Atna Drilling Extends Gold Mineralization at Briggs Mine
GOLDEN, Colo., April 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Atna Resources Ltd. (“Atna”) (TSX: ATN), is pleased to announce assay results from drilling completed in February 2008 at the Briggs Mine in Inyo County, California. A total of 2,905 feet were drilled in five angled reverse circulation holes from the bottom of the BSU Pit. The drill holes and assays demonstrate that gold mineralization is continuous in a relatively untested area between the pit and the hanging wall of the 65-70 degree west-dipping Goldtooth feeder/fault structure, which hosts zones of higher grade gold elsewhere. The gold occurs in numerous bands of higher grade mineralization inter-fingered with conventional pit grade material. The new data may significantly improve the optimization study presently underway to maximize gold extraction from the combined open pit/underground mineralization.
Drilling program results, with significant gold intersections, are shown in the table below:
2008 BSU DRILLING CAMPAIGN INTERCEPTS Hole # Total Inclination From To Interval Au Au Depth degrees feet feet Feet ppm oz/ton Feet from hor. BU08-1 605 -57 85 115 30 0.83 0.024 335 360 25 1.09 0.032 BU08-2 560 -55 85 100 15 1.01 0.030 385 440 55 5.32 0.155 Including 385 395 10 14.87 0.434 Including 420 435 15 7.47 0.218 BU08-3 560 -56 0 15 15 2.69 0.078 105 115 10 2.91 0.085 360 370 10 1.44 0.042 BU08-4 620 -52.5 45 195 150 1.12 0.033 Including 90 115 25 2.23 0.065 Including 135 145 10 2.87 0.084 425 435 10 1.23 0.036 510 520 10 1.11 0.032 BU08-5 560 -50 0 25 25 1.09 0.032 485 520 35 2.07 0.060
Gold mineralization at the Briggs Mine is hosted in siliceous gneiss containing inter-fingered amphibolite bodies, forming the hanging wall rocks of the ore bounding Goldtooth structure. The Goldtooth fault appears to be the major feeder structure for gold mineralization at the Briggs Mine. Gold mineralization occurs in two distinct styles: lower grade mineralization, mined successfully in the past by open-pit methods, along complexly faulted low-angle structures west of the major fault, and higher grade gold mineralization in an envelope close to the Goldtooth fault.
The Briggs Mine is a permitted mining facility with ongoing residual gold production from its existing leach pad. The mine has produced over 555,000 ounces of gold from open pit and underground mining since 1996. Atna is presently working to restart mining operations and has commenced plant and equipment refurbishment work at the site. Existing Technical Reports compliant with SEC guide 7 are currently being rewritten as NI 43-101 compliant reports and a new study is in progress to optimize and increase the size of existing mine designs.
Qualified Persons
All assay data from the Atna drill holes were completed by ALS Chemex an ISO certified analytical laboratory. Assays were completed by standard fire assay methods and Atomic Absorption finish for gold with over limit assays being re-assayed by standard fire assay with a gravimetric finish. Atna and ALS Chemex have rigorous QA and QC protocols in place to insure the quality of the analytical data reported in this press release. This press release was prepared under the supervision and review of Mr. Steve Zahony, an employee of Atna, a Certified Professional Geologist, and Qualified Person with the ability and authority to verify the authenticity and validity of information contained within this news release.
FURTHER INFORMATION:
For additional information on Atna Resources and the Reward Project, please visit our website at http://www.atna.com/ or contact:
James Hesketh, President and COO (303) 278-8464 Valerie Kimball, Corporate Communications (303) 278-8464 Kendra Johnston, Investor Relations (800) 789-2862 Forward-looking Statements
This press release contains certain “forward-looking statements”, as defined in the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, relating to possible improvements to the outcome of an ongoing optimization study, the Company’s plans to restart mining operations at the Briggs Mine and the preparation of technical reports compliant with Canadian NI 43-101. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical fact. They are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company’s management on the date the statements are made and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management’s beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include: the above-reported new drill results data will ultimately not contribute to an improved optimization study, the Company’s consultants will not be able to complete NI 43-101 compliant technical reports without conducting significant additional investigations of the Company’s property, the Company might encounter problems such as the significant depreciation of metals prices, accidents and other risks associated with mining exploration and development operations, the risk that the Company will encounter unanticipated geological factors, the Company’s need for and ability to obtain additional financing, the possibility that the Company may not be able to secure permitting and other governmental clearances necessary to carry out the Company’s mine development plans, that will prevent it from restarting mining operations at the Briggs Mine, and the other risk factors discussed in greater detail in the Company’s various filings on SEDAR (http://www.sedar.com/) with Canadian securities regulators and its filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s Form 20-F dated March 25, 2008.
Atna Resources Ltd.
CONTACT: James Hesketh, President and COO, or Valerie Kimball, CorporateCommunications, both of Atna Resources Ltd., +1-303-278-8464; or investors,Kendra Johnston, 1-800-789-2862, for Atna Resources Ltd.
Web site: http://www.atna.com/