Silvercorp Reports Underground Diamond Drilling and Tunneling Exploration Results for the Second Half of 2012 at the TLP Mine, Ying Mining District, China

Silvercorp Reports Underground Diamond Drilling and Tunneling Exploration Results for the Second Half of 2012 at the TLP Mine, Ying Mining District, China

APRIL 15, 2013

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA–(Marketwired – April 15, 2013) – Silvercorp Metals Inc. (“Silvercorp” or the “Company”) (TSX:SVM)(NYSE:SVM) is pleased to report the results from its 2012 underground diamond drilling and tunneling exploration programs for the second half of 2012 at the TLP mine, Ying Mining District, Henan Province, China.

Highlights of selected intercepts in drill holes:

--  Hole ZKT0331 intercepted an interval of 1.91 metres ("m"), 1.28m true
    width of vein T33 grading 1,669 grams per tonne ("g/t") silver ("Ag"),
    0.82% lead ("Pb") and 0.29% zinc ("Zn") at the 877m elevation; and an
    interval of 1.11m, 0.74m true width of vein T33E grading 115 g/t Ag,
    0.46% Pb and 0.03% Zn at the 771m elevation;

--  Hole ZKT1731 intercepted an interval of 1.54m, 1.19m true width of vein
    T33E grading 1,016 g/t Ag, 5.48% Pb and 0.80% Zn at the 922m elevation;

--  Hole ZKG0404 intercepted an interval of 3.58m, 2.57m true width of vein
    T16E grading 233 g/t Ag, 1.95% Pb and 0.60% Zn at the 838m elevation,
    including an interval of 0.90m, 0.65m true width grading 702 g/t Ag,
    6.77% Pb and 1.94% Zn; and an interval of 1.67m, 1.22m true width of
    vein T11 grading 1,023 g/t Ag, 6.18% Pb and 0.96% Zn at the 553m
    elevation;

--  Hole ZKG0621 intercepted four veins: an interval of 1.07m, 1.04m true
    width of vein T16E grading 669 g/t Ag, 0.97% Pb and 0.12% Zn at the 838m
    elevation, an interval of 1.13m, 1.10m true width of vein T16E2 grading
    449 g/t Ag, 3.16% Pb and 0.30% Zn at the 806m elevation, an interval of
    0.81m, 0.79m true width of vein T15W1 grading 221 g/t Ag, 0.98% Pb and
    0.13% Zn at the 799m elevation, and an interval of 1.09m, 1.06m true
    width of vein T11 grading 320 g/t Ag, 0.93% Pb and 1.03% Zn at the 729m
    elevation; and

--  Hole ZKG0622 intercepted three veins: an interval of 1.27m, 1.12m true
    width of vein T16E grading 909 g/t Ag, 5.35% Pb and 0.49% Zn at the 837m
    elevation, an interval of 1.59m, 1.26m true width of vein T15W1 grading
    348 g/t Ag, 4.02% Pb and 0.19% Zn at the 770m elevation, and an interval
    of 1.52m, 1.35m true width of vein T15 grading 1,150 g/t Ag, 2.18% Pb
    and 0.10% Zn at the 717m elevation.

The purpose of the 11,916m underground tunneling program in 2012 was to further delineate and upgrade the previous drill-defined resource blocks within major vein structures T1, T1W, T1W1, T1W3, T2, T3, T16, T16W, T22, T33 and T34 between the 510m and the 990m elevations. Drift and crosscut tunnels have been developed at 30m to 50m intervals. A total of 5,619 chip samples were collected. Mineralized zones were exposed in drift tunnels on different levels along the major vein structures.

The 2012 underground diamond drilling program was designed to test the downdip and strike extension of the major mineralized vein structures and to explore for new vein structures. A total of 23,709m in 73 holes was completed and 3,336 core samples were collected. Assay results for 22 holes were received by the end of June 2012 and were reported by the Company on August 27, 2012 via news release.

