Category: Silver / Gold

Almaden Hits 21.50 Meters of 2.2 g/t AuEq at Ixtaca, Mexico

Almaden Minerals Ltd. ("Almaden" or "the Company") (TSX:AMM)(NYSE MKT:AAU) is pleased to announce the results from Almaden's ongoing 2013 Ixtaca Zone drill program at the Company's 100% owned Tuligtic project, Mexico. The 2013 drill program is focussed on expanding the known resource immediately along strike to known mineralisation, adjacent to the current resource shell and within what is considered a potential pit shell. Highlights from the holes released today include the following intercepts (a more complete list of intercepts is shown in the table below):

 

Hole TU-13-265   CHEMALACO ZONE
43.40 meters @ 0.50 g/t gold and 9.2 g/t silver (0.7 g/t gold equivalent) 
Including 6.60 meters @ 2.15 g/t gold and 11.6 g/t silver (2.4 g/t gold equivalent) 
 
Hole TU-13-268   CHEMALACO ZONE
12.50 meters @ 0.56 g/t gold and 91.4 g/t silver (2.4 g/t gold equivalent) 
 
Hole TU-13-269   EASTERN VOLCANICLASTICS
33.50 meters @ 0.83 g/t gold and 2.4 g/t silver (0.9 g/t gold equivalent) 
 
Hole TU-13-272   CHEMALACO ZONE
9.50 meters @ 0.41 g/t gold and 114.0 g/t silver (2.7 g/t gold equivalent) 
 
Hole TU-13-278   CHEMALACO ZONE
33.00 meters @ 0.83 g/t gold and 37.3 g/t silver (1.6 g/t gold equivalent) 
 
Hole TU-13-279   CHEMALACO ZONE
14.62 meters @ 1.15 g/t gold and 54.9 g/t silver (2.2 g/t gold equivalent) 
 
Hole TU-13-281   CHEMALACO ZONE
119.50 meters @ 0.57 g/t gold and 24.0 g/t silver (1.0 g/t gold equivalent) 
Including 21.50 meters @ 1.13 g/t gold and 54.7 g/t silver (2.2 g/t gold equivalent) 

A plan map and relevant sections, which will be posted to the Company's website (www.almadenminerals.com), can be seen here: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/almaden-0725-maps.pdf.

About the Ixtaca Property

The 100% owned Ixtaca zone is a blind discovery made by the Company in 2010. The Main Ixtaca and Ixtaca North Zones of veining are interpreted to have a north-easterly trend. Holes to date suggest that the Main Ixtaca and Ixtaca North Zones are sub vertical with local variations. This interpretation suggests that true widths range from approximately 35% of intersected widths for a -70 degree hole to 94% of intersected widths for a -20 degree hole. The drilling completed to date has traced mineralisation over 1,000 meters along this northeast trend. Based upon observations at surface and of core as drilling progresses, there seems to be a variety of veinlet orientations within the Chemalaco Zone however overall the zone is currently interpreted to be dipping to the west and striking roughly north-south.

