Endeavour International Corporation Expands Nzema Sulphide Program And Initiates Preliminary Economic Assessment by 24hgold

News Release - Wednesday, May 02, 2012
Endeavour Expands Nzema Sulphide Program And Initiates Preliminary Economic Assessment

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Monaco, May 2, 2012 -- Endeavour Mining Corporation ("Endeavour") (TSX:EDV, ASX:EVR, OTCQX:EDVMF) is pleased to report the expansion of the sulphide drilling program at its 90% owned Nzema Gold Mine following review of drilling results to date, the delivery of the Conceptual Trade-off Study by AMEC Minproc Limited and initial metallurgical testwork completed at SGS Australia Mineral Services.

Drilling has confirmed the presence of several sulphide ore shoots below the principal oxide pits at the Salman Trend. Highlights include:

Teberu

SNRC1415 9 m @ 4.91 g/t Au from 109 m
SNRC1416 14 m @ 4.13 g/t Au from 104 m
SNRC1416 14 m @ 3.15 g/t Au from 124 m
SNRC1451 10 m @ 3.84 g/t Au from 72 m
SNRC1478 14 m @ 2.48 g/t Au from 30 m

Salman North

SNRC1419 3 m @ 11.52 g/t Au from 79 m
SNRC1464 12 m @ 9.67 g/t Au from 38 m

Nugget Hill

SNDD1446 10 m @ 3.75 g/t Au from 108 m
SNDD1447 16 m @ 2.04 g/t Au from 62 m

Salman South

SNRC1378 14 m @ 1.94 g/t Au from 63 m
SNRC1474 8 m @ 1.67 g/t Au from 88 m

On the basis of these encouraging results the Nzema exploration program was expanded to include a larger sulphide drilling program, metallurgical testwork, and completion of a preliminary economic assessment by the end of 2012. The sulphide gold zones at Salman represent a target that Endeavour believes has the potential to significantly increase production at Nzema.

The testwork will examine process alternatives currently being employed to treat refractory sulphide mineralization within West Africa. The program budget was expanded from US$2.4 to US$6.4M for 2012 in order to accelerate the drilling and achieve the study objectives.

Sulphide Drilling Program Results

A total of 40 holes totalling 5,174 m have been completed thus far in the 2012 drilling campaign. Significant results for 2011 and 2012 drill campaigns are provided in Table 1.

RC and diamond drilling has targeted the sulphide zone between Salman North and Salman South (Figure 1). Drilling traverses were initially spaced at 100 metres to provide systematic coverage of the sulphide zones and to highlight the location of higher grade shoots to a vertical depth of 100 metres. At Teberu, Salman North and Salman South drilling results demonstrate the existence of wide zones of higher grade mineralization that represent ore shoots plunging shallowly to the south. Closer-spaced drilling has commenced at the locations of the ore shoots (50 metre by 50 metre grid) to assess continuity and to provide sufficient data for the generation of an inferred resource.

Shallower intercepts of oxide mineralization help to delineate the oxide resources and in a few cases have outlined zones that are not currently included in the resources. In some areas faults, possibly thrusts, have resulted in "doubled-up" portions of the mineralized horizons or have caused gaps or dislocations of an otherwise continuous mineralized body.

Table 1: Significant Intercepts for the Salman Sulphide and Oxide Drilling (Holes in bold are located on Figure 1)

