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December 18, 2017 - Vancouver, British Columbia – Cornerstone Metals Inc. (TSX-V – CCC) (“Cornerstone” or the “Company”) announces that it has commenced a verification diamond drilling program on the Carlin Vanadium Project. The goal of the program is to enable the Company to upgrade the historic resource to a current resource, as well as to provide material to conduct metallurgical testwork on vanadium recoveries and investigate the presence and grade of other accompanying elements such as zinc, silver and cobalt.

The 20 vertical hole HQ core program is designed to in-fill the existing 132 hole drill pattern that currently defines the vanadium deposit, resulting in an improved drillhole density of approximately 45m spacing. Cornerstone reports that it has already completed three core holes.

The Carlin Vanadium Project contains one of the United States’ largest known primary deposits of vanadium, an industrial mineral critical to industries ranging from steel to utility scale battery storage technology. The Company’s analysis illustrates that the Nevada site’s vanadium deposit features a combination of high-quality grade and unsurpassed accessibility.  

“The speed in which the Company has mobilized drill contractors to site – mere days following receipt of its permit -- is a tribute to the skills of the Cornerstone team and to the conducive working environment in this region,” said Cornerstone President and Chief Executive Officer Paul Cowley.

In additional news, the Company announces the resignation of Jason Nickel, P.Eng. from the board of directors. Mr. Nickel is stepping down to pursue a full time operational role with a production company. The Board thanks Jason for his service to Cornerstone.

About Cornerstone Metals Inc.

Cornerstone’s objective is to advance exploration/development stage copper, precious and strategic minerals properties to production in the Americas. The Company’s Management and Board Core Competence is in exploration, permitting, development, construction, and operation of mining projects.

The Company has an option to earn a 100% interest in the Carlin Vanadium Project, which has one of the largest known primary vanadium deposits in the U.S.A. The Carlin Vanadium Project is located in Elko County 22km by road (14 miles) from the town of Carlin, Nevada, and is comprised of 72 contiguous unpatented mineral claims totaling 461 hectares (1,140 acres). The Carlin Vanadium deposit was discovered by Union Carbide Corp. (UCC) in the 1960’s, which completed surface mapping, trenching and 152 rotary drill holes in 11,133m (36,525 feet) of drilling. The average drill hole spacing was 60m (200ft) apart within the more densely drilled areas. Drilling indicates a zone of mineralization approximately 55m (180 feet) thick striking north-south over 1,860m (6,100ft) in length and dipping 5°-30° east and west averaging 760m (2,500ft) of down dip extent from surface. The mineralized unit is locally exposed on surface, where it cuts topography, but mostly is found at shallow depths, commonly between 15-60m (50-200 ft) below surface.

Cornerstone also owns 100% (subject to 1.5% NSR) of the West Jerome property, near Jerome, Arizona, on the west side of Freeport McMoRan patented lands. The property, in a Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide camp, is a high-grade, massive sulfide target located 2.4 km south of the past-producing United Verde (32 million tons grading 4.4% copper, 1.5 oz/t silver and 0.04 oz/t gold). The West Jerome property has attractive untested drill targets.

ON BEHALF OF CORNERSTONE METALS INC.

per: “Paul Cowley”

CEO & President

Technical disclosure in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Paul Cowley, P.Geo., a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, and President and CEO of the Company.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-looking information

Certain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking" statements. These statements relate to future events or the Company's future performance and include the Company’s ability to meet the conditions required to exercise in full its option to acquire the Carlin Vanadium project. All such statements involve substantial known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to vary from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, they should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and they will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not such results will be achieved. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes are reasonable assumptions on the date of this news release, the Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable securities regulations.