Hole # From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) AuEq (g/t) AgEq (g/t) Section
TU-13-265 488.40 531.80 43.40 0.50 9.2 0.7 34 50050N
including 500.60 507.20 6.60 2.15 11.6 2.4 119
including 504.20 507.20 3.00 3.36 17.1 3.7 185
TU-13-265 539.00 545.00 6.00 0.07 22.2 0.5 26
TU-13-265 550.30 558.00 7.70 0.07 28.1 0.6 32
TU-13-267 28.00 44.50 16.50 0.22 2.7 0.3 14 10900E
TU-13-267 79.00 164.40 85.40 0.33 8.7 0.5 25
including 155.85 157.45 1.60 0.40 57.0 1.5 77
including 162.00 163.40 1.40 0.95 25.8 1.5 73
TU-13-267 175.65 185.95 10.30 0.45 5.8 0.6 28
TU-13-267 194.30 198.00 3.70 0.19 15.3 0.5 25
TU-13-268 41.30 56.25 14.95 0.05 11.5 0.3 14 50050N
TU-13-268 61.25 120.50 59.25 0.11 41.1 0.9 47
including 74.90 79.75 4.85 0.25 126.9 2.8 140
including 103.00 106.00 3.00 0.23 81.2 1.9 93
TU-13-268 133.00 138.00 5.00 0.03 22.3 0.5 24
TU-13-268 151.50 208.00 56.50 0.36 42.0 1.2 60
including 166.00 178.50 12.50 0.56 91.4 2.4 119
including 166.00 167.50 1.50 0.74 223.7 5.2 261
including 192.00 199.50 7.50 0.75 51.6 1.8 89
TU-13-268 222.75 239.00 16.25 0.08 14.6 0.4 19
TU-13-269 87.50 121.00 33.50 0.83 2.4 0.9 44 10900E
including 93.50 102.00 8.50 1.34 1.9 1.4 69
including 107.00 110.50 3.50 1.13 2.5 1.2 59
TU-13-269 131.00 147.00 16.00 0.32 4.5 0.4 20
TU-13-271 87.00 121.50 34.50 0.19 4.5 0.3 14 10900E
TU-13-271 136.00 217.00 81.00 0.34 6.4 0.5 23
including 203.00 207.60 4.60 1.53 34.4 2.2 111
TU-13-272 48.00 138.50 90.50 0.20 31.4 0.8 42 50050N
including 66.05 70.20 4.15 0.44 49.5 1.4 72
including 77.50 84.80 7.30 0.29 71.1 1.7 86
including 112.75 119.75 7.00 0.43 40.1 1.2 62
including 129.00 138.50 9.50 0.41 114.0 2.7 134
TU-13-272 146.00 161.00 15.00 0.22 47.1 1.2 58
including 147.00 148.50 1.50 0.65 252.7 5.7 285
TU-13-272 187.00 193.50 6.50 0.11 11.5 0.3 17
TU-13-272 220.00 231.00 11.00 0.14 9.5 0.3 16
TU-13-273 75.59 84.50 8.91 0.18 5.4 0.3 14 10900E
TU-13-273 93.50 153.00 59.50 0.32 3.7 0.4 20
TU-13-275 68.50 84.00 15.50 0.15 10.6 0.4 18 50050N
TU-13-275 105.00 112.00 7.00 0.11 15.8 0.4 21
TU-13-275 120.00 134.50 14.50 0.18 6.2 0.3 15
TU-13-275 149.00 227.00 78.00 0.39 23.8 0.9 44
including 164.50 193.50 29.00 0.43 43.3 1.3 65
TU-13-275 254.00 258.00 4.00 0.01 13.5 0.3 14
TU-13-276 120.50 128.50 8.00 0.07 8.1 0.2 12 50100N
TU-13-276 155.50 200.70 45.20 0.23 17.0 0.6 29
including 172.25 175.25 3.00 0.76 43.4 1.6 82
including 191.50 194.75 3.25 0.26 81.9 1.9 95
TU-13-277 63.00 77.00 14.00 0.17 1.7 0.2 10 49525N
TU-13-278 53.00 122.50 69.50 0.53 21.9 1.0 49 49925N
including 71.00 104.00 33.00 0.83 37.3 1.6 79
including 71.00 81.00 10.00 1.19 56.7 2.3 116
TU-13-278 162.00 167.00 5.00 0.10 10.6 0.3 15
TU-13-279 98.00 107.00 9.00 0.08 11.6 0.3 16 50100N
TU-13-279 122.50 145.50 23.00 0.30 15.2 0.6 30
TU-13-279 161.00 191.41 30.41 0.73 33.1 1.4 70
including 170.70 185.32 14.62 1.15 54.9 2.2 112
including 172.10 174.00 1.90 2.33 268.2 7.7 385
TU-13-280 53.40 122.00 68.60 0.45 13.7 0.7 36 49925N
including 68.50 82.50 14.00 1.21 39.4 2.0 100
TU-13-281 66.00 185.50 119.50 0.57 24.0 1.0 52 49925N
including 84.00 89.00 5.00 1.04 30.9 1.7 83
including 128.00 149.50 21.50 1.13 54.7 2.2 111
TU-13-281 197.50 209.70 12.20 0.42 49.8 1.4 71
including 200.00 201.75 1.75 1.26 177.6 4.8 240
TU-13-282 120.00 134.00 14.00 0.43 7.3 0.6 29 50100N
including 127.30 130.00 2.70 1.21 7.5 1.4 68
TU-13-282 141.00 200.00 59.00 0.23 19.9 0.6 32
including 160.00 164.30 4.30 0.44 97.2 2.4 119
including 195.00 198.00 3.00 0.91 17.2 1.2 63
TU-13-283 121.50 124.50 3.00 0.00 13.5 0.3 14 49925N
TU-13-284 90.70 100.00 9.30 0.03 21.7 0.5 23 50100N
TU-13-284 106.00 113.50 7.50 0.07 14.0 0.3 17
TU-13-284 140.00 152.45 12.45 0.25 24.9 0.7 38
including 149.50 151.00 1.50 0.21 104.3 2.3 115
TU-13-284 160.00 174.50 14.50 0.07 9.8 0.3 13
TU-13-286 117.00 128.00 11.00 0.04 16.2 0.4 18 49925N
TU-13-286 185.85 191.00 5.15 0.27 7.1 0.4 20
TU-13-286 201.50 209.70 8.20 0.13 6.5 0.3 13

