Nevsun Reports Final High Grade Infill Drill Results at Timok Upper Zone

VANCOUVER, July 19, 2017 /CNW/ - Nevsun Resources Ltd. (TSX:NSU) (NYSE MKT:NSU) ("Nevsun" or the "Company") is pleased to announce final assay results from the recently completed infill drilling of the Upper Zone at the Company's Timok copper-gold project ("Timok Project") in Serbia.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Drilling confirms continuity and the high-grade nature of the Upper Zone
• New massive and semi-massive sulphide intersections include:
• 16.94% Cu and 6.97g/t Au over 25.5m, within 4.46% Cu and 2.38g/t Au over 280.0m in TC160146B
• 15.86% Cu and 7.69g/t Au over 27.0m, within 5.18% Cu and 2.28g/t Au over 274.5m in TC170157
• 20.57% Cu and 9.17g/t Au over 49.5m, within 6.77% Cu and 3.67g/t Au over 265.5m in TC160147
• 15.63% Cu and 12.28g/t Au over 19.5m, within 5.37% Cu and 4.94g/t Au over 177.0m in TC160142
• Exploration drilling for additional Upper Zone type deposits underway

Nevsun CEO, Peter Kukielski, commented, "The high-grade assays reported today are the final holes from the infill drill program for the Timok Upper Zone.This drilling is enabling development of improved geological and geotechnical models and we expect an upgrade to a high percentage of the resources. We are also excited to have exploration for additional Upper Zone type deposits underway.At the Bor operation, just five kilometres away, there were in excess of twenty separate high sulphidation epithermal "upper zone" type deposits, we believe the possibility of finding additional deposits should be high."

Detailed drill results, sections and a plan map of drill hole locations are attached to this news release.Holes are designed to intersect the high sulphidation mineralization at 80 to 95% of true width.

Timok Copper-Gold Project

The Timok Project is located in eastern Serbia near the Bor mining and smelting complex. The Timok Project is focussed on the Cukaru Peki ("Timok") deposit which includes the high grade Upper Zone (characterized by massive and semi-massive sulphide mineralization) and the Lower Zone (characterized by porphyry-style mineralization).

Timok Upper Zone

The high sulphidation epithermal mineralization (HSE) in the Upper Zone comprises massive sulphide, semi-massive and also vein, stockwork, dissemination and hydrothermal breccia matrix sulphide hosted by strongly altered andesite. The HSE mineralization forms a single coherent zone at depths ranging from 400 to over 800m below surface. Pyrite is the dominant sulphide mineral and covellite the principal copper mineral with lesser enargite, bornite and chalcocite occurring in veins, hydrothermal breccias, disseminations and replacement. Gold correlates with the copper sulphides preferentially occurring within pyrite bordering the copper sulphides.

Quality Assurance

Drill core samples were collected in accordance with protocols that are compatible with accepted industry procedures and best practice. The Company conducts its own analysis of QAQC generated by the systematic inclusion of certified reference materials, blank samples and duplicate samples. The analytical results from the quality control samples have been evaluated and have been demonstrated to conform to best practice standards.

Mr. Peter Manojlovic, P.Geo., Nevsun's VP Exploration, is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101.Mr. Manojlovic has reviewed the technical content of this press release and approved its dissemination.

About Nevsun Resources Ltd.

Nevsun Resources Ltd. is the 100% owner of the high-grade copper-gold Timok Upper Zone and 60% owner of the Timok Lower Zone in Serbia. Nevsun generates cash flow from its 60% owned copper-zinc Bisha Mine in Eritrea.Nevsun is well positioned with a strong debt-free balance sheet to grow shareholder value through advancing Timok to production.

Forward Looking Statements

The above contains forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "hopes", "intends", "estimated", "potential", "possible" and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions or results "will", "may", "could" or "should" occur or be achieved.Forward-looking statements are statements concerning the Company's current beliefs, plans and expectations about the future, including but not limited to statements and information made concerning: statements relating to the business, prospects and future activities of, and developments related to the Company, anticipated dividends, goals, strategies, future growth, planned future acquisitions and explorations activities, the adequacy of financial resources and other events or conditions that may occur in the future, and are inherently uncertain. The actual achievements of the Company or other future events or conditions may differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements due to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors, including, without limitation, the risks that: (i) any of the assumptions in the historical resource estimates turn out to be incorrect, incomplete, or flawed in any respect; (ii) the methodologies and models used to prepare the resource and reserve estimates either underestimate or overestimate the resources or reserves due to hidden or unknown conditions, (iii) exploration activities or the mine operations are disrupted or suspended due to acts of god, internal conflicts in the country, unforeseen government actions or other events; (iv) the Company experiences the loss of key personnel; (v) the Company's operations or exploration activities are adversely affected by other political or military, or terrorist activities; (vi) the Company becomes involved in any material disputes with any of its key business partners, suppliers or customers; (vii) the Company is subjected to any hostile takeover or other unsolicited attempts to acquire control of the Company; (viii) the Company is subject to any adverse ruling in any of the pending litigation to which it is a party and other risks are more fully described in the Company's Annual Information Form for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, which are incorporated herein by reference.The Company's forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, expectations and opinions of management on the date the statements are made and the Company assumes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements in the future, except as required by law.For the reasons set forth above, investors should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements.

Further information concerning risks and uncertainties associated with these forward-looking statements and our business can be found in our Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2016, which is available on the Company's website (www.nevsun.com), filed under our profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) and on EDGAR (www.sec.gov) under cover of Form 40-F.

NEVSUN RESOURCES LTD.

"Peter G.J. Kukielski"

Peter G.J. Kukielski
President & Chief Executive Officer

SOURCENevsun Resources Ltd.

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