Golden Minerals Announces Additional El Quevar Drill Results


GOLDEN, CO--(Marketwire - July 29, 2009) - Golden Minerals Company (TSX: AUM) ("Golden Minerals" or "the Company") is pleased to provide additional drill results from its 2009 drill program at the El Quevar project in northwestern Argentina. The Company has recently completed a 63 hole diamond core drilling program totaling about 8,000 meters. A total of 26,000 meters in 141 holes have been drilled to date. The drill program is focused on providing infill drill intercepts in the central area and defining strike extensions of the high-grade Yaxtché mineralized zone to support an updated resource estimation and provide information for preliminary engineering studies. Two drills were utilized during this program.

Jeffrey Clevenger, Chairman, President and CEO of Golden Minerals, commented, "Golden is excited by the high grade drill intercepts, the open ended nature of the mineralization, and the apparent continuity within multiple zones of mineralization. We plan to update our resource estimate in August and have initiated pre-feasibility work."

Silver assay results with completed quality assurance/quality control ("QA/QC") verification have been compiled for the drill holes listed. Select drill hole intercepts from holes drilled on the Yaxtché zone during this program are reported below.

                                                         Ag
                        FROM        TO      INTERVAL   (grams/
DRILL HOLE NO.        (meters)   (meters)   (meters)    tonne)
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Central Yaxtché Zone
 (infill drilling)
QVD-092              No significant values--drilled over the zone
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-093              No significant values--drilled over the zone
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-094                      18         20        2.0        910
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
including                    18         19        1.0       1718
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
and                          47         56        9.0        955
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
including                    49         50        1.0       6794
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-095                      72         75        3.0        150
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
and                          80         85        5.0       1916
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
including                    83         84        1.0       8650
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
and                          93         99        6.0        164
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-096                      73         74        1.0        214
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
and                          77         78        1.0        302
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
and                         100        104        4.0        149
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-097              No significant values--drilled over the zone
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-098                     111        119        8.0        207
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
including                   117        118        1.0        631
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-099                      92         94        2.0        219
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-100                      31         35        4.0        153
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
and                          42         43        1.0        694
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-101                      34         36        2.0        287
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-102                      21         22        1.0        211
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
and                          38         39        1.0        233
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
                             79         81        2.0        979
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
including                    80         81        1.0       1715
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-103                       12 meter section < 100 g/t
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-104                      40         42        2.0       2394
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
including                    41         42        1.0       4423
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
and                          53         55        2.0        470
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
and                          65         66        1.0        283
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-105                     106        108        2.0        134
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-106                      54         60        6.0       1734
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
including                    54         55        1.0       3679
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
and                          58         59        1.0       3483
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
and                          67         68        1.0        212
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-107                      47         49        2.0        174
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
and                          54         55        1.0        747
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
and                          58         59        1.0        199
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
and                          64         65        1.0        304
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
and                          67         68        1.0        444
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
and                          80         81        1.0        793
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-108                             Assays pending
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-109                     199        202        3.0        418
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
and                         218        223        5.0        435
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
and                         227        229        2.0        258
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-110                      73         76        3.0        383
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-111                    93.4         96        2.6        605
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
and                         101        104        3.0        492
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-112                      59         60        1.0        228
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-113                     178        180        2.0        228
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-114                      40         45        5.0       1195
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
including                    41         42        1.0       4774
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-115                     127        128        1.0        307
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
and                         139        140        1.0        243
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-116                      87        109         22        932
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
including                    91         96        5.0       2528
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
and                         101        103        2.0       1813
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-117                             Assays pending
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-118                    30.6       41.2       10.6        254
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
and                          58         62        4.0        245
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
and                          63         70        7.0        424
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-119                      23         30        7.0       1957
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
including                    27         28        1.0       5313
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
and                          28         29        1.0       5349
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
and                          29         30        1.0       1597
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
and                          65         67        2.0        289
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-120                    28.2       29.7        1.5        624
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
and                        41.2       42.1        0.9        529
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
and                        74.1       78.1        4.0        312
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-121                             Assays pending
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-122                      23         25        2.0        330
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-123                             Assays pending
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-124                      86         88        2.0        719
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-125                             Assays pending
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-126                      47         51        4.0        256
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
and                          63         64        1.0        476
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-127                             Assays pending
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-128                     No significant values-leached
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-129 through 136                 Assays pending
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------

Western Extension
QVD-082                     172        174        2.0        204
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
and                         209        213        4.0        172
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-086                     218        226        8.0        748
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
including                   222        223        1.0      2,666
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
and                         224        225        1.0      1,241
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-087                     296        305        9.0        360
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Including                   303        304        1.0       1466
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
and                         307        309        2.0        364
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
and                         321        323        2.0        373
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-088                        Broad zone of < 100 g/t
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-089                     163        168        5.0        231
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
and                         191        193        2.0        313
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-090                     167        170        3.0        352
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-091                 No significant values--drilled below
                                   mineralized zone
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-109                     199        202        3.0        418
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
including                   200        201        1.0        917
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
and                         218        219        1.0        886
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
and                         221        223        2.0        622
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
and                         227        229        2.0        258
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-113                     154        157        3.0        338
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
and                         158        159        1.0        293
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
and                         178        180        2.0        228
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-135                             Assays pending
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-141                             Assays pending
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------

Eastern Extension
QVD-079                     128        129        1.0        405
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
and                         133        136        3.0        250
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
including                   133        134        1.0        607
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
and                         153        154        1.0        244
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-080                     322        323        1.0        231
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-131                             Assays pending
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-137                             Assays pending
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-138                             Assays pending
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
QVD-140                             Assays pending
                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------

Drill intercepts are based on a 100 gram per tonne silver cut-off with no upper cut-off. Drill intercept lengths are down-hole lengths reflecting apparent widths of mineralization with true widths ranging from 75% to 90% of the reported down-hole lengths.

