VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - April 17, 2012) - First Quantum Minerals Ltd. ("First Quantum" or the "Company") (TSX:FM)(LSE:FQM) will publish its first quarter 2012 financial and operating results on Wednesday, May 2, 2012 after the close of the TSX. The Company's President, Clive Newall, will host a conference call and webcast to discuss the results on Thursday, May 3, 2012.

Conference call and webcast details are as follows:

Date:             May 3, 2012
Time:             6:00 am (PST); 9:00 am (EST); 2:00 pm (BST)
Webcast:          www.first-quantum.com
Dial in:          Canada and international: 416-340-8530
                  Toll free North America: 877-440-9795
                  Toll free United Kingdom: 00-800-2787-2090

Replay:           Canada and international: 905-694-9451
                  Toll free North America: 800-408-3053
Replay Passcode:  7804406

The conference call replay will be available until 11:59 pm (PST) on May 10, 2012.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of First Quantum Minerals Ltd.

G. Clive Newall, President

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Listed in Standard and Poor's

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
        First Quantum Minerals Ltd. - North American contact
        Sharon Loung
        Director, Investor Relations
        (647) 346-3934 or Toll Free: 1 (888) 688-6577
        Fax: (604) 688-3818(FAX)
        sharon.loung@fqml.com

        First Quantum Minerals Ltd. - United Kingdom contacts
        Clive Newall
        President
        +44 140 327 3484
        Fax: +44 140 327 3494(FAX)
        clive.newall@fqml.com
        www.first-quantum.com

        Maitland
        Brian Cattell/James Devas
        +44 207 379 5151
        Fax: +44 20 7379 6161(FAX)
        jdevas@maitland.co.uk
        bcattell@maitland.co.uk

Source: First Quantum Minerals Ltd.