Hole	Prospect	From (m)	To (m)	Width (m)	Grade (g/t)	Year Drilled	Ox/Su
SNRC1378	Salman South	63	77	14	1.94	2011	Su
SNRC1394	Nugget Hill	13	20	7	1.46	2011	Ox
SNRC1404	Nugget Hill	41	45	4	2.86	2011	Ox
SNRC1405	Teberu	12	15	3	4.61	2011	Ox
SNRC1411	Teberu	34	41	7	2.25	2011	Su
SNRC1415	Teberu	29	36	7	2.81	2011	Su
SNRC1415	Teberu	109	118	9	4.91	2011	Su
SNRC1416	Teberu	104	118	14	4.13	2011	Su
SNRC1416	Teberu	124	138	14	3.15	2011	Su
SNRC1419	Salman North	79	82	3	11.52	2012	Su
SNRC1421	Nugget Hill	25	29	4	4.04	2012	Su
SNRC1435	Salman South	0	5	5	3.92	2012	Ox
SNDD1443	Teberu	60	65	5	2.22	2012	Su
SNDD1443	Teberu	145	149	4	3.45	2012	Su
SNDD1444	Teberu	157	172	15	2.3	2012	Su
SNDD1446	Nugget Hill	108	118	10	3.75	2012	Su
SNDD1447	Nugget Hill	62	78	16	2.04	2012	Su
SNRC1451	Teberu	72	82	10	3.84	2012	Su
SNRC1453	Teberu	54	71	17	1.28	2012	Su
SNRC1455	Teberu	22	28	6	1.81	2012	Su
SNRC1458	Nugget Hill	75	82	7	2.23	2012	Su
SNRC1461	Teberu	96	99	3	4.11	2012	Su
SNRC1464	Salman North	5	6	1	31.43	2012	Su
SNRC1464	Salman North	21	27	6	2.93	2012	Su
SNRC1464	Salman North	38	50	12	9.67	2012	Su
SNRC1465	Salman North	114	123	9	1.32	2012	Su
SNRC1474	Salman South	16	22	6	4.65	2012	Ox
SNRC1474	Salman South	88	96	8	1.67	2012	Su
SNRC1476	Teberu	28	36	8	4.21	2012	Ox
SNRC1477	Nugget Hill	33	44	11	1.88	2012	Su
SNRC1478	Teberu	30	44	14	2.48	2012	Su

Figure 1: Plan map of the Salman Trend showing areas of Nzema Sulphide drilling program

Click to enlarge

Figure 2: Teberu 04 cross section 553800N

Click to enlarge

Figure 3: Salman South cross section 551450N

Click to enlarge

Background of Salman Sulphide Project

The Nzema Mine commenced production in late 2010 based on mineral reserves from the Salman, Anwia and Bokrobo deposits. The mineral reserve of the Salman Trend comprises oxide and some transitional ore contained within a string of open pits along the 9 kilometre trend that extends from Akango in the north to Salman South. Although gold mineralization extends without a break from oxide through the transition horizon and into the unoxidized sulphide zone, gold within the sulphide zone is refractory and has a low recovery when treated by the existing conventional 'carbon in leach' plant at Nzema (Direct CIL recoveries ranging from 22.7% to 28.4% in lab testwork). Refractory gold deposits exist at other operations in Ghana and C�te d'Ivoire where the ore is treated using either BIOX or Leachox methods (ultra-fine grinding with intensive oxidation of the flotation concentrates). The refractory gold mineralization of the Salman Sulphides represents a target that Endeavour believes has the potential to significantly increase production at Nzema.

The lower transitional material has a low recovery with conventional carbon in leach and although it is scheduled to be processed through the Nzema oxide plant it may also be more economically processed with the sulphide material.

Conceptual Trade-off Study

In tandem with the resource drilling program in 2011, Endeavour engaged AMEC Minproc Limited to conduct a Conceptual Trade-off Study on the Nzema sulphide project. The primary aim of the study was to investigate process options for the sulphide material and to assess the economic viability of the project prior to commitment to a resource definition program to convert the resource to reserve. Two potential process options were considered:

Off-site toll treatment of a sulphide concentrate generated on site, or
Construction of a concentrator and BIOX plant on site.

The preliminary flotation testwork indicated that a high gold recovery with a small mass pull could be achieved (approximately 90-95% gold in about 5% mass). This has obvious benefits in terms of capital and operating costs for subsequent treatment processes. Assuming around 92% gold recovery by CIL of the oxidized concentrate an overall recovery of approximately 83% is indicated.

Next Steps

The revised 2012 drill program includes 15,800 metres of diamond drilling (with RC pre-collars) plus 2,400 metres of RC drilling. The program is planned to extend the drill coverage to 150 m vertical in anticipation of generating at least Inferred resources at the three main shoots and extend the delineation of the sulphide resource where possible.

