Atna Receives Large Mine Expansion Permit For Pinson

GOLDEN, CO - Atna Resources Ltd. reported that modification of the Pinson Mine Water Pollution Control Permit has been approved and became effective February 5, 2013. This permit approval authorizes Atna to construct and operate the Pinson Mining Project, located in Humboldt County, Nevada, and to extract by underground mining up to 400,000 tons of ore per year for offsite gold processing. The modification replaces the former Pinson Exploration Project permit which allowed the mining of up to 36,500 tons of ore per year.

"The approval of this permit for our Pinson Gold Mine is a major development for Atna's future growth and profitability. It will allow us to increase mining levels up to our ultimate goal of 1,000 tons of ore production per day. Gold production at Pinson is expected to steadily increase through the year with significantly higher levels of production in the second half of 2013", states James Hesketh, President & CEO.

Work at Pinson is focused on primary development of spiral ramp access and multiple laterals to ore stoping areas, along with development of underground infrastructure including ventilation, water, compressed air, maintenance facilities and ground support. In addition, ore production and backfill operations in developed stoping areas are expanding. The construction of surface infrastructure facilities and dewatering wells is also underway with many tasks nearing completion. Additions to staff and personnel are ongoing to support increased levels of operation and development.

Atna finished 2012 on a strong note, with a 30 percent year over year increase in share price and a 60 percent increase in overall market capitalization. Cash at year end totaled approximately $19.3 million, providing a sound basis for continued growth in 2013. Gold sales increased by 14 percent over 2011 to approximately 36,460 ounces. The average price received from gold sales was five percent higher in 2012 than in 2011, resulting in an approximate 20 percent increase in sales revenue for the year. Financial results for 2012 will be released prior to March 31, 2013.

The Briggs Mine in California produced a total of 36,928 ounces of gold in 2012, of which 35,640 ounces were sold. At the Pinson Mine, a total of 7,862 tons of ore were mined during mine development and 4,956 tons were shipped to a third party processing plant, from which approximately 814 ounces of recovered payable gold was sold.

"2012 was a productive year for Atna with a number of challenges that were successfully overcome. Most importantly, gold production increased at our Briggs Mine in California and we initiated stope development and ore mining at our Pinson Underground Mine. On the corporate front, we strengthened our balance sheet and developed an expanded equity analyst following, increasing our overall market exposure and shareholder value," said Hesketh.

"We expect that 2013 will bring a substantial increase in Atna's gold production as Pinson transitions from its development phase to a primary focus on gold production. Our growth strategy includes using production cash flow from both Briggs and Pinson to pay down or to substantially restructure our term debt in 2013. Once this is completed, we plan to accelerate development of our Reward Gold Mine, located near Beatty, Nevada, further increasing gold production and financial strength," added Hesketh.

Atna expects to produce between 102,000 and 115,000 ounces of gold in 2013 with the majority of this production being produced in the second half as Pinson ramps up its production through the year.