of the Vermelhos East Zone, as shown in the following table.  These results are highlighted by drill hole FVS-336 that intersected 5.0 meters grading 2.04% copper, hole FVS-339 that intercepted 5.5 meters at 1.22% copper and hole FVS-362 that intersected 11.1 meters grading 1.75% copper. These holes continue to demonstrate continuity of the East Zone from surface to a depth of over 500 meters below surface. Drilling to extend the previously announced high-grade near-surface portion of the East Zone (see press release dated December 11, 2018) is underway.  Please see Figure 1 for collar locations and Figure 2 for a north-south long section including the Vermelhos East Zone.

Vermelhos West (N8)

The N8 Deposit, previously referred to as Vermelhos West, lies in the northern part of an interpreted semi-continuous system, encompassing the Vermelhos Mine, the Vermelhos East Zone, the N8 deposit and new regional targets to the south and to the north of the Vermelhos Mine. Drilling is underway to evaluate continuity and mineralized extent of the system as well as evaluate the high-priority targets to the south of the mine.

During the period, four holes were drilled to test continuity of mineralization below the previously defined resource model.  Please see Figure 1 for collar locations and Figure 2 for a north-south long section of the N8 Deposit and Vermelhos East Zone.

PILAR DISTRICT

The Pilar District encompasses the area surrounding the Pilar underground mine, Caraíba Mill complex and the past producing Pilar open pit and R22 Mines.  13 drill rigs are currently operating within the District comprised of eight underground drill rigs and five surface drill rigs. 

During the period, expansion and extensional drilling continued to focus on the West Limb and Deepening Extension zones.  Four underground and four surface drill rigs are currently undertaking long-term exploration drilling focused on evaluating the extent of the West Limb while four underground short-term core rigs are operating in the Deepening Extension zone (see the Company’s press release dated May 17, 2018 for the announcement of the West Limb discovery).  

West Limb

Exploration drilling at the West Limb is focused on infill, extension and twin-hole drilling of the previously announced West Limb discovery.  Underground drilling during the period was focused on testing the southern extent of mineralization within the West Limb. Results during the period were highlighted by a cluster of four drill holes (FC38157, FC38159, FC38160 and FC38161) that intersected high-grade copper mineralization located approximately 100 meters south of the previously defined resource model of the West Limb zone and approximately 250 meters south of the P1P2W mining area within the West Limb. Additionally, hole FC3482 and hole FC3843 were drilled approximately 250 meters south of the previously defined resource model of the West Limb zone, and another 150 meters south of the holes highlighted previously. Exploration drilling on the West Limb continues to test the southern limits of mineralization.

During the period, results from 16 underground drill holes were received that highlight extensional drilling of the West Limb, as shown in the following table. Please see Figure 3 for a north-south long section of the West Limb drill results.

West Limb – New Drilling

In addition to these new drill results, and as part of the Company’s ongoing historic data digitization programs, a historic drill database was identified and digitized during the period resulting in a significant extension of the drilled extent of the West Limb.  While this zone is within the known mineralized trend of the West Limb as previously defined, the Company can now prioritize drilling within less defined sections of the West Limb leading up to the Company’s mid-year mineral resource and reserve update, expected to be released during the third quarter of 2019.  The database encompasses 53 drill holes, of which 20 have been validated under the Company’s QA/QC program, and are shown in the following table. Please see Figure 3 for a north-south long section of the West Limb drill results.

West Limb – Historic Database Validation

The Deepening Extension

The Deepening Extension drilling is currently targeting mineralization on the East Limb of the Pilar Mine between level -725 and level -1040 approximately 1,200 meters to 1,500 meters below surface and approximately 100 meters laterally from the current level of the primary ramp (completed to level -890).

During the period, results for 17 holes were received that continue to demonstrate extensions of the modeled mineralization within the zone.  The results are highlighted by continued extensions beyond what was previously believed to be the southern limit of the Deepening Extension zone in hole FC38162 that intersected 13.2 meters grading 1.58% copper including 6.0 meters grading 2.06% copper as well as hole FC38156 that intersected 5.0 meters grading 1.17% copper. These results, when paired with previously announced results (see press release dated December 11, 2018) continue to indicate that the Deepening Extension remains open to the south.

Please see Figure 4 for a north-south long section of the Deepening Extension zone.

REGIONAL EXPLORATION

The Company has completed the data interpretation and targeting phase of the regional airborne geophysical survey comprised of both electromagnetic and gravity systems.  To date, a significant number of high priority target areas have been identified and detailed analysis of each target area remains ongoing. Further drill testing of high-priority targets, located within the Pilar and Vermelhos Districts, is underway, with one exploration drill rig allocated to a target south of the Pilar Mine and two drill rigs located on a target south of the Vermelhos Mine.

