VANCOUVER, B.C., Sept. 23, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Atna Resources Ltd. (TSX:ATN) is pleased to report results from the exploration program at the Pinson Mine Project, Nevada.
Further gold assays have been received from the reanalysis of drill hole intercepts within the Range Front zone of mineralization. Previous drilling by Pinson Mining Company beneath the open pits at the project identified the Range Front and CX zones. The table below summarizes additional results from Atna's program of confirmation reanalysis of Pinson drill hole sample pulps from the Range Front Zone. Assays were completed by standard fire assay methods at ALS Chemex laboratories in Reno, Nevada.
Drill Hole From To Intercept Replicate
(feet) (feet) Length Assay
(feet) g/tonne Au
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RANGE FRONT ZONE
HPC-158 705.0 710.8 5.8 38.68 g/t
and 815.1 828 12.9 13.89 g/t
and 1,426.4 1,438.5 12.1 10.20 g/t
HPC-159 1,195.8 1,218.2 22.4 28.01 g/t
HPC-160 1,301.3 1,307.3 6.0 28.74 g/t
HPR-015 65 75 10 26.71 g/t
and 715 725 10 19.88 g/t
and 790 835 45 4.21 g/t
and 885 910 25 7.58 g/t
HPR-054 315 325 10 21.70 g/t
and 325 360 35 12.01 g/t
HPR-102 830 845 15 11.37 g/t
and 885 900 15 12.87 g/t
HPR-040 835 850 15 12.70 g/t
HPR-059 1,170 1,180 10 12.05 g/t
The variability of the new assays versus the original assays is well within industry standards for assay reproducibility. Variance in sample results is generally less than +/-5% from the original assay results reported by Pinson Mining Company. Atna's quality assurance and control program shows strong reproducibility of analytical standards samples. The reported drill intersections are from inclined holes drilled at a high angle to dipping mineralized zones. Thus, the true width is likely to be slightly less than the reported intersection widths.
David Watkins, President of Atna Resources Ltd., says, "The results from our reassay work on the Range Front Zone at Pinson confirm the high-grade gold exploration potential of the Pinson gold system and its potential to develop into a significant underground gold project." Atna expects to integrate the reassay data with its own drill results to enable a resource calculation to be ready for reporting in January.
Three drills are currently operating at the property (one reverse circulation and two core rigs). Two core holes have been completed through the mineralized target zones including one in the CX Zone and another in the Range Front Zone. Both holes encountered strong zones of alteration in the receptive calcareous shale host rocks of the lower Comus Formation (which also hosts the Getchell and Turquoise Ridge mines to the north of the Project). Samples from the first core hole have been submitted for sample preparation and fire assay analysis for gold to BSI Inspectorate Labs in Reno, Nevada. The second core hole is in the process of being cut and sampled at the project site. The reverse circulation rig has drilled and cased three pre-collar holes, which will be completed later by core "tails" through the target mineralized zones.
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.