Atna Reports Updated Gold Reserves at Briggs and Reward Mines
GOLDEN, Colo., March 3, 2011 /CNW/ --
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Atna Resources Ltd. ('Atna') - (TSX: ATN) (OTC Bulletin Board: ATNAF) is pleased to report updated mineral reserve estimates at December 31, 2010 for the Briggs Mine in Inyo County, California and for the Reward Mine in Nye County, Nevada.
Proven and probable mineral reserves at the Briggs Mine have been revised to 201,000 contained ounces as of December 31, 2010. During 2010, approximately 38,000 ounces of contained gold were mined, while 6,300 ounces were added back to reserves due to the impacts of increased gold price, cost structure changes, and changes to pit slope geometry. No drilling was performed at Briggs during 2010 and results from the 2011 drilling program are not included in this estimate. An increase in mineral reserves and reduction in waste material resulted from steepening the pit slope angle in the eastern sector of the Briggs Main pit as a consequence of strongly improved slope management and operating practices at the mine. The change was approved by a third party geotechnical consultant.
At the Reward Mine, gold mineral reserves were increased by 7,200 ounces to a total of 180,900 contained ounces. This four percent increase in contained gold reserve was driven entirely by increased gold price and changes in estimated costs. No drilling was conducted at Reward in 2010 but drilling planned for 2011 is expected to add to the reserves.
'These results display leverage to increase ore reserves with increased gold price. We believe that we will also be able to increase mineral reserves at both Briggs and Reward during 2011 based on our planned and ongoing drilling campaigns. Operations at the Briggs Mine have seen substantial improvement with the mine returning approximately $2.1 million in positive cash flow during the fourth quarter of 2010. This cash flow helped Atna to reduce debt while ending the year with $9.6 million in cash. In addition, Briggs ended the year with an estimated recoverable in-process gold inventory of 13,600 ounces with a year-end market value of approximately $19.1 million. Infrastructure development has commenced at the Reward Mine to prepare the site for construction. Furthermore, we are seeing positive political changes in the State of Montana, which could have a material, positive impact on the development of our Columbia project. Overall, we anticipate a strong 2011 for Atna,' states James Hesketh, President & CEO.
Gold mineral reserves at Briggs and Reward have been updated to account for the following changes:
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-- An increase in the three year trailing gold price outlook from $845
per
ounce to $1,025 per ounce;
-- 2010 mine production at Briggs;
-- an increase in slope angle in the east sector of the Briggs Main Pit;
-- a five percent increase in estimated direct operating costs at both
Briggs and Reward.
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Briggs Mine revised gold mineral reserves were estimated using a 0.007 ounce per ton cut-off grade. Revised gold mineral reserves at Reward were estimated using an internal net value of greater than $0.01/ton. Results are shown in the following table:
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Tons Gold Contained Strip
Mining Area Category (x1,000) (oz/ton) Ounces Ratio
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Briggs - All Pits Proven 4,794 0.021 103,000
Probable 4,853 0.020 98,000
Total Proven and Probable 9,647 0.021 201,000 2.82
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Reward - All Pits Proven 1,444 0.026 38,000
Probable 6,264 0.023 143,000
Total Proven and Probable 7,708 0.023 181,000 2.77
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Total All Proven and
Probable 17,355 0.022 382,000
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The revised Briggs Mine mineral resources estimate using a 0.006 ounce per ton cut-off grade after subtraction of 2010 mining is shown in the following table:
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Tons Gold Contained
Category (x1,000) (oz/ton) Ounces
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Measure 10,236 0.023 232,000
Indicated 20,331 0.019 379,900
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Measure and
Indicated 30,657 0.020 611,900
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Inferred 15,183 0.017 262,700
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This press release was prepared under the supervision and review of William Stanley, V.P. Exploration of Atna, a Licensed Geologist and Qualified Person. Revised reserve and resource estimates were developed by Michael J Read as Principal Mine Engineer under the supervision of Robert L. Sandefur as Qualified Person, with Chlumsky, Armbrust & Meyer of Lakewood, Colorado.
For additional information on Atna Resources and the Briggs Mine, 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 in relation to the estimation and potential expansions of mineral reserves and resources at the Briggs and Reward Mines. 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 production and operating costs at the Briggs Mine, 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 2009 Form 20-F dated March 26, 2010.
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:
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James Hesketh, President and CEO - (303) 278-8464
Valerie Kimball, Investor Relations - toll free (877) 692-8182
www.atna.com
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James Hesketh, President and CEO, 1-303-278-8464, or Valerie Kimball, Investor Relations, 1-877-692-8182, both of Atna Resources Web Site: http://www.atna.com