NX GOLD MINE

The NX Gold Mine is a high-grade producing gold mine, located in Mato Grosso State, Brazil. The mine is currently producing approximately 40,000 ounces of gold and 25,000 ounces of silver per annum. Historic and currently contemplated production occurs within two adjacent mineralized quartz veins located along a northeast trend approximately 600 meters apart, known as Brás and Buracão, which are accessed via a single portal and decline. Beginning in late 2018, exploration drilling commenced to evaluate down-plunge extensions of the Bras and Buracão veins, as well as test potential mineralization between Brás and Buracão. Six drill rigs are currently operating on the property.

Since commencing drilling activities, the results for 43 drill holes have been received. A significant  new discovery between Brás and Buracão, known as the Santo Antonio vein, has demonstrated, for the first time, that mineralization exists between Brás and Buracão. This new vein system has been defined over a lateral extent of approximately 400 meters, a down-dip distance of approximately 200 meters and remains open to depth. Drill results from the new discovery are highlighted by hole SA13 that intersected 3.0 meters grading 19.38 grams per tonne gold, SA22 that intersected 3.8 meters grading 19.03 grams per tonne gold and SA31 that intersected 8.8 meters grading 6.89 grams per tonne gold. Drilling and underground development is underway to define the limits of the high-grade and thickest portions of the vein, which remains open. Additionally, results indicate that mineralization continues to depth in some areas of the Brás and Buracão veins and in a new extension to the east of the Brás vein known as the Matinha zone.

Please refer to Figure 5 for drill collar locations and Figure 6 for a east-west long-section of the NX Gold Mine. Drill hole ID nomenclature of BS, SA, BUS and MA refers to Brás, Santo Antonio, Buracão, and Matinha, respectively.

ABOUT ERO COPPER CORP

Ero Copper Corp, headquartered in Vancouver, B.C., is focused on copper production growth from the Vale do Curaçá Property, located in Bahia, Brazil.  The Company’s primary asset is a 99.6% interest in the Brazilian copper mining company, MCSA, 100% owner of the Vale do Curaçá Property with over 39 years of operating history in the region.  The Company currently mines copper ore from the Pilar underground mine, the R22W open pit mine and its newly constructed Vermelhos underground mine.  In addition to the Vale do Curaçá Property, MCSA owns 100% of the Boa Esperanҫa development project, an IOCG-type copper project located in Pará, Brazil and the Company, directly and indirectly, owns 97.6% of the NX Gold Mine, an operating gold and silver mine located in Mato Grosso, Brazil.  Additional information on the Company and its operations, including Technical Reports on the Vale do Curaçá, Boa Esperanҫa and NX Gold properties, can be found on the Company’s website (www.erocopper.com) and on SEDAR (www.sedar.com).

QUALITY ASSURANCE / QUALITY CONTROL

Vale do Curaçá Property

The Company is currently drilling on surface and underground with core drill rigs using a combination of owned and third-party contracted drill rigs.  During the period from August 2018 to November 2018 third party drill rigs were operated by Major Drilling, Layne Christensen Co., and DrillGeo Geologia e Sondagem Ltda., all of whom are independent of the Company.  Drill core is logged, photographed and split in half using a diamond core saw at MCSA’s secure core logging and storage facilities.   Half of the drill core is retained on site and the other half core is used for analysis, with samples collected on one-meter sample intervals unless an interval crosses a geological contact.  Reverse circulation cuttings are split at the drill rig using one-meter sample intervals. All sample preparation is performed in MCSA’s secure on-site laboratory.  Total copper is determined using a nitric-hydrochloric acid digestion and Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (“AAS”) and/or Titration. Oxide copper values are determined using sulfuric acid digestion followed by AAS.  All recent sample results have been monitored through a QA/QC program that includes the insertion of certified standards, blanks, and pulp and reject duplicate samples.  Regular check-assays are submitted to ALS Brasil Ltda’s facility located in Vespasiano, Minas Gerais, Brazil, at a rate of approximately 5%.  ALS Brasil Ltda is independent of the Company.

NX Gold Mine

The Company is currently drilling on surface with third-party contracted core drill rigs.  During the period from August 2018 to March 2019 third party drill rigs were operated by Major Drilling do Brasil Ltda. and Servitec Foraco Sondagem S.A. whom are independent of the Company.  Drill core is logged, photographed and split in half using a diamond core saw at NX Gold’s secure core logging and storage facilities.   Half of the drill core is retained on site and the other half core is used for analysis, with samples collected on half-meter sample intervals for quartz vein and one-meter intervals in surrounding rock unless such interval crosses a geological contact.  Samples are sent to ALS Brasil Ltda.’s  laboratory in Goiânia (Brazil) for preparation and are analyzed by the certified laboratory of ALS Peru S.A., whom are independent of the Company. Gold content was determined by fire assay in 2018. Commencing in January of 2019 gold content has been determined by both fire assay and screen fire assay.  All recent sample results have been monitored through a QA/QC program that includes the insertion of certified standards, blanks, and pulp and reject duplicate samples at a rate of 1 standard, 1 blank, and 1 duplicate pulp sample per every 20 samples for a blended rate of approximately 5%.

Rubens Mendonça, MAusIMM, Chartered Professional – Mining, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this press release.  Mr. Mendonça is a Qualified Person and is independent of the Company as defined by NI 43-101.