Atna Drills 305 Feet Grading 0.074 oz/ton Gold at Columbia Gold Project

GOLDEN, Colo., Oct. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Atna Resources Ltd. ("Atna" or the "Company") (TSX:ATN /OTCQB:ATNAF) is pleased to report positive results in the 2012 metallurgical drill program at its Columbia Gold Project, Lewis & Clark County, Montana. Atna completed seven reverse circulation rotary holes to obtain metallurgical samples for additional process optimization studies. Total footage drilled was 3,468 feet (1,057 m). Holes in this program were drilled down the structural zones to obtain large quantities of mineralized sample material and the intercept lengths do not represent true thicknesses. The long, down-structure intercepts provide strong support for the down-dip continuity of the gold and silver grades in both the Columbia and Donnely vein systems and provides additional support for the resource estimate detailed in the 2010 NI43-101 Technical Report.

Highlights of the drill results include:

• 190 feet (57.9 m) grading 0.067 oz/ton gold (2.3 g/t) and 0.42 oz/ton silver (14.5 g/t) in hole number COL12-001
• 305 feet (93.0 m) grading 0.074 oz/ton gold (2.5 g/t) and 0.62 oz/ton silver (21.2 g/t) in hole number COL12-002
• 170 feet (51.8 m) grading 0.084 oz/ton gold (2.9 g/t) and 0.34 oz/ton silver (11.7 g/t) in hole number COL12-003
• 455 feet (138.7 m) grading 0.033 oz/ton gold (1.1 g/t) and 0.10 oz/ton silver (3.5 g/t) in hole number COL12-005

James Hesketh, President & CEO said, "The results from the metallurgical drilling program at Columbia are encouraging and accomplished three key goals necessary to move the project towards permitting and production:

1. The holes confirmed strong continuity down the vein and stockwork zones in both the Columbia and Donnely vein systems;
2. They  provided ample materials for completion of the metallurgical testing necessary for feasibility level engineering; and
3. Several of the holes will advance the environmental assessment of the mine site with the installation of groundwater monitoring piezometers."

The Columbia project has an M&I Resource of 741,700 ozs of gold (16.7 million tons grading 0.045 oz/ton) and an inferred resource of 453,600 ozs of gold (10.7 million tons grading 0.042 oz/ton).

In addition to drilling, environmental baseline data gathering continued at Columbia. Monitoring of water resources has been conducted at the Project since the 1990s and has yielded an extensive water quality database. The program was expanded in 2012 with the addition of eight groundwater piezometers and a geomorphic survey of stream reaches. The collected groundwater information will support evaluation of mine water issues such as water supply and dewatering needs. The geomorphic survey is the initial step in characterizing aquatic habitat in the area.  The environmental program was also expanded to include terrestrial resources including wildlife, vegetation and wetlands. Monitoring included surveys for threatened, endangered, or sensitive species. These investigations will continue through the 2013 field season. 

Additional metallurgical test work will be conducted utilizing samples from this drilling program to further support the currently selected flotation and gravity gold recovery process. Atna's goal is to continue to develop base data to support the completion over the next year of a Mine Plan of Operations as a basis to commence the permitting process at Columbia.    

All holes drilled and reported in this release encountered mineralized intercepts over potentially minable intervals along the strike and down the dip of the Columbia and Donnely vein systems. Gold mineralization at Columbia is considered a Tertiary-age, low-sulfidation, epithermal volcanic-hosted quartz-adularia vein system. Mineralization is associated two high-angle fault zones which host the two principal vein and stockwork vein zones at the property know as the Columbia and Donnely veins. The veins are exposed on the surface for over 7,000 feet (2,100 m) in a north-south direction and have been explored to a depth of over 500 feet (150 m) vertically. Gold and silver mineralization is accompanied by broad zones of argillic to propylitic alteration of the dominantly mafic volcanic flows which host the deposit.

Analytical results contained within this press release 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. 

This press release was prepared under the supervision and review of William Stanley, V.P. Exploration of Atna, a Registered Member of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, a Licensed Geologist and Qualified Person, as defined in NI 43-101, and has verified the authenticity and validity of the technical information contained within this news release.

For additional information on Atna Resources and the Columbia Gold Project, please visit our website at www.atna.com.

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements," as defined in the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation relating to potential resources, reserves, permitting or development of the Columbia Gold Project. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical fact. They are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change, unless required by law. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include: gold deposit modeling, future operating costs at the Columbia project when constructed, the Company might encounter problems such as the significant depreciation of metals prices; accidents and other risks associated with mining exploration and development operations; the risk that the Company will encounter unanticipated geological factors; the Company's need for and ability to obtain additional financing; the possibility that the Company may not be able to secure permitting and other governmental clearances necessary to carry out the Company's exploration and development programs; and the other risk factors discussed in greater detail in the Company's various filings on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) with Canadian securities regulators and its filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's 2010 Form 20-F dated March 26, 2012.

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 report, such as "measured," "indicated," "inferred," and "resources," that the SEC guidelines strictly prohibit U.S. registered companies from including in their filings with the SEC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:

James Hesketh, President and CEO - (303) 278-8464 
Valerie Kimball, Investor Relations - toll free (877) 692-8182 
www.atna.com

SOURCE Atna Resources Ltd.