Sandstorm Gold Ltd. Announces 55 Metres of 4.15 g/t at Luna Gold's Aurizona Mine

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwire - April 18, 2011) - Sandstorm Gold Ltd. ("Sandstorm") (TSX VENTURE: SSL) is pleased to announce that drilling from the Aurizona Mine, owned and operated by Luna Gold Corp. ("Luna") (TSX VENTURE: LGC) has reported positive assay results from seven new holes. Significant mineralized intercepts are:

- 55.00 metres @ 4.15 grams/tonne Au including 1.00 metre @ 20.00 grams/tonne Au and 17.00 metres @ 7.80 grams/tonne Au in BRAZD293A

- 21.00 metres @ 2.50 grams/tonne Au including 8.00 metres @ 5.21 grams/tonne Au in BRAZD297

- 29.00 metres @ 2.53 grams/tonne Au including 0.50 metres @ 57.00 grams/tonne Au in BRAZD301

"The drill results from Luna confirm the strong exploration upside that exists at Aurizona," said Sandstorm President and CEO Nolan Watson. "These new intercepts are from an area that has few historical holes and potentially represents new material that can be brought into the mine plan."

In accordance with Sandstorm's gold purchase agreement with Luna, Sandstorm is entitled to purchase 17% of the life of mine gold produced from the Aurizona Mine at a per ounce price equal to the lesser of US$400 and the then prevailing market price.

Luna approved a major 2011 exploration budget for the Aurizona Mine and expects to continue to aggressively drill the deposits with the goal of expanding the current resource base ahead of an upcoming scoping study. Drilling is currently focused on infilling over the 3 kilometre strike length of the Piaba deposit to increase measured and indicated mineral resources and discover new zones of mineralization.

Updated cross sections and a drill plan map have been uploaded to the Luna website at www.lunagold.com. Significant mineralized intercepts are tabulated below.
SECTION HOLE ID AZI DIP START
DEPTH
(M ) END
DEPTH (M ) FROM
(M ) TO (M ) INT (M ) AU (G/T)
UNCAPPED
1100W BRAZD292 168 -69 100.00 293.10 160.00 163.00 3.00 20.68
173.00 175.00 2.00 3.13
179.00 181.00 2.00 3.58
184.00 196.00 12.00 0.99
BRAZD300 168 -60 100.00 226.35 123.00 146.00 23.00 1.86
INCLUDING 144.00 145.00 1.00 25.40
1200W BRAZD293A 168 -79 128.95 336.45 172.00 227.00 55.00 4.15
INCLUDING 187.00 188.00 1.00 20.00
AND 197.00 214.00 17.00 7.80
BRAZD298 168 -73 80.00 280.65 150.00 163.00 13.00 0.57
1300W BRAZD295A 168 -81 93.10 227.50 173.00 191.00 18.00 0.85
BRAZD297 168 -71 - 217.25 105.00 126.00 210.00 2.50
INCLUDING 110.00 118.00 8.00 5.21
142.00 147.00 5.00 1.04
156.00 161.00 5.00 1.00
BRAZD301 168 -50 50.00 164.75 97.00 126.00 29.00 2.53
INCLUDING 113.50 114.00 0.50 57.00
118.00 122.50 4.50 4.46

Mineralized drill intercepts from the ongoing Aurizona resource drill program. Intervals are calculated as composites using a 0.30 grams/tonne Au cut-off and maximum 2 metre internal waste. True widths to be established.

Titus Haggan Ph.D., EurGeol Certified Professional Geologist #746, Luna's VP Exploration is the Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101 responsible for the scientific and technical work on the exploration program and has supervised the preparation of and reviewed the technical disclosure in this press release. Non-Qualified Persons currently work on Luna's exploration programs under the guidance of Titus Haggan. Dr Haggan takes responsibility for work, information and advice generated by non-Qualified Persons and has taken the steps required to ensure that the work, information and advice is sound.


ABOUT SANDSTORM GOLD

Sandstorm Gold Ltd. is a growth focused resource based company that seeks to complete gold purchase agreements with companies that have advanced stage development projects or operating mines. A gold purchase agreement involves Sandstorm making an upfront cash payment to its partners and in exchange, Sandstorm receives the right to purchase a percentage of the gold produced for the life of the mine, at a fixed price per ounce. Sandstorm helps other companies in the resource industry grow their business, while acquiring attractive assets in the process.

Sandstorm is focused on low cost operations with excellent exploration potential and strong management teams. Sandstorm has completed gold purchase agreements with Luna Gold Corp., SilverCrest Mines Inc., Santa Fe Gold Corp., Rambler Metals and Mining plc, Brigus Gold Corp. and Metanor Resources Inc.. For more information visit: www.sandstormgold.com.



Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information presented constitutes "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information is based on reasonable assumptions that have been made by Sandstorm as at the date of such information and is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Sandstorm to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information, including but not limited to: the impact of general business and economic conditions; the absence of control over mining operations from which Sandstorm will purchase gold and risks related to those mining operations, including risks related to international operations, government and environmental regulation, actual results of current exploration activities, conclusions of economic evaluations and changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; problems inherent to the marketability of minerals; industry conditions, including fluctuations in the price of metals, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates and fluctuations in interest rates; stock market volatility; competition; as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled "Risks to Sandstorm" in Sandstorm's annual report for the financial year ended December 31, 2010. Although Sandstorm has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Sandstorm does not undertake to update any forward-looking information that is contained or incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Sandstorm does not provide any representation as to its comparability with other companies in its industry including, but not limited to, Silver Wheaton Corp., Royal Gold, Inc., and Franco-Nevada Corporation.

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



Contact Information

Sandstorm Gold Ltd.
Denver Harris
Investor Relations Contact
(604) 689-0234
www.sandstormgold.com