A drill hole location map and listing of all drill intercepts for the holes at El Quevar for which we have received and verified results are available at http://www.goldenminerals.com/.

Prior to the current drilling program, the east-west trending Yaxtché mineralized zone had been defined along about 725 meters of strike length, and to a depth of 150 to 250 meters down-dip, remaining open for expansion, especially to the west and east. Drill holes QVD-086 and -087, reported on in a prior press release, confirmed that the Yaxtché mineralization continues at least 450 meters west of the previously defined central zone and drill holes QVD-079 and -080, also reported previously, have confirmed that the Yaxtché zone extends at least 350 meters further east. Most of the earlier drilling had been placed on 50-meter spacing along strike in the main zone, with intercepts generally spaced 50 meters to 100 meters down-dip. The current infill program is designed to achieve a nominal 25 to 30 meter spacing for intercepts in the main zone and 50 to 100 meter spacing on the east and west extensions. The drill holes are generally angle holes oriented perpendicular to the interpreted trend of the mineralized zone.

The 2009 drill program is part of the Company's ongoing exploration program on the El Quevar project, located in Salta Province in northwestern Argentina, where the Company controls mineral and surface rights to approximately 64,200 hectares. Golden Minerals' exploration activities and the majority of drilling to date have been concentrated on the Yaxtché structure, an east-west trending, northerly dipping zone of mineralization hosted in volcanic and intrusive rocks of Tertiary age. The Yaxtché zone is located on mining claims comprising about 2,700 hectares that are part of a joint venture with Hochschild Mining. Golden Minerals has earned a 65% interest in the venture and can increase this interest to 80% by completing a feasibility study by year-end 2010 and commencing production by year-end 2012. The Company has a 100% interest in the remaining 61,500 hectare El Quevar project area.

Silver mineralization at El Quevar is hosted within a broad, generally east-west-trending fault zone which occurs as a series of north-dipping parallel-sheeted vein zones, breccias and mineralized faults situated within an envelope of pervasively silicified brecciated volcanic rocks and intrusive breccias. There are numerous additional target areas on the project that have not yet been tested. An initial drilling program is planned during 2009 for the Viejo Campo target, located to the north on 100% Company controlled ground. Results will be reported when received and verified.

Review by Qualified Person, Quality Control and Reports

Results of the Company's drilling program have been reviewed, verified, and compiled under the direction of the Company's Senior Vice President of Exploration, Robert Blakestad, M.Sc., P.Geo, L.P.G.; a Qualified Person for the purpose of National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Blakestad has over 35 years of mineral exploration experience, is a Professional Geoscientist registered in Nova Scotia and a Licensed Professional Geologist in the state of Washington.

To ensure reliable sample results, Golden Minerals has a rigorous QA/QC program in place that monitors the chain-of-custody of samples and includes the insertion of blanks, duplicates, and certified reference standards in each batch of samples. Core is photographed and sawn in half with one half retained in a secured facility for verification purposes. Sample preparation (crushing and pulverizing) is performed at an independent local laboratory in Mendoza, an ISO 9001:2001 certified laboratory. Prepared samples are direct-shipped to ACME Analytical Laboratories in Santiago, Chile or Vancouver, B.C., ISO 9001:2001 certified laboratories, for analysis. Pulp splits of mineralized intervals are re-assayed at certified independent referee laboratories in Argentina and Canada.

An independent NI 43-101 technical report was prepared in February 2009 by SRK Consulting and is available on the Company's website.

About Golden Minerals

Golden Minerals is a Delaware corporation based in Golden, Colorado, primarily engaged in the advancement of its exploration projects and in providing mine management services. The Company has a robust portfolio of exploration projects, primarily located in Argentina, Peru and Mexico. The Company's experienced management team has proven in house ability to explore, develop and operate mining projects. Golden Minerals operates the San Cristobal mine in Bolivia for Sumitomo Corporation under a Management Services Agreement. The Company also plans to actively pursue growth through strategic opportunities, including acquisitions, joint ventures and asset consolidations, and by utilizing its experienced management team to provide mine services for fees and equity interests. The Company has no debt and receives revenue from the San Cristobal Management Services Agreement, royalties, and income from investments.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act, including statements regarding the exploration results and programs at the El Quevar Project, results of exploration activities, planned commencement of a pre-feasibility study at El Quevar, the possibility of earning an additional interest in El Quevar, the continued management of the San Cristobal mine by Golden Minerals Company, and the components of the Company's business strategy including its plan to pursue growth opportunities. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including financial market conditions, whether operations will continue at the San Cristobal mine and under the Management Services Agreement, increases in costs of materials and supplies used in mining and exploration activities, future results of exploration at El Quevar, variations in ore grade and types, fluctuations in silver and zinc prices, technical and permitting issues, and the ability and success of the Company in raising adequate capital and implementing its plans to pursue growth opportunities. Golden Minerals Company assumes no obligation to update this information. Additional risks relating to Golden Minerals Company may be found in the periodic and current reports filed with the Securities Exchange Commission by Golden Minerals Company, including the Annual Report on Form 10-K of its predecessor for reporting purposes, Apex Silver Mines Limited, for the year ended December 31, 2008.

Contact Information: For additional information please visit http://www.goldenminerals.com/ or contact: Golden Minerals Company Jerry W. Danni (303) 839-5060 Sr. Vice President Corporate Affairs

GlobeNewswire