GOLDEN, Colo., April 7 /CNW/ -- Atna Resources Ltd. ("Atna") - (TSX: ATN)
is pleased to announce that recently completed drilling at the Cecil R project
located four miles north of the Briggs Mine, in Inyo County, California, has
significantly extended the known zone of gold mineralization. The drilling
program included 8,070 feet of reverse circulation rotary drilling in 23 drill
holes designed to expand the known mineralized zone to the south and increase
drill hole density in the main area of gold mineralization. The program
successfully extended mineralization 700 feet to the south and defined the
western and eastern limits of the mineralization within the known mineral
horizon.Gold mineralization at Cecil R has been intercepted in a total of 94
drill holes totaling 21,956 feet distributed over an area 2,000 feet
(north-south) by 1,000-1,200 feet (east-west). The mineralization is located
directly beneath Quaternary alluvial cover and is hosted along an iron
oxide-rich, gently dipping zone within strongly weathered
quartz-muscovite-feldspar gneiss and amphibolite. The zone's thickness is
variable, ranging in thickness from 10 feet to over 100 feet and occasionally
several subparallel zones are present. Within the principal zone of
mineralization there are 647 drill samples grading over 0.01 ounce per ton
gold, representing 3,214 lineal feet of drilling, which have an average grade
of 0.028 ounce per ton gold. This compares to the average grade of proven and
probable reserve at the nearby Briggs Mine of 0.021 ounce per ton gold.The Cecil R project is being evaluated as a satellite project to the
Briggs Mine where Atna will begin gold production in the second quarter of
2009. The work completed in this program and the data from previous drilling
is being compiled and is anticipated to provide sufficient information to
allow the first NI 43-101 compliant resource calculation for the property to
be completed during the summer of 2009.Atna's President and CEO, James Hesketh, states, "We are encouraged by
these new assay results and expansion of the mineralized zone at Cecil R. The
Cecil R project may allow us to add additional years of operating life in the
Briggs Mine district should an economic reserve be developed at Cecil R. The
project should benefit from the close proximity of the Briggs Mine
infrastructure, management, and staff. Cecil R will require stand-alone
permitting under existing regulations in California which may be feasible due
to the favorable geometry of mineralization."CECIL R PROJECT DRILL HOLE RESULTSDrill Hole From To Length oz/ton Au
CR09-016 25 45 20 0.024
CR09-017 105 115 10 0.020
and 140 145 5 0.010
CR09-018 220 255 35 0.017
and 285 315 30 0.024
CR09-019 No significant intercepts
CR09-020 90 105 15 0.015
CR09-021 65 85 20 0.044
and 130 140 10 0.012
and 160 165 5 0.016
CR09-022 90 95 5 0.010
and 140 145 5 0.018
CR09-023 60 85 25 0.012
and 155 160 5 0.010
CR09-024 85 95 10 0.013
and 160 165 5 0.154
CR09-025 80 90 10 0.010
and 170 175 5 0.014
CR09-026 150 170 20 0.014
CR09-027 190 240 50 0.022
and 290 295 5 0.032
CR09-028 160 275 115 0.016
including 235 255 20 0.041
CR09-029 215 225 10 0.022
and 320 325 5 0.010
CR09-030 No significant intercepts
CR09-031 180 215 35 0.009
and 250 260 10 0.012
CR09-032 215 230 15 0.018
and 270 280 10 0.018
CR09-033 135 185 50 0.019
and 235 245 10 0.027
and 260 270 10 0.011
CR09-034 No significant intercepts
CR09-035 190 215 25 0.019
CR09-036 205 240 35 0.050
and 305 310 5 0.012
CR09-037 70 90 20 0.015
and 120 125 5 0.037
and 140 160 20 0.031
and 170 180 10 0.010
CR09-038 100 115 15 0.037* Intercept lengths do not represent true widths of the mineralized zones.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 ISO certified, independent, commercial
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 and
Cecil R Project, 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 possible mineralized material located at the Cecil R
project, and the Company's possible economic results from mining
operations at the Briggs Mine based on 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 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 at the Briggs Mine; 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 at the
Cecil R project; 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 Form 20-F
dated March 31, 2009.FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:James Hesketh, President and CEO - (303) 278-8464
Valerie Kimball, Investor Relations - toll free (877) 692-8182
www.atna.com
For further information: James Hesketh, President and CEO,
+1-303-278-8464, or Valerie Kimball, Investor Relations, toll free,
1-877-692-8182, both of Atna Resources Ltd. Web Site: http://www.atna.com
