New Impressive Results at Marban Confirm Depth Potential

VAL-D'OR, Quebec, Sept. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- NioGold Mining Corporation (TSX-V:NOX) ("NioGold") is pleased to report on the latest drilling results at the Marban Block property, located in the Malartic gold camp, Abitibi region of Quebec. The drilling program is conducted under the terms of the Aurizon Mines Ltd. ("Aurizon") earn-in option agreement.

Highlights from 10 new drill holes at the Marban deposit include an intersection at depth of 7.0 grams of gold per tonne (g/t Au) over 10.9 metres (MB-08-053ext) and shallow intersections obtained at the west end of the deposit of 5.9 g/t Au over 15.7 metres (MB-11-195) and 906.2 g/t Au over 2.6 metres (MB-11-198). Best intersections from the 10 new holes are:

• 7.0 g/t Au over 10.9 metres (MB-08-053ext)
• 16.1 g/t Au over 1.2 metre (MB-11-193)
• 5.9 g/t Au over 15.7 metres (MB-11-195)
• 26.4 g/t Au over 1.0 metre (MB-11-195)
• 19.8 g/t Au over 1.9 metre (MB-11-196)
• 3.9 g/t Au over 5.9 metres (MB-11-196)
• 81.1 g/t Au over 0.8 metre (MB-11-198)
• 906.2 g/t Au over 2.6 metres (MB-11-198)

The initial program under the terms of the Aurizon option agreement commenced on August 30, 2010, and was completed on August 9, 2011. A total of 170 diamond drill holes and eight (8) extensions of previous holes were completed for a total of 50,253 metres. Results for 115 holes have been previously released, results from 10 holes are included in this release, and results are pending for 53 drill holes.

Highlights of the program include:

• Near surface bulk tonnage potential confirmed;
• High grade structures recognised at Marban;
• Deeper drilling at Marban revealed strong upside at depth;
• Wide mineralised intervals intersected up to 600 metres along the east strike extent of the Norlartic deposit / Norbenite shear (results pending).

Marban deposit drilling

One hundred and thirty one (131) holes and eight (8) extensions of previous holes, for a total of 41,270 metres, were completed on the Marban deposit. Results for 93 holes (MB-10-102 to MB-11-192, MB-06-002ext and MB-07-005ext) were previously released. Results were received for an additional 10 holes (MB-11-193 to -199, MB-08-050ext, MB-08-053ext and MB-08-072ext) are tabled on the following pages. Results are pending for 35 holes completed at the Marban deposit.

The first phase of drilling at Marban was mainly focused on drilling at 50-metre spacing within the top 300 metres from surface over a 1,050-metre strike extent of the Marban gold mineralised system. In the latter part, the program shifted to deeper drilling to test the down dip extension of the mineralised zones, mainly between 300 and 500 metres vertical depth, as well as select in-fill drilling at 25-metre spacing.

Holes MB-08-053ext and MB-11-193, collared on sections 3+50E and 5+00E, respectively, tested the lateral extension of important gold mineralised intersections returned from holes MB-11-191 and MB-11-192 (see news release dated June 22, 2011). The mineralised intervals were encountered along the down dip (depth) extension of a major shear zone recognised along the footwall (south) contact of the Marban Mine Sequence. Hole MB-11-191, collared on section 4+00E, returned an interval averaging 5.3 g/t Au over 12.8 metres from the footwall shear at a vertical depth of 420 metres. Hole MB-11-192 cut the same zone at a vertical depth of 380 metres, 40 metres above the intersection in hole MB-11-191, that averaged 5.1 g/t Au over 6.0 metres. Hole MB-08-053ext cut a mineralised interval that averaged 7.0 g/t Au over 10.9 metres, including a section grading 19.2 g/t Au over 2.9 metres, and hole MB-11-193 cut two mineralised intervals that returned 16.1 g/t Au over 1.2 metres and 9.8 g/t Au over 1.2 metres.

The footwall shear remains sparsely investigated below 300 metres vertical depth over the 1.4-kilometre strike length of the Marban gold mineralised system. These intersections have opened up significant upside to increase the gold resources at depth at Marban.

