Timmins Gold intersects 9.14 meters of 10.5 gpt gold in ongoing drill program at San Francisco gold mine

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA–(Marketwire – Sept. 18, 2012) – Timmins Gold Corp. (TSX:TMM)(NYSE MKT:TGD)(NYSE Amex:TGD) is pleased to announce that its ongoing drill program continues to extend and expand the mineralization at the San Francisco Gold Mine, located in the State of Sonora, Mexico. The San Francisco Gold Mine is comprised of two pits, the larger San Francisco pit (SF Pit) and the La Chicharra Pit located approximately 1.5 km to the west. A total of 31,680 meters in 166 holes were drilled from February to the end of June, 2012. Timmins Gold is continuing with its ongoing drill program and currently has four reverse circulation rigs and one core drill rig working on site.

San Francisco Drill Results

Highlights of the assays received from the 8,852 meters drilled in 60 holes at the SF Pit include 9.14 meters of 10.5 grams per tonne (gpt or g/t) gold in Hole TF-2001, 12.1 meters of 2.3 gpt gold in Hole TF-2011, 6.1 meters of 3.0 gpt gold in Hole TF-2042 and 6.1 meters of 2.0 gpt gold in Hole TF-2043.

This drilling was performed mainly to the south of the SF Pit and has confirmed the up dip projection of mineralization to a distance of 100 meters from the current pit limits. The drilling is continuing to intercept mineralization and is proceeding toward Hole TFR-16, which was drilled 500 meters to the south of the SF Pit and which returned 21 meters of 1.1 gpt gold. The geologic theory is that mineralization in the SF Pit and La Chicharra Pit is controlled by two parallel shear zones that may link up to the south of the SF Pit. The large number of holes which returned anomalous gold values, when combined with previous drill results indicate the potential for expansion of the SF Pit beyond its current projected limit and indicates that the mineralized system is open toward the South and Southwest.

La Chicharra Drill Results

Highlights of the assays received from the 20,321 meters drilled in 96 holes of reverse circulation drilling at the La Chicharra Pit include 6 meters of 2.6 gpt gold in Hole TF-1825, 4.57 meters of 2.3 gpt gold in Hole TF-1912, 21.3 meters of 1.6 gpt gold in Hole TF-1889 and 13.72 meters of 1.23 gpt gold in Hole TF-1878.

Results from the recent round of drilling at La Chicharra indicate that the mineralization extends both along strike of the current pit and also that there is a new parallel structure approximately 50 meters to the north of the current pit. The multiple shear zones encountered in and around the La Chicharra Pit give no indication that the limits of the mineralization have been reached.

The tables below highlight the better intercepts from the drilling from February to the end of June:

San Francisco
Drill Hole
Number
Depth
(m)
Section
Line
Drill Intersections
From
(m)
To
(m)
True
Width
(m)
Au
g/t
TF-1499 149 1080 W 13.72 15.24 1.524 0.477
and 92.96 94.49 1.524 0.634
and 118.87 120.40 1.524 1.182
and 137.16 140.21 3.048 3.329
includes 138.68 140.21 1.524 5.444
TF-2001 149 1100 W 13.72 15.24 1.524 0.529
and 21.34 30.48 9.144 10.556
includes 22.86 24.38 1.524 3.712
includes 25.91 28.96 3.050 29.304
and 124.97 129.54 4.572 0.470
TF-2003 149 1060 W 27.43 30.48 3.048 1.105
and 38.10 44.20 6.096 0.931
and 109.73 115.82 6.096 0.179
and 137.16 144.78 7.620 1.169
TF-2011 204 1100 W 71.63 94.49 22.860 0.240
and 120.40 132.59 12.192 2.340
includes 129.54 131.06 1.524 16.432
TF-2042 152 480 W 13.72 19.81 6.100 3.010
includes 18.29 19.81 1.522 9.826
TF-2043 152 520 W 15.24 21.34 6.100 1.979
includes 18.28 21.34 3.060 3.690
and 33.53 42.67 9.140 0.226
and 121.92 126.49 4.570 0.401
TF-2045 152 380 W 0.00 13.72 13.720 0.790
includes 1.52 3.05 1.524 5.411
and 56.39 59.44 3.050 1.380
and 80.77 86.87 6.100 0.370
La Chicharra
Drill Hole
Number
Depth
(m)
Section
Line
Drill Intersections
From
(m)
To
(m)
True
Width
(m)
Au
g/t
TF-1825 186 3280W 42.56 45.60 3.04 1.737
includes 44.08 45.60 1.52 3.230
and 107.92 112.48 4.56 0.285
and 118.56 124.64 6.08 2.594
includes 118.56 121.08 3.04 5.075
includes 118.56 120.08 1.52 8.289
TF-1863 232 and 25.91 35.05 9.14 0.339
and 38.10 44.20 6.10 0.285
and 155.45 161.54 6.09 0.371
and 166.12 173.74 7.62 0.429
and 192.02 231.65 39.63 0.577
includes 204.22 208.79 4.57 1.947
includes 214.88 217.93 3.05 1.097
TF-1866 219 2560W 1.52 19.81 18.29 0.557
includes 6.10 9.14 1.52 1.859
and 21.34 27.43 6.09 0.277
and 32.00 33.53 1.52 1.443
and 134.11 138.68 4.57 0.365
and 164.59 182.88 18.29 0.926
includes 164.59 169.16 4.57 1.724
includes 176.78 178.31 1.52 1.316
TF-1878 210 2560W 0.00 4.57 4.57 0.412
and 39.62 41.15 1.52 0.652
and 126.49 140.21 13.72 1.234
includes 129.54 134.11 4.57 2.480
includes 135.64 137.16 1.52 1.405
and 176.78 181.36 4.57 0.315
TF-1889 219 2500W 45.72 50.29 4.57 0.977
includes 45.72 47.24 1.52 1.948
and 158.50 161.54 3.05 1.173
and 173.74 195.07 21.33 1.602
includes 182.88 184.40 1.52 2.784
includes 187.45 188.98 1.52 16.574
TF-1898 250 2500W 3.05 6.10 3.05 0.333
and 21.34 33.53 12.19 0.420
includes 27.43 28.96 1.52 1.354
and 216.41 225.55 9.14 1.099
includes 216.41 220.98 4.57 1.744
TF-1912 250 2520W 15.24 24.38 9.14 1.018
includes 22.38 24.38 1.52 4.680
and 44.20 48.77 4.57 0.400
and 56.39 80.77 24.38 0.900
includes 56.39 57.91 1.52 4.055
includes 64.01 68.58 4.57 2.277
includes 76.20 77.72 1.52 1.197
and 94.49 103.63 9.14 0.432

The size of the gold mineralization zone, its presence within large shear zones and the continuous nature of the gold within these zones form the basis of management’s belief that the ongoing drill program could lead to a significant increase in the mineral resources at the San Francisco mine and could potentially also lead to the discovery of additional satellite deposits within Timmins Gold’s existing land package.

Strict sampling and QA-QC protocol were followed to ensure the best practices in sampling and analysis of the drill samples. Duplicates, standards and blanks were inserted into the sampling stream at intervals of 25 samples. All assays were performed by Inspectorate Lab and a minimum of ten per cent of the original samples assayed by Inspectorate were sent to other independent labs for check assays. The check assays were cross-referenced and the results verified.

This press release was reviewed and prepared by Lawrence A. Dick, Ph.D., P.Geo, who is a consultant to the Company and is recognized as a Qualified Person under the guidelines of National Instrument 43-101 and by Miguel Soto, P. Geo., a director and the Vice-President of Operations of the Company. For further information contact Timmins Gold Corp. at 604-682-4002 or go to the website atwww.timminsgold.com.

On behalf of the Board:

Bruce Bragagnolo, LLB, Chief Executive Officer

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained herein may constitute forward-looking statements and are made pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements are statements which relate to future events. Such statements include estimates, forecasts and statements as to management’s expectations with respect to, among other things, business and financial prospects, financial multiples and accretion estimates, future trends, plans, strategies, objectives and expectations, including with respect to production, exploration drilling, reserves and resources, exploitation activities and events or future operations. Information inferred from the interpretation of drilling results and information concerning mineral resource estimates may also be deemed to be forward-looking statements, as it constitutes a prediction of what might be found to be present when, and if, a project is actually developed.

In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may”, “should”, “expects”, “plans, “anticipates”, believes”, “estimates”, “predicts”, “potential”, or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our or our industry’s actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

While these forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect our current judgment regarding the direction of our business, actual results will almost always vary, sometimes materially, from any estimates, predictions, projections, assumptions or other future performance suggestions herein. Except as required by applicable law, Timmins Gold does not intend to update any forward-looking statements to conform these statements to actual results.

Neither the TSX nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX) nor the NYSE MKT accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

 

Contact Information