Atna Reports Progress at Pinson Gold Project

GOLDEN, CO - Atna Resources Ltd. reported activity at the Pinson Gold Mine in Humboldt County, Nevada. Pinson Mining Company ("PMC"), a subsidiary of Barrick Gold, spent US$5.0 million on drilling and development activities at Pinson in the third quarter of 2008 bringing their total project-to-date expenditures to US$18.2 million. PMC may earn a 70 percent interest in the project by spending a total of US$30 million by April 6, 2009, which would result in Atna retaining a 30 percent interest.
PMC started work during the quarter on an internal resource estimate to include all mineralization for both open pit and underground mining potential. This work is to incorporate rigorous quality control checking of existing drilling databases including twinning of questionable drill holes with new drilling. At a later date, Atna may prepare an NI 43-101 compliant resource estimate by validating the work completed by PMC. In addition, a preliminary scoping level report on open pit slope angles was completed during the quarter by Golder Associates with recommendations for further study. Construction of a mineralized material stockpile area, settling ponds and associated pipelines has commenced and are expected to be completed in November 2008. Additional water rights are being obtained to facilitate further dewatering of the resource zone for deepening of underground workings. A new underground mining contractor has been retained and is in the process of mobilizing a crew and equipment to the site.
A total of eight drills were active on the property during the quarter: two water well rigs, two surface RC drills, two surface diamond core drills, and two underground core drills. The water well drills completed two de-watering wells and started a third. The RC drills concentrated on drilling pilot holes for the water wells, and drilling on the Range Front, MAG and CX resource zones. The surface diamond drills targeted the Range Front, CX and MAG zones, while the underground diamond drills are in-fill drilling on the Ogee and Range Front zones. Forty seven drill holes were completed and five were in progress at the end of the quarter. A total of 9,895 feet of RC drilling and 17,122 feet of core were completed.
The company's address is 14142 Denver West Parkway, Suite 250, Golden, CO 80401, 303-278-8464, fax: 303-279-3772.