Drilling at Pinson Returns 60 feet Of 1.38 oz/ton Au

GOLDEN, CO - Atna Resources Ltd. reported initial results of development drilling at its Pinson Mine near Winnemucca, Nevada. Underground ore stope definition drilling commenced in early October with one reverse circulation rotary drill. Drilling is focused on the definition of individual mine stopes to maximize ore extraction, minimize dilution, and optimize ore zone access.

Highlights from the drill results include: 45 feet (13.7 m) grading 0.583 oz/ton gold in hole PRC-12-004; 60 feet (18.3 m) grading 1.382 oz/ton gold in hole PRC-12-006; 35 feet (10.7 m) grading 0.879 oz/ton gold in hole PRC-12-008.

"These initial drill results confirm the continuity and high grade of the upper Ogee zone where we are developing the mine's first oxide ore stopes. Development drilling will be central to the design and engineering of the safest and most efficient ore stopes; minimizing costs while maximizing gold recovery, grade, cash-flow and profitability of the project. Two ore stopes are now developed and two additional stoping areas are under development. Ore is being stockpiled on the surface and the first shipments are expected to occur in December," states Atna's President & CEO, James Hesketh .

The development drill holes were collared within the oxide bulk sample stope and were designed to evaluate the upper margins and internal continuity of the upper Ogee gold zone both along strike and dip. Holes were completed principally down the plunge of the karst breccia-hosted mineralized zone and therefore the intercept lengths do not represent true widths of mineralization. To better understand the results, readers are urged to view the expanded version of this release available on the Company's web site at www.atna.com which includes a long section and cross section displaying the drilling results in more detail.

Analytical results 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 (QA/QC) program utilizing both certified gold standards and blanks to augment Inspectorate's internal QA/QC program.

The company's address is 14142 Denver West Parkway, Suite 250, Golden, CO 80401, (303) 278-8464, fax: (303) 279-3772.