Atna Resources Ltd.: Barreal Seco Pre-feasibility Underway.

Business Editors

VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 28, 2001

Atna Resources Ltd. (TSE:ATN.) announces that it has initiated work on a pre-feasibility study for the recently acquired Barreal Seco copper property in Chile.

A 20 hole, 2400-meter Reverse Circulation drill program has begun to in-fill earlier drilling carried out by ENAMI and RTZ Mining. The drill program is designed to confirm the previous work and to define the main part of the ore body. It will provide the basis for resource calculations, open-pit design and determine grade and mineralogy distribution for additional core drilling, pitting, and column leach testing planned to begin in late July. The comprehensive pre-feasibility study will be completed during October in advance of Atna's purchase decision in December.

Atna is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Russell Alley as General Manager, Chile. Mr. Alley will be responsible for Atna's operations in Chile, including Barreal Seco and other deposits that may be acquired in the future. Mr. Alley brings many years of experience as a builder and operator of SX-EW copper operations. He was most recently Vice President, General Manager at the world's largest 'El Abra' SX-EW copper mine in Chile and, previously, responsible for the 'Cerro Verde' SX-EW copper mine in Peru.

Atna is a well financed mineral resource company focused on acquiring projects with potential for near term cash flow and exploring properties that have the potential for significant discoveries.