Drilling In Progress At Gold Springs Project

 

VANCOUVER, BC - High Desert Gold Corporation reported that drilling started on April 25, 2012 at the Gold Springs project. The Gold Springs Project is a 60/40 Joint Venture with Pilot Gold Inc. in which HDG holds a 60% interest and is the operator of the Joint Venture. The first drill holes are located in the Jumbo resource area in Utah and then it is expected that the drill will move to the S. Jumbo Extension and the Etna. Following this the drill will move to Nevada where holes are planned to test many of the higher grade targets, including the Fluorite, Tin Can, Pope, Iris, Horseshoe Extension, Silica Hill and Gray Eagle targets. Presently, a total of 6,400 metres of drilling are planned for the year. This may be split into two programs with the first comprising approximately 1,800m and the second 4,600m. Final details of the drill programs will be based on both drill availability and the speed with which the Company can obtain drill assay results which will be needed to locate holes later in the program.

Ralph Fitch, President and CEO, stated "The drill program this year represents our first opportunity to test many of the higher grade surface gold targets on the property. Historically, all drill holes that have tested surface exposures of gold mineralization have intersected gold and so we are particularly keen to drill the higher grade targets and have high expectations of success".

The Company has now received approvals for additional drill hole locations for two Notices of Intent ("NOI") submitted to the Nevada Bureau of Land Management ("BLM") earlier this month. With this approval HDG now has 28 hole locations approved in Nevada, including the most recently approved 21 drill holes. HDG also received approvals from the State of Utah for 13 new hole locations on State Trust Lands which will allow for the further testing of the Jumbo extension ZTEM geophysical anomaly. The Company also has existing approvals for 17 hole locations on Utah BLM lands which target the Jumbo, North Jumbo, Sharks Mouth and Etna targets.

The drill programs this year are designed to drill potential extensions to the previously issued inferred resource of 9.4 million tonnes grading 0.57 g/t gold and 12.9 g/t silver for a total of 173,000 oz. of gold and 3.88 M oz. of silver. This equates to 233,000 ounces AuEq(i) grading 0.77 g/t (see HDG PR11-18, December 22, 2011). Drilling will also test the additional high priority targets within Nevada and Utah.

Geological mapping and geochemical sampling programs are also underway and are designed to better define and understand the many gold targets generated on the project thus far. In addition, HDG will be initiating work on its 100% controlled Pinyon Project located near Gold Springs. It is planned that this project will be ready to drill by the end of the summer season.

The company's address is 580 Hornby Street, Suite 880, Vancouver, BC V6C 3B6, 604-684-0693.