Avino hits 29.5 g/t in 27 vein extension at Bralorne mine

Shear Diamonds Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:SRM) today announced the commencement of its spring drilling program at its 100% owned Jericho Diamond Project, Nunavut. The first drill hole within the Jericho open pit into the Jericho Kimberlite Complex has been completed and intersected more kimberlite than expected based on the past models.. As part of the ongoing exploration program (see news release February 28, 2011), a series of six angled delineation drill holes have been planned to test areas of the Jericho Kimberlite Complex where it is felt that additional data points are required and to determine the potential for increased tonnage.

Talmora Diamond Inc. (CNSX:TAI) is pleased to announce that it proposes to complete a part brokered and part non-brokered private placement of up to 25,000,000 Units, comprised of at least 20,000,000 Hard Dollar Units and up to 5,000,000 Flow-Through Units at $0.05 per Unit, for gross proceeds of up to $1,250,000. The private placement is expected to close not later than May 16, 2011.

NioGold Mining Corporation (TSX-V: NOX) is pleased to report on the on-going exploration drilling program within the southern portion of company's wholly-owned Malartic Block property, located in the Malartic gold camp, Abitibi region of Quebec. The first three holes of the program intersected two important altered, veined and sulphide mineralised shear zones cutting sedimentary rocks.

IAMGOLD Corporation (TSX:IMG)(NYSE:IAG) today announced the results of an independently prepared NI 43-101 compliant preliminary economic assessment ("PEA") on the company's wholly-owned Niobec niobium mine in the province of Quebec, Canada. The PEA shows a significant increase in the measured, indicated and inferred mineral resource estimates at Niobec with the potential for a significant production expansion. The PEA examined the impact of changing the existing underground mine to an alternative bulk mining method. IAMGOLD technical personnel then compared the economics of the open pit scenario and a block caving scenario. The work done on the PEA and the study will be advanced in a 2011 pre-feasibility study to confirm the potential upside of Niobec.

Lake Shore Gold Corp. (TSX:LSG) today released production results for the first quarter of 2011. Ore processed in the quarter amounted to 148,400 tonnes at a grade of 4.89 grams per tonne ("gpt") at a recovery rate 95.8% for recovered gold of 22,300 ounces. Gold poured related to mill production totaled 25,900 ounces. Total gold sold during the first quarter of 2011 was 34,000 ounces at an average gold price of US$1,387 per ounce. Image by Lake Shore Gold

Alexco Resource Corp. (TSX:AXR)(NYSE Amex:AXU) today reported the first full quarter production results from its newly commissioned Bellekeno mine and mill in the Keno Hill Silver District, Yukon. First Quarter Highlights: * Silver Production of 447,524 ounces * Lead Production of 3,682,304 pounds * Zinc Production of 1,334,144 pounds

Kirkland Lake Gold Inc. (TSX:KGI)(AIM:KGI), an operating and exploration gold company, is pleased to announce a record drill hole intersection from one of the underground exploration programs on the company's 100% owned Macassa property. This particular drill hole, which was targeting the east `08 Break Zone from the 5300 foot level of the Macassa Mine, intersected the New South Zone within a previously defined resource area of the South Mine Complex (SMC). Image by Kirkland Lake Gold Inc.

Small B.C.-based junior Serengeti Resources (TSX-V: SIR) signed on a sizeable partner to explore territory thick in prospective copper-gold porphyries. Mining giant Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold (NYSE: FCX) inked an exploration agreement with Serengeti Resources that could see a 51-49-percent joint venture in Freeport's favour formed on Serengeti's Choo and Tchentlo properties, not far from Thompson Creek Metals' Mt. Milligan copper-gold project.

Five drillholes plugged some wide gaps for Richfield Ventures (TSX-V: RVC) at its Blackwater deposit, showing impressive continuity of deep gold mineralization at its flagship project 100-kilometers south of Vanderhoof, B.C. New Gold (TSX: NGD) will likely be pleased, as in early April it announced an all share takeover of Richfield worth C$550 million and plans on bringing Blackwater into production if the takeover succeeds. Ongoing drilling is part of an aggressive campaign to flesh out and expand Richfield's growing resources.