Mr. Norm Dircks, P.Geo., a qualified person ("QP") under the meaning of NI 43-101, is the QP and project manager of Almaden's Ixtaca program and reviewed the technical information in this news release. The analyses reported were carried out at ALS Chemex Laboratories of North Vancouver using industry standard analytical techniques. For gold, samples are first analysed by fire assay and atomic absorption spectroscopy ("AAS"). Samples that return values greater than 10 g/t gold using this technique are then re-analysed by fire assay but with a gravimetric finish. Silver is first analysed by Inductively Coupled Plasma - Atomic Emission Spectroscopy ("ICP-AES"). Samples that return values greater than 100 g/t silver by ICP-AES are then re analysed by HF-HNO3-HCLO4 digestion with HCL leach and ICP-AES finish. Of these samples those that return silver values greater than 1,500 g/t are further analysed by fire assay with a gravimetric finish.

Blanks, field duplicates and certified standards were inserted into the sample stream as part of Almaden's quality assurance and control program which complies with National Instrument 43-101 requirements. Gold equivalent ("AuEq" or "Gold Eq.") and silver equivalent ("AgEq" or "Silver Eq.") values were calculated using silver to gold ratios of 50 to 1. The ratio of 50 to 1 was used for the sake of consistency with past news releases. Intervals that returned assays below detection were assigned zero values. Metallurgical recoveries and net smelter returns are assumed to be 100% for these calculations.

About Almaden

Almaden is a well-financed mineral exploration company working in North America. The company has assembled mineral exploration projects, including the Ixtaca Zone and the Tuligtic project, through its grass roots exploration efforts. While the properties are largely at early stages of development they represent exciting opportunities for the discovery of significant gold, silver and copper deposits as evidenced at Ixtaca. Almaden's business model is to find and acquire mineral properties and develop them by seeking option agreements with others who can acquire an interest in a project by making payments and exploration expenditures. Through this means the company has been able to expose its shareholders to discovery and capital gain without the funding and consequent share dilution that would be required if the company were to have developed these projects without a partner. The company intends to expand this business model, described by some as prospect generation, by more aggressively exploring several of its projects including the Ixtaca Zone.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Morgan J. Poliquin, Ph.D., P.Eng., President, CEO and Director

Almaden Minerals Ltd.

Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) nor the NYSE MKT have reviewed or accepted responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the contents of this news release which has been prepared by management.. Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, certain information presented constitutes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Canadian securities laws. Such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, those with respect to potential expansion of mineralization, potential size of mineralized zone, and size and timing of exploration and development programs, estimated project capital and other project costs and the timing of submission and receipt and availability of regulatory approvals involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievement of Almaden to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, risks related to international operations and joint ventures, the actual results of current exploration activities, conclusions of economic evaluations, uncertainty in the estimation of mineral resources, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, environmental risks and hazards, increased infrastructure and/or operating costs, labour and employment matters, and government regulation and permitting requirements as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Almaden's Annual Information form and Almaden's latest Form 20-F on file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. Although Almaden has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Almaden disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required pursuant to applicable securities laws. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Almaden Minerals Ltd.
604-689-7644
604-689-7645
www.almadenminerals.com