Excellon Resources declares force majeure at La Platosa

Toronto Stock Exchange - EXN

TORONTO, Aug. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - Excellon Resources Inc. (TSX: EXN) ("Excellon" or "the Company") today announced that it has declared force majeure in respect of its concentrate delivery contracts with Consorcio Minero De Mexico Cormin Mex, S.A. DE C.V. ("Trafigura"), located in Manzanillo, Mexico, due to the ongoing illegal blockade at the Company's La Platosa mine in the state of Durango, Mexico.  The blockade was commenced by the Ejido de La Sierrita (the "Ejido") on July 8, 2012, with the assistance and funding of the non-governmental organization ProDESC and Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores Mineros Metalúrgicos, Siderúrgicos y Similares de la República Mexicana, affiliated with the United Steelworkers Union of Canada.

Criminal charges for trespassing were laid more than four weeks ago, immediately following the commencement of the blockade.  On the evening of Monday, August 6, 2012 the Company notified the Mexican federal government that it would be imminently required to declare force majeure unless the illegal blockade was removed. Despite that notice and the evident urgency of the situation, no actions were taken by authorities to prosecute the outstanding criminal charges and uphold the law.

The Company continues to meet regularly with local, state and federal governments in Mexico in an effort to resolve the situation. La Platosa remains under care and maintenance during the illegal action.

About Excellon
Excellon, a mineral resource company operating in Durango and Zacatecas States, Mexico, and Ontario and Quebec, Canada, is committed to building value through production, expansion and discovery.  Excellon is Mexico's highest-grade silver producer; it produces silver, lead and zinc from the high-grade manto Mineral Resource on its large, 100% owned Platosa Property, strategically located in the middle of the Mexican CRD/silver belt. Excellon's focus is on expanding its operating capacity and increasing its Mineral Resources at Platosa where an exploration program focused on diamond drilling and advanced geophysical techniques is ongoing. The Platosa Property, not fully explored, has several geological indicators of a large mineralized system.  The Miguel Auza Mill Operation in Zacatecas also has 41,000 hectares of underexplored land.  Excellon also has ongoing gold exploration programs on the DeSantis Project, located near Timmins, Ontario and the Beschefer Project, located in northwestern Quebec.  Both these projects host gold mineralization and significant potential for the discovery of more.  Excellon will continue to use cash from operations to fund its ongoing exploration activities.

On behalf of

EXCELLON RESOURCES INC.

Peter A. Crossgrove
Executive Chairman

The Toronto Stock Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this Press Release, which has been prepared by management. This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 27E of the Exchange Act. Such statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the future results of operations, performance and achievements of the Company, including potential property acquisitions, the timing, content, cost and results of proposed work programs, the discovery and delineation of mineral deposits/resources/reserves, geological interpretations, proposed production rates, potential mineral recovery processes and rates, business and financing plans, business trends and future operating revenues. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located, significant downward variations in the market price of any minerals produced [particularly silver], the Company's inability to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for its activities, to produce minerals from its properties successfully or profitably, to continue its projected growth, to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies. All of the Company's public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedar.com and readers are urged to review these materials, including the technical reports filed with respect to the Company's mineral properties, and particularly the November 22, 2011 NI 43-101-compliant technical report prepared by Roscoe Postle Associates Inc. with respect to the Platosa Property. This press release is not, and is not to be construed in any way as, an offer to buy or sell securities in the United States.

SOURCE Excellon Resources Inc.