Atna Reports Initial Drill Results at
Briggs Mine
Golden, CO - Atna Resources Ltd. ("Atna")
- (TSX:ATN - OTCBB:ATNAF) is pleased to report early drilling results
from its campaign to expand reserves at the Briggs Mine in Inyo County,
California. The first phase of the 2011 drilling program focused on
potential expansion of the BSU pit area. This pit was considered as mined
out during 2010 despite ore grade mineralization remaining in the highwall. Seven holes were drilled, which confirmed
the extension of this mineralized zone.
"We are pleased with these early program results as they demonstrate
the strong potential for resource and reserve expansion at the Briggs
Mine. These results are very encouraging and provide strong justification
for continuing and possibly expanding this drilling program," states
James Hesketh, President & CEO.
Highlights from this phase of the drilling in the BSU pit area program
include:
Drill Hole
|
From (feet)
|
To (feet)
|
Length (feet)
|
Au Fire oz/ton
|
BSU11-033
|
60
|
185
|
125
|
0.017
|
Including
|
90
|
115
|
25
|
0.041
|
Including
|
170
|
185
|
15
|
0.040
|
BSU11-034
|
60
|
65
|
5
|
0.010
|
|
105
|
140
|
35
|
0.028
|
BSU11-035
|
20
|
155
|
135
|
0.038
|
Including
|
20
|
50
|
30
|
0.098
|
Including
|
65
|
110
|
45
|
0.043
|
BSU11-036
|
30
|
115
|
85
|
0.011
|
BSU11-037
|
25
|
40
|
50
|
0.010
|
|
60
|
70
|
10
|
0.013
|
|
105
|
125
|
20
|
0.025
|
BSU11-038
|
45
|
55
|
10
|
0.010
|
|
200
|
210
|
10
|
0.018
|
BSU11-039
|
0
|
30
|
30
|
0.030
|
|
60
|
75
|
15
|
0.014
|
These results have a weighted average grade of 0.028 oz/ton compared to
current mine reserve grade of 0.021 oz/ton. This information will be
incorporated into the Briggs resource model, although it will not be
reflected in year end 2010 reserve or resource estimates. The drilling
program will now focus on the newly engineered North Main Briggs pit,
where a substantial block of inferred mineral resources lies within and
adjacent to the current pit plan. Further focus will also be placed on
delineating and expanding mineralization behind the east wall of the
Briggs Main pit and in the Deep Briggs resource zone discovered in 2009.
Analytical results contained within this press release were completed by
standard fire assay methods with an atomic absorption or gravimetric
finish by Inspectorate America Corporation, an independent, ISO certified, analytical laboratory located in Sparks, Nevada. Atna maintains a rigorous Quality Assurance - Quality
Control program utilizing both certified gold standards and blanks to
augment Inspectorate's internal QA/QC program.
This press release was prepared under the supervision and review of
William Stanley, V.P. Exploration of Atna, a
Licensed Geologist, and Qualified Person with the ability and authority
to verify the authenticity and validity of information contained within
this news release.
For additional information on Atna Resources
and the Briggs Mine, please visit our website at www.atna.com.
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 potential resource or reserve expansion
at the Briggs Mine. 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, unless required
by law. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from
those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include: gold
production and operating costs at the Briggs Mine, 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 exploration and development programs; and the
other risk factors discussed in greater detail in the Company's various
filings on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) with
Canadian securities regulators and its filings with the U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission, including the Company's 2009 Form 20-F dated
March 26, 2010.
Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors - The United States Securities and
Exchange Commission permits U.S. mining companies, in their filings with
the SEC, to disclose only those mineral deposits that a company can
economically and legally extract or produce. We use certain terms in this
report, such as "measured," "indicated,"
"inferred," and "resources," that the SEC guidelines
strictly prohibit U.S. registered companies from including in their
filings with the SEC.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:
James Hesketh, President and CEO - (303)
278-8464
Valerie Kimball, Investor Relations - toll free (877) 692-8182
www.atna.com
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