In the second half of 2012, the Company revised its underground drilling strategy. Instead of focusing on step out drilling at depths below the current mining depth, the Company tested the lateral extensions by conducting in-fill and step-out drilling at shallow depth on the upper portions of the major production vein structures at or above the 700m elevation. As previously reported via news release on February 13, 2013, this strategy has been successful in defining additional high grade mineralization of production veins and discovered several new veins at shallow depth where mine development exits. As of March 10, 2013, assay results for 51 holes had been received. 44 of the 51 holes with new assay results intercepted single or multiple mineralized zones.

Seven new mineralized vein structures, T23, T33W3, T41, T16E1, T16E2, T15W and T15W1 were also discovered as a result of the 2012 underground tunneling and diamond drilling program. A summary of these new vein structures is as follows:

--  Vein structure T15W: T15W is located 10m to 30m parallel to the west of
    vein T15 and the discovery was made by underground drilling from access
    tunnel PD820 at the 820m elevation. The mineralized vein structure has
    been intercepted between the 649m and 796m elevations by 6 holes drilled
    between exploration lines 4 and 6.

--  Vein structure T15W1: T15W1 is located 40m to 70m parallel to the west
    of vein T15 and the discovery was made by underground drilling. The
    mineralized vein structure has been intercepted between the 696m and
    808m elevations by 6 holes drilled between exploration lines 4 and 6.

--  Vein structure T16E1: T16E1 is located 50m to 70m parallel to the east
    of vein T16. The mineralized vein structure has been intercepted between
    the 765m and 828m elevations by 6 holes drilled between exploration
    lines 4 and 6.

--  Vein structure T16E2: T16E2 is located 80m to 90m parallel to the east
    of vein T16. The mineralized vein structure has been intercepted between
    the 735m and 814m elevations by 6 holes drilled between exploration
    lines 4 and 6.

--  Vein structure T23: T23 is located 120m parallel to the east of vein
    T33. Mineralized zones have been intersected by drifting along the vein
    developed on the 930m, 890m and 840m levels between exploration lines 5
    and 11.

--  Vein structure T33W3: T33W3 is located 100m to 120m parallel to the west
    of T33, which was intersected by drifting along the vein at the 800m
    level. A zone of mineralization 105m in length has been defined.

--  Vein structure T41: T41 is located 30m to 40m to the west of vein T27
    and was intersected by a drift tunnel developed on the 930m level. A
    zone of mineralization 40m in length within the vein has been defined.

Tables 1 and 2 below list the assay results of some selected mineralized zones that were exposed in tunnels and via drilling.

In 2013 Silvercorp has planned an exploration and resource development program at the TLP mine consisting of 9,790m of underground tunneling and 14,500m of underground drilling. The goals of the program are: infill drilling of previously defined resource blocks at shallower depths; exploration along strike (lateral) and up dip (shallower) of the extensions of major producing veins; and exploration for parallel vein structures in the hanging wall and footwall of known mineralized veins. Where possible, the program will take advantage of existing underground mine development to access new discoveries and will drive new tunnels as required to provide drill stations in prospective areas beyond the reach of existing mine workings.

Table 1: Selected tunneling results from the TLP Mine

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                Length              Weighted Average
                                    of      --------------------------------
                           Mineralized      Horizontal  True
                  Elevation       Zone           Width Width    Ag   Pb   Zn
Tunnel ID               (m)        (m)  Vein       (m)   (m) (g/t)  (%)  (%)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
PD840-840-T1W3-
 7SYM                   840         40  T1W3      0.52  0.48   451 1.36 0.03
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
PD820-798-T16W-
 12NYM&12SYM            798         55  T16W      0.60  0.56   216 0.71 0.39
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
PD730-730-T34-
 23NYM                  730         65   T34      0.59  0.54   147 4.42 0.27
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
PD840-874-T14-
 21TJ-NYM&SYM           874         55   T14      0.60  0.55   201 1.84 0.32
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
PD820-820-T16-
 10SYM                  820         60   T16      0.44  0.42   176 1.41 0.30
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
PD960-960-T22-0SYM      960         49   T22      0.86  0.84   211 4.95 0.12
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
PD930-930- W3-
 5SYM&NYM               930         80   T23      0.51  0.46   184 2.03 0.22
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
PD890-890-T23-
 11SYM                  890        145   T23      0.75  0.68   264 5.04 0.11
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
PD840-840-T23-7NYM      840         64   T23      0.69  0.62   214 4.80 0.22
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
PD930-930-T33-
 13SYM                  930        245   T33      0.79  0.73   338 1.80 0.28
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
PD930-930-
 T33Branch-
 11SYM&NYM              930        189   T33      0.91  0.84   567 0.67 0.15
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
PD800-800-T33W3-
 19SYM&NYM              800        105 T33W3      0.43  0.41   295 2.67 0.56
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
PD820-691-T16-6SYM      691         65   T16      0.64  0.61   253 3.40 0.13
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Table 2: Selected drilling results from the TLP Mine