Holes MB-11-194 to MB-11-198 served as shallow in-fill drilling in a promising sector of the undeveloped west extent of the Marban deposit, located between sections 3+00W and 4+00W. Several significant and high grade gold mineralised intervals associated with visible gold were returned including 5.9 g/t Au over 15.7 metres and 26.4 g/t Au over 1.0 metre in hole MB-11-195, 19.8 g/t Au over 1.9 metre and 3.9 g/t Au over 5.9 metres in hole MB-11-196, as well as 80.1 g/t Au over 0.8 metre and 906.2 g/t Au over 2.9 metres in hole MB-11-198.

Norlartic deposit and exploration drilling

Results for 21 holes (4,319 metres) completed during the initial program at the nearby Norlartic deposit were previously released.

Eighteen (18) exploration drill holes (4,664 metres) investigated the southeast strike extension of the Norbenite shear, which hosts the Kierens and Norlartic deposits.  Results are pending for 17 of the holes.

Aurizon Option

Aurizon can earn up to a 65% interest the Marban Block property under the terms of an option and joint venture agreement dated July 5, 2010 between NioGold and Aurizon. The initial 50% interest can be earned by incurring expenditures of C$20 million over three years, completing an updated NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate, and by making a resource payment for 50% of the total gold ounces defined by the mineral resource estimate. NioGold is the project operator during the initial earn-in period (see news release dated July 6, 2010).

Technical Info, QA/QC and Qualified Persons

Reported intervals are in core lengths but are anticipated to approximate true width, except where structural complexities occur, as the holes were drilled near perpendicular to the principal local structural orientation.

Diamond drill holes were drilled with NQ-size core in order to obtain larger sample volumes of the mineralised zones, except for holes that traversed underground workings which were completed using BQ-size core. The core was sealed delivered by the drilling contractor to NioGold's facilities located at the Norlartic mine site. The core was photographed for reference, logged and mineralised sections were sawed in half. Sample lengths vary between 0.5 to 1.5 metres. Half core samples were bagged, sealed and delivered to ALS Chemex in Val-d'Or, Quebec, an accredited laboratory. The remaining core is stored on site for reference. Samples were assayed by the fire-assay method using an atomic absorption finish on a 50-gram pulp split. A quality assurance and quality control program (QA/QC) was implemented by NioGold and the laboratory to insure the precision and reproducibility of the analytical method and results. The QA/QC program includes the insertion of standards, blanks and field duplicates in the sample batches sent to the laboratory and a systematic re-assaying of samples returning values above 2 g/t Au by the fire-assay method using a gravimetric finish. As well, pulps grading above 0.5 g/t Au are sent to Bourlamaque Assay Laboratories Ltd. in Val-d'Or for check assaying.

The drilling program is conducted under the supervision of Yan Ducharme, M.Sc., P.Geo. (OGQ), the Company's Exploration Manager and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. This news release was prepared by Rock Lefrancois, P.Geo. (OGQ), the Company's President and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

NioGold Mining Corporation – { On Canada's Golden Highway }

NioGold Mining Corporation is a mineral exploration company focused on GOLD. The Company's flagship projects are located in the Cadillac - Malartic - Val-d'Or stretch of the prolific Abitibi gold mining district, Province of Quebec, Canada. The Cadillac, Malartic and Val-d'Or mining camps have produced over 45 million ounces of gold since the 1930's and presently encompasses seven producing gold mines and a major mine development project (Canadian Malartic, Osisko Mining).  NioGold's land holdings within the Abitibi presently cover 125 km2 and encompass three former gold producers, namely the Norlartic, Kierens (First Canadian), and Marban mines that collectively produced 600,000 ounces of gold. NioGold has outlined Indicated resources of 598,000 ounces gold and Inferred resources of 361,000 ounces gold in and around these deposits.

NioGold's experienced and qualified technical team will ensure the successful advancement of the Company's projects towards the highest quality mineral resources. NioGold invites you to visit the company website at www.niogold.com. For information on NioGold Mining Corporation contact:

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release includes forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements within, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties.

CAUTIONARY NOTE TO U.S. INVESTORS

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission permits U.S. mining companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only those mineral deposits that a company can economically and legally extract or produce. We use certain terms in this news release, such as 'measured resources', 'indicated resources' and 'inferred resources', which the SEC guidelines strictly prohibit U.S. registered companies from including in their filings with the SEC. U.S. investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 20-F. The news release contains information about adjacent properties on which we have no right to explore or mine. U.S. investors are cautioned that mineral deposits on adjacent properties may not be indicative of mineral deposits on our properties.

SOURCE NioGold Mining Corporation