Accelerated Development at Pinson Gold Project

GOLDEN, CO - Atna Resources Ltd. reported on the increased activity of work at the Pinson Gold Mine, Humboldt County, Nevada. Pinson Mining Company ("PMC"), a subsidiary of Barrick Gold, has provided Atna with an operating plan and budget that targets completion by the first quarter of 2009 of their US$30 million back-in expenditure obligation. The work program is focused on completing underground development work and infill drilling in the upper Ogee and Range Front resource zones to enable completion of a feasibility study and initial ore reserve estimate by the end of the first quarter of 2009.
PMC may earn a 70% interest in the project by spending a total of US$30 million by April 6, 2009, which would result in Atna retaining a 30% interest. PMC's reported expenditures for the first quarter of 2008 were US$4.1 million bringing their total project-to-date expenditures to US$8.0 million. Spending levels are increasing as the pace of development activities have accelerated to twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week.
"We are excited and encouraged to see the high level of exploration and development focus that PMC is applying to the Pinson project. Their work program and activities are designed to take the project to a near production status and may facilitate a second quarter 2009 production decision," states David Watkins Chairman and CEO.
Dewatering infrastructure is well advanced for the project with the completion of two rapid infiltration basins and associated pipelines. PMC is planning several additional dewatering wells to accelerate dewatering ahead of planned decline development. During the quarter the underground contractor, Small Mine Development, completed rehabilitation of existing underground workings and advanced development an additional 552 feet on three headings. Underground drifting is focused on establishing new diamond drill stations to enable resource definition drilling in both the Ogee and Range Front resource zones. This drifting will aid decline development and establish bulk sampling/test mining locations. Underground drilling operations have now commenced with one drill, additional drills will be mobilized as stations are developed.
PMC is also evaluating open pit mining potential, primarily in the MAG pit
area. The MAG pit was one of the last production areas at the Pinson mine in
1999 prior to closure due to low gold price. Un-mined resources remain in and
around this pit, which will form the basis for PMC's evaluation of the open
pit potential of the project.
A portion of the remaining MAG pit material is believed to be refractory and may require autoclave or roasting pre-oxidation to be amenable to conventional cyanidation.
Surface reverse circulation and diamond drilling continued throughout the quarter. One surface and one underground drill are operating at the site. A total of 30,895 feet of underground definition drilling and 15,000 feet of surface drilling are planned for the remainder of 2008. Since the commencement of work in August 2007, PMC has completed 46 surface drill holes for a total of 46,282 feet (27,289 feet of reverse circulation and 18,993 feet of diamond drilling). Drilling continues to support Atna's 2007 resource estimate.
The company's address is Suite 510 - 510 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6C 3A8, 604.684.2285, fax: 604.684.8887.