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VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA–(Marketwire – Jan. 27, 2012) – Astur Gold Corp. (TSX VENTURE:AST)(FRANKFURT:CDC) (“Astur Gold” or the “Company”) has been notified that the Directorate General of Environment of the Principality of Asturias has commenced preliminary consultation work towards an Environmental Impact Assessment Study (“EIA”) for Astur Gold’s Salave gold project.
This preliminary consultation process will last 20 days and will include comments from environmental, urban, and cultural organizations, as well as NGO’s and other affected stakeholders. Following their review, the Directorate General of Environment will provide Astur Gold with its report, which will outline the scope and level of further detail required in the EIA for Salave. The Company will then submit an updated EIA with the data required under the appropriate Environmental Legislation. Astur Gold has already commenced, under the supervision of Congeo as environmental consultant, most of the necessary field work related to the EIA.
“We remain dedicated to listening to all stakeholders. This is a significant milestone on the path to getting our EIA approved. Astur Gold is committed to a strong balance among environment, social and economic responsibilities for the region”, stated CEO Cary Pinkowski.
ABOUT ASTUR GOLD
Astur Gold is developing its 100% owned Salave Gold Project in Asturias (northern Spain) comprising 3,198 hectares. Salave is one of the largest undeveloped gold deposits in Western Europe with a NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate by Scott Wilson RPA containing 1,683,000 oz of gold in the Measured & Indicated category (2,155,000 tonnes grading 3.88 g/t Au Measured and 15,790,000 tonnes grading 2.79 g/t Au Indicated) with an additional 338,000 oz of gold in the Inferred category (3,770,000 tonnes grading 2.8 g/t Au).
The Salave deposit is a shear zone type deposit hosted in granodiorite. Drilling to date totals 64,377m in 430 holes (235 diamond drill holes) and previous metallurgical tests indicate gold recoveries in the order of 90% are possible. Access to power, water, and roads is available on site. The region boasts excellent infrastructure and industrial skilled labour due to a long history of mining that will help support future mine development.
Astur Gold submitted an application for an underground mine permit to the government of Asturias in September 2011. The Company has recently conducted geotechnical drilling for underground mine planning and is working on an Environmental Impact Assessment Study. Astur Gold is building a partnership with the people of Asturias to generate significant economic benefit for the region and bring Salave into production as soon as possible.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
Cary Pinkowski, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. This document contains certain forward looking statements which involve known and unknown risks, delays and uncertainties not under the Company’s control which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from the results, performance or expectation implied by these forward looking statements.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