The results of this drill program will be assessed via a Preliminary Economic Assessment prior to commitment to a second drilling program to convert the Inferred resources to Measured and Indicated and progress to a Preliminary Feasibility Study. Delivery of the Preliminary Economic Assessment is planned for the end of 2012.

Qualified Persons

Adriaan Roux, (Pr.Sci.Nat.), Endeavour's Senior Vice President -- Operations, is a Qualified Person under NI 43-101, and has reviewed and approved the technical information related to metallurgy and mining operations in this news release.

Martin Bennett, MAIG, General Manager Exploration is the Qualified Person overseeing Endeavour's exploration projects in Ghana and Liberia and has reviewed and approved this press release.

About Endeavour Mining Corporation

Endeavour is a gold producer delivering growth. Endeavour owns two gold mines producing approximately 180,000 oz per year in Ghana and Burkina Faso that are generating significant operating cash flows to fund exploration and development growth. In addition to upside potential at its current operations, Endeavour's gold project in C�te d'Ivoire is ready for construction (mining permit submitted; currently negotiating EPCM contract) for an additional 100,000 oz per year. Endeavour's strong financial base encourages investments in long-term operational growth, exploration to replace and increase reserves, and funding for acquisitions.

Endeavour Mining Corporation is listed on the TSX (symbol EDV) and ASX (symbol EVR), and also trades on the OTCQX (symbol EDVMF).

On behalf of Endeavour Mining Corporation
Neil Woodyer
Chief Executive Officer

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" including but not limited to, statements with respect to Endeavour's plans and operating performance, the estimation of mineral reserves and resources, the timing and amount of estimated future production, costs of future production, future capital expenditures, and the success of exploration activities. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expects", "expected", "budgeted", "forecasts" and "anticipates". Forward-looking statements, while based on management's best estimates and assumptions, are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: risks related to the successful integration of acquisitions; risks related to international operations; risks related to general economic conditions and credit availability, actual results of current exploration activities, unanticipated reclamation expenses; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; fluctuations in prices of metals including gold; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, increases in market prices of mining consumables, possible variations in ore reserves, grade or recovery rates; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes, title disputes, claims and limitations on insurance coverage and other risks of the mining industry; delays in the completion of development or construction activities, changes in national and local government regulation of mining operations, tax rules and regulations, and political and economic developments in countries in which Endeavour operates. Although Endeavour has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, 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. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Please refer to Endeavour's most recent Annual Information Form filed under its profile at www.sedar.com for further information respecting the risks affecting Endeavour and its business.

For additional information, contact:

David Laing
Senior Vice President - Technical Services
+1 604 609 6133
dlaing@endeavourmining.com

Bobby Morse
James Strong
Buchanan
+44 20 7466 5000
bobbym@buchanan.uk.com

Florence Liberski
Renmark Financial Communications
+1 514 939 3989
or +1 416 644 2020
fliberski@renmarkfinancial..com

David Ikin
Professional Public Relations
+61 8 9388 0944
david.ikin@ppr.com.au

Endeavour Mining Corporation
Cayman Corporate Centre
27 Hospital Road
George Town, Grand Cayman,
KY1 1109, Cayman Islands
Tel: +1 345 946 7603
Fax: +1 345 946 7604
www.endeavourmining.com

A Cayman Islands exempted company with limited liability.
ARBN 153 067 639

Appendix of intercepts:

HoleID	From	To	Au ppm
SNRC1378	63	64	2.43
SNRC1378	64	65	0.07
SNRC1378	65	66	8.20
SNRC1378	66	67	1.08
SNRC1378	67	68	1.09
SNRC1378	68	69	0.05
SNRC1378	69	70	0.36
SNRC1378	70	71	0.51
SNRC1378	71	72	0.43
SNRC1378	72	73	0.70
SNRC1378	73	74	0.64
SNRC1378	74	75	2.48
SNRC1378	75	76	0.69
SNRC1378	76	77	8.40
SNRC1384	1	2	2.76
SNRC1384	2	3	2.27
SNRC1384	3	4	0.66
SNRC1394	13	14	1.74
SNRC1394	14	15	0.04
SNRC1394	15	16	2.70
SNRC1394	16	17	0.05
SNRC1394	17	18	2.28
SNRC1394	18	19	2.36
SNRC1394	19	20	1.02
SNRC1404	41	42	1.31
SNRC1404	42	43	5.57
SNRC1404	43	44	3.54
SNRC1404	44	45	1.00
SNRC1405	12	13	2.35
SNRC1405	13	14	5.02
SNRC1405	14	15	6.45
SNRC1411	34	35	0.66
SNRC1411	35	36	10.54
SNRC1411	36	37	0.75
SNRC1411	37	38	0.60
SNRC1411	38	39	0.28
SNRC1411	39	40	1.07
SNRC1411	40	41	1.87
SNRC1415	29	30	0.56
SNRC1415	30	31	0.01
SNRC1415	31	32	0.02
SNRC1415	32	33	1.21
SNRC1415	33	34	5.11
SNRC1415	34	35	1.48
SNRC1415	35	36	11.25
SNRC1415	109	110	5.39
SNRC1415	110	111	4.72
SNRC1415	111	112	1.13
SNRC1415	112	113	6.44
SNRC1415	113	114	8.66
SNRC1415	114	115	9.45
SNRC1415	115	116	2.78
SNRC1415	116	117	4.95
SNRC1415	117	118	0.68
SNRC1416	104	105	4.50
SNRC1416	105	106	0.34
SNRC1416	106	107	6.65
SNRC1416	107	108	1.09
SNRC1416	108	109	4.01
SNRC1416	109	110	7.84
SNRC1416	110	111	19.2
SNRC1416	111	112	5.12
SNRC1416	112	113	1.30
SNRC1416	113	114	2.96
SNRC1416	114	115	1.00
SNRC1416	115	116	1.83
SNRC1416	116	117	1.24
SNRC1416	117	118	0.81
SNRC1416	124	125	2.59
SNRC1416	125	126	1.81
SNRC1416	126	127	0.89
SNRC1416	127	128	1.63
SNRC1416	128	129	8.82
SNRC1416	129	130	4.20
SNRC1416	130	131	1.70
SNRC1416	131	132	2.99
SNRC1416	132	133	9.57
SNRC1416	133	134	4.90
SNRC1416	134	135	2.58
SNRC1416	135	136	0.85
SNRC1416	136	137	1.06
SNRC1416	137	138	0.51
SNRC1419	79	80	2.00
SNRC1419	80	81	1.06
SNRC1419	81	82	31.49
SNRC1421	25	26	0.59
SNRC1421	26	27	10.99
SNRC1421	27	28	3.82
SNRC1421	28	29	0.76
SNRC1435	0	1	5.24
SNRC1435	1	2	0.59
SNRC1435	2	3	2.39
SNRC1435	3	4	9.94
SNRC1435	4	5	1.46
SNDD1443	145	146	0.59
SNDD1443	146	147	3.42
SNDD1443	147	148	4.33
SNDD1443	148	149	5.47
SNDD1444	157	158	0.96
SNDD1444	158	159	0.94
SNDD1444	159	160	1.47
SNDD1444	160	161	0.53
SNDD1444	161	162	0.09
SNDD1444	162	163	0.99
SNDD1444	163	164	0.90
SNDD1444	164	165	8.04
SNDD1444	165	166	6.67
SNDD1444	166	167	7.40
SNDD1444	167	168	4.50
SNDD1444	168	169	1.09
SNDD1444	169	170	0.28
SNDD1444	170	171	0.17
SNDD1444	171	172	0.51
SNDD1446	108	109	1.76
SNDD1446	109	110	6.74
SNDD1446	110	111	3.84