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          True
            From     ToElevationInterval Width    Ag    Pb    Zn Mineralized
Hole ID      (m)    (m)      (m)     (m)   (m) (g/t)   (%)   (%) Vein
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZKG0805   226.42 227.07      759    0.65  0.62   178  0.64  0.14 T16E
          277.68  278.1      741    0.42  0.40   192  1.00  0.13 T15-Branch
          289.78 290.21      737    0.43  0.41 1,544  1.48  0.66 T15
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZKT0232    79.63  84.29      841    4.66  3.92   187  3.03  0.28 T1W1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZKT0054   329.44 330.58      691    1.14  0.95   149  0.32  0.18 T17W
          437.47 438.69      602    1.22  0.56   440  3.61  0.20 T17
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZKG1004   180.01 181.17      698    1.16  0.78   679  3.16  0.70 T16W
          223.44 224.01      665    0.57  0.47 4,534  4.07  0.26 T16
          433.51 433.75      508    0.24  0.22   258  0.14  0.04 T11E
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZKT0003   366.78 367.61      473    0.83  0.58 1,052  1.05  0.02 T3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZKG0401     1.13   1.58      838    0.45  0.39   967  4.61  0.26 T16E
           29.01  29.52      828    0.51  0.44   235  5.90  0.13 T16E1
                                                                 T15W1-
           72.61  73.86      812    1.25  1.07   233  4.80  0.12 Branch
           85.58  85.95      808    0.37  0.32    42 13.87  0.46 T15W1
          117.41 118.37      796    0.96  0.82   211  3.80  0.46 T15W
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZKT0331    19.93  21.84      877    1.91  1.28 1,669  0.82  0.29 T33
          174.05 175.16      771    1.11  0.74   115  0.46  0.03 T33E
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZKG1005   175.15 177.72      678    2.57  0.73   120  1.25  0.20 T17
          230.18 232.14      630    1.96  1.31   176  1.20  0.20 T16W
          469.02 469.78      418    0.76  0.58   158 11.25  4.85 T11E
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZKG1801   140.97 141.91      747    0.94  0.81   284  0.45  0.36
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZKG0402     0.68   1.71      838    1.03  0.90   411  0.66  0.08 T16E
           92.24  92.91      779    0.67  0.59   101  3.57  0.42 T15W1
          156.78 157.32      738    0.54  0.46   264  4.79  0.06 T15
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZKT0332   381.92 382.72      794    0.80  0.51   398  1.19  0.12 T1W1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZKT1001  134.054134.744      722    0.69  0.65   584  1.51  2.18 T1W1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZKG0403      2.6   3.79      836    1.19  0.96   180  2.76  0.20 T16E
           52.75  54.01      794    1.26  1.02    17  3.25  0.32 T16E1
           76.28  78.54      774    2.26  1.83   195  3.96  0.25 T16E2
           107.1 107.86      748    0.76  0.61   150  1.84  0.34 T15W1
                                                                 T15W1-
          131.04 131.64      727    0.60  0.49   132  1.16  0.02 Branch
           159.9 162.04      703    2.14  1.73   121  1.12  0.08 T15W
          218.47 219.45      654    0.98  0.75    15  3.16  0.07 T15E
          283.16 284.53      599    1.37  1.05   126  1.15  0.36 T11
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZKG1803   304.27 304.84      539    0.57  0.34   231  0.31  0.18 T11
