Nicola Mining Inc. announced that it has commenced Phase 1 exploration drilling at its 100% owned New Craigmont Copper Project, located near Merritt, BC, and 33 km south of the Highland Valley porphyry district. Phase 1 will be composed of approximately 2,000m of diamond drilling that primarily targets two magnetic anomalies: Target 1: A largely unexplored magnetic anomaly located west and adjacent to the historic pit. Previous drilling on the western margin of this anomaly intercepted 85.6m at 1.11% Cu (DDH-THU-002) and 100.6m grading 1.33% Cu (NC-2018-03). Target 2: Surface outcropping high-grade copper and iron mineralization with a corresponding magnetic anomaly extending to depth located immediately northeast of the historic Craigmont mine. Magnetic vector inversion modeling appears to indicate that the previous copper intercepts at Target 1 intercepted the western fringe of a mineralized anomaly, characterized by intervals of massive chalcopyrite and magnetite mineralization. Phase 1 drilling will step out eastwardly across the anomaly, which continues for approximately 650m from the previous intercepts. Target 2 is defined by massive magnetite and chalcopyrite skarn mineralization outcropping immediately adjacent to the open pit. This target is located at a depth of ~200m and is adjacent to historic underground mine workings.