Atna Commences Drilling Underground at Pinson.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Atna Resources Ltd. (TSX:ATN) is pleased to announce the commencement of drilling underground at the Pinson gold project, Humboldt County, Nevada. The first three diamond drill hole fans will complete a one hundred-foot pierce-point pattern in the Range Front zone, where test mining and bulk sampling is planned late October. A second underground drill will arrive in early October to commence drilling the newly discovered high-grade gold mineralization in the Ogee zone, announced August 17. Results from additional channel samples in the Ogee zone confirm the continuity and high-grade of the mineralization. Check channel samples were taken from the south and north walls of the adit 5.5 feet above the samples reported last month. A comparison of results is shown as follows:

SOUTH WALL
Channel length
 (reported Aug. 17):   35 ft (10.7m) - 0.692 ozs/t (23.7 gpt)
Including:             16 ft ( 4.9m) - 0.911 ozs/t (31.2 gpt)

Comparable Interval:   33 ft (10.1m) - 0.73 ozs/t (25.0 gpt)
Including:             17 ft ( 5.2m) - 1.03 ozs/t (35.2 gpt)

NORTH WALL
Channel length
 (reported Aug. 17):   34 ft (10.4m) - 0.682 ozs/t (23.4 gpt)
Including              22 ft ( 6.7m) - 0.903 ozs/t (30.9 gpt)

Comparable Interval:   39 ft (11.9m) - 0.411 ozs/t (14.1 gpt)
Including:             24 ft ( 7.3m) - 0.594 ozs/t (20.4 gpt)

The Ogee Zone trends nearly 90 degrees (perpendicular) to the direction of the adit and therefore the sample widths represent true widths. A stub for a future decline is well located as a base to drill the Ogee zone. It will be extended an additional 300 feet parallel to Ogee to increase exposure for drilling.

The first stage of the adit has been completed. Excavation of a hanging wall tunnel parallel to the strike of the Range Front zone is underway. Two drill stations have been established for delineation drilling of the Range Front, where detailed drill data is required to guide test mining and bulk sampling planned in late October. The priority for the second drill will be to drill the Ogee Zone where there may be an opportunity to discover and define additional resources with positive economic implications for the early stages of developing the deposit.

Two core drills are currently drilling from surface, in order to define the upper limit of the Range Front. Several of the pre-collars for these holes encountered gold intercepts, reported May 18, above the adit level. Atna is modeling these mineralized intercepts to determine their significance and resource potential.

The installation of infrastructure to support the underground continues. A 28-inch dewatering well is completed and installation of piping and pumps will begin shortly. Power line and switchgear installation has begun to bring sufficient electric power to the underground to operate the underground drills, jumbo, and ventilation system.

Permitting for the project is progressing well. The Small Mine Water Pollution Control Permit (WPCP) and the Reclamation Permit have been issued. The notice-level application for construction and operation of downgradient groundwater monitoring wells required by the Infiltration WPCP has been issued and, barring any appeals, the permit will become effective Sept. 16, 2005.

Atna has an option to earn a 70% interest in the Pinson project from Pinson Mining Company (Barrick Gold). The company has defined a measured and indicated resource of 519,000 ozs of gold plus an inferred resource of 1,332,000 ozs of gold at a 0.15 oz/t cutoff grade, as supported by 43-101 technical report filed March 24 on SEDAR. Atna is carrying out underground exploration and development with the objective of completing a prefeasibility study meeting it's earn in requirements before the end of 2005.

Atna is focused on building a successful gold exploration, development, and mining enterprise in Nevada. The company is working on a portfolio of exploration projects, including the Pinson mine, where underground exploration and development may result in gold production as early as the second quarter of 2006.

This press release was prepared under the supervision and review of William Stanley, V.P. Exploration of Atna, a Licensed Geologist, and Qualified Person with the ability and authority to verify the authenticity and validity of information contained within this news release. All analytical results in this news release are from samples prepared and assayed by BSI Inspectorate Laboratories in Reno, Nevada, an independent ISO certified analytical laboratory. All gold analyzes were completed using standard fire assay methods with appropriate replicate and analytical standards to ensure high quality control and quality assurance. ALS Chemex in Reno, Nevada re-analyzes all mineralized intervals to verify assays reported by BSI Inspectorate.

Atna Resources Ltd. (TSX:ATN)