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZKG1601   246.52 247.26      741    0.74  0.53   230  2.29  0.81 T11E
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZKT1731   109.29 109.79      939    0.50  0.38   285  0.51  0.07 T1W
          169.86  171.4      922    1.54  1.19 1,016  5.48  0.80 T33E
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZKG0404      0.9   4.48      838    3.58  2.57   233  1.95  0.60 T16E
Including    0.9    1.8      838    0.90  0.65   702  6.77  1.94
          220.53 221.07      632    0.54  0.39   119  1.33  0.06 T15
          304.94 306.61      553    1.67  1.22 1,023  6.18  0.96 T11
Including 304.94  305.9      553    0.96  0.70 1,761  9.45  4.30
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZKT3904   247.98 249.97      518    1.99  1.97   100  4.07  0.27 T3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZKT1523    88.78  89.47      989    0.69  0.61   217  0.87  0.07 T1W
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZKG1602   175.63 176.96      711    1.33  0.93   352  0.57  0.13 T11
          258.32  260.5      653    2.18  1.53   274  1.04  0.40 T11E
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZKG0621     1.38   2.45      838    1.07  1.04   669  0.97  0.12 T16E
Including   1.38   1.75      838    0.37  0.36 1,302  2.61  0.33
           61.79  62.92      806    1.13  1.10   449  3.16  0.30 T16E2
           75.08  75.89      799    0.81  0.79   221  0.98  0.13 T15W1
                                                                 T15W1-
           88.82  89.53      791    0.71  0.69   108  0.42  1.12 Branch
          207.61  208.7      729    1.09  1.06   320  0.93  1.03 T11
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZKG2021   148.78 150.11      768    1.33  1.30   127  1.40  0.21 T11
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZKT1732   202.53 203.67      951    1.14  0.99   323  0.30  0.35 T33-Branch
          255.25 256.06      947    0.81  0.70   112  0.23  0.13 T33W
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZKG0622     2.29   3.56      837    1.27  1.12   909  5.35  0.49 T16E
Including   2.29   3.04      837    0.75  0.65 1,543  9.10  0.83
           84.27  85.86      770    1.59  1.26   348  4.02  0.19 T15W1
          149.92 151.44      717    1.52  1.35 1,150  2.18  0.10 T15
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZKT0521   211.94 213.04      851    1.10  0.94   158  3.05  0.21 T14
          335.52 336.56      807    1.04  0.89   117  0.43  0.11 T17
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZKG0623   129.31 131.26      718    1.95  0.74    56  4.66  0.14 T15W1
          214.39 216.75      639    2.36  1.20   115  0.57  0.07 T15
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZKG0221    66.94  68.25      810    1.31  0.99    31  0.95  0.08 T16E1
          149.21 154.85             5.64  4.27   146  0.98  0.22 T15W
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZKT4307   150.09 152.04      488    1.95  1.58   145  0.41  0.11 T1W
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZKG1603   318.34 319.95      546    1.61  0.98   113  0.13  0.14 T11E
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZKG0806    71.92  73.56      798    1.64  1.23   285  1.29  0.23 T17
          178.73 179.69      743    0.96  0.78    37  0.56  0.08 T16
          363.55 367.36      650    3.81  3.31   194  4.09  0.78 T11
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quality Control

Drill cores are NQ size. Drill core samples, limited by apparent mineralization contact or shear/alteration contact, were split into halves by saw cutting. The half cores are stored in the Company’s core shacks for future reference and checking, and the other half of the core samples are shipped in security sealed bags to the Chengde Huakan 514 Geology and Minerals Testing and Research Institute, an ISO9000 certified analytical lab in Chengde, China, 226 km northeast of Beijing. For analysis the sample is dried and crushed to minus 1mm and then split to a 200-300g subsample which is further pulverized to minus 200 mesh. Two subsamples are prepared from the pulverized sample. One is digested with aqua regia for gold analysis with AAS, and the other is digested with two-acids for analysis of silver, lead, zinc and copper.

Chip samples are collected along sample lines perpendicular to the mineralized vein structure in exploration tunnels. Spacing between sampling lines is typically 5m along strike. Both the mineralized vein and the altered wall rocks are cut with continuous chisel chipping. Sample length ranges from 0.2m to more than 1m, depending on the width of the mineralized vein and the mineralization type.

A routine quality assurance/quality control procedure is adopted at each lab to monitor the analytical quality at the lab. Certified reference materials (CRM), pulp duplicates and blanks are inserted into each lab batch of samples. QA/QC data at the lab are attached to the assay certificates for each batch of samples.

The Company maintains its own comprehensive quality assurance and quality control program to ensure best practice in sample preparation and analysis of the drill core samples. Project geologists regularly insert CRM, field duplicates and blanks to each batch of core samples to monitor the sample preparation and analysis procedures at the labs. The analytical quality of the labs is further evaluated with external checks by sending about 3% of the pulp samples to higher level labs to check for lab bias.

Data from both the Company’s and the labs’ QA/QC programs are reviewed on a timely basis by project geologists.

Rujin Jiang , P. Geo., is the Qualified Person on the project as defined under National Instrument 43-101. He has verified the information and has reviewed and approved the contents of this news release.

About Silvercorp

Silvercorp is a low-cost silver-producing Canadian mining company with multiple mines in China which has paid a cash dividend since 2007. The Company is currently developing the GC project in southern China which it expects will become its next operating mine in 2013. The Company’s vision is to deliver shareholder value by focusing on the acquisition of under developed small-scale projects with resource potential and self-fund the growth of those assets. For more information, please visit our website at www.silvercorp.ca.

CAUTIONARY DISCLAIMER — FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain of the statements and information in this press release constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian provincial securities laws. Any statements or information that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as “expects”, “is expected”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “plans”, “projects”, “estimates”, “assumes”, “intends”, “strategies”, “targets”, “goals”, “forecasts”, “objectives”, “budgets”, “schedules”, “potential” or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements or information relate to, among other things: the price of silver and other metals; the accuracy of mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates at the Company’s material properties; the sufficiency of the Company’s capital to finance the Company’s operations; estimates of the Company’s revenues and capital expenditures; estimated production from the Company’s mines in the Ying Mining Camp; timing of receipt of permits and regulatory approvals; availability of funds from production to finance the Company’s operations; and access to and availability of funding for future construction, use of proceeds from any financing and development of the Company’s properties.

Forward-looking statements or information are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements or information, including, without limitation, risks relating to: fluctuating commodity prices; calculation of resources, reserves and mineralization and precious and base metal recovery; interpretations and assumptions of mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates; exploration and development programs; feasibility and engineering reports; permits and licenses; title to properties; First Nations title claims and rights; property interests; joint venture partners; acquisition of commercially mineable mineral rights; financing; recent market events and conditions; economic factors affecting the Company; timing, estimated amount, capital and operating expenditures and economic returns of future production; integration of future acquisitions into the Company’s existing operations; competition; operations and political conditions; regulatory environment in China and Canada; environmental risks; foreign exchange rate fluctuations; insurance; risks and hazards of mining operations; key personnel; conflicts of interest; dependence on management; internal control over financial reporting as per the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; and bringing actions and enforcing judgments under U.S. securities laws.

This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company’s forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements or information are statements about the future and are inherently uncertain, and actual achievements of the Company or other future events or conditions may differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements or information due to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors, including, without limitation, those referred to in the Company’s Annual Information Form for the year ended March 31, 2012 under the heading “Risk Factors”. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, described or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

The Company’s forward-looking statements and information are based on the assumptions, beliefs, expectations and opinions of management as of the date of this press release, and other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements and information if circumstances or management’s assumptions, beliefs, expectations or opinions should change, or changes in any other events affecting such statements or information. For the reasons set forth above, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Silvercorp Metals Inc.
Jonathan Hackshaw
Director, Investor Relations
(604) 669-9397 or Toll Free: 1(888) 224-1881
(604) 669-9387 (FAX)
[email protected]
www.silvercorp.ca

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