SNDD1446	111	112	5.85
SNDD1446	112	113	2.85
SNDD1446	113	114	2.09
SNDD1446	114	115	1.99
SNDD1446	115	116	4.31
SNDD1446	116	117	7.40
SNDD1446	117	118	0.67
SNDD1447	62	63	0.53
SNDD1447	63	64	0.23
SNDD1447	64	65	1.13
SNDD1447	65	66	0.71
SNDD1447	66	67	1.98
SNDD1447	67	68	0.50
SNDD1447	68	69	0.38
SNDD1447	69	70	3.53
SNDD1447	70	71	3.62
SNDD1447	71	72	2.69
SNDD1447	72	73	3.67
SNDD1447	73	74	2.31
SNDD1447	74	75	3.13
SNDD1447	75	76	3.67
SNDD1447	76	77	3.37
SNDD1447	77	78	1.15
SNRC1451	72	73	0.57
SNRC1451	73	74	2.27
SNRC1451	74	75	6.78
SNRC1451	75	76	15.72
SNRC1451	76	77	7.86
SNRC1451	77	78	2.54
SNRC1451	78	79	0.52
SNRC1451	79	80	0.96
SNRC1451	80	81	0.61
SNRC1451	81	82	0.58
SNRC1453	54	55	1.00
SNRC1453	55	56	3.19
SNRC1453	56	57	0.47
SNRC1453	57	58	0.14
SNRC1453	58	59	0.68
SNRC1453	59	60	0.46
SNRC1453	60	61	2.39
SNRC1453	61	62	0.59
SNRC1453	62	63	0.61
SNRC1453	63	64	1.83
SNRC1453	64	65	1.85
SNRC1453	65	66	5.33
SNRC1453	66	67	1.22
SNRC1453	67	68	0.76
SNRC1453	68	69	0.15
SNRC1453	69	70	0.60
SNRC1453	70	71	0.53
SNRC1455	22	23	2.78
SNRC1455	23	24	2.72
SNRC1455	24	25	0.77
SNRC1455	25	26	1.23
SNRC1455	26	27	1.98
SNRC1455	27	28	1.40
SNRC1458	75	76	0.92
SNRC1458	76	77	3.00
SNRC1458	77	78	6.94
SNRC1458	78	79	1.85
SNRC1458	79	80	0.61
SNRC1458	80	81	0.16
SNRC1458	81	82	2.12
SNRC1461	96	97	3.28
SNRC1461	97	98	2.81
SNRC1461	98	99	6.23
SNRC1464	5	6	31.43
SNRC1464	21	22	10.85
SNRC1464	22	23	3.07
SNRC1464	23	24	0.92
SNRC1464	24	25	1.69
SNRC1464	25	26	0.53
SNRC1464	26	27	0.53
SNRC1464	38	39	0.85
SNRC1464	39	40	31.98
SNRC1464	40	41	1.37
SNRC1464	41	42	0.31
SNRC1464	42	43	1.72
SNRC1464	43	44	0.79
SNRC1464	44	45	0.16
SNRC1464	45	46	0.54
SNRC1464	46	47	1.12
SNRC1464	47	48	73.0
SNRC1464	48	49	1.26
SNRC1464	49	50	2.89
SNRC1465	114	115	0.73
SNRC1465	115	116	1.50
SNRC1465	116	117	1.83
SNRC1465	117	118	0.57
SNRC1465	118	119	0.54
SNRC1465	119	120	0.39
SNRC1465	120	121	1.47
SNRC1465	121	122	4.00
SNRC1465	122	123	0.82
SNRC1474	16	17	2.32
SNRC1474	17	18	1.42
SNRC1474	18	19	19.16
SNRC1474	19	20	3.15
SNRC1474	20	21	0.40
SNRC1474	21	22	1.44
SNRC1474	88	89	2.80
SNRC1474	89	90	1.74
SNRC1474	90	91	0.28
SNRC1474	91	92	0.96
SNRC1474	92	93	3.49
SNRC1474	93	94	0.45
SNRC1474	94	95	0.78
SNRC1474	95	96	2.87
SNRC1476	28	29	0.90
SNRC1476	29	30	1.45
SNRC1476	30	31	0.34
SNRC1476	31	32	0.38
SNRC1476	32	33	4.04
SNRC1476	33	34	4.79
SNRC1476	34	35	8.86
SNRC1476	35	36	2.92
SNRC1477	33	34	0.68
SNRC1477	34	35	0.39
SNRC1477	35	36	2.26
SNRC1477	36	37	0.56
SNRC1477	37	38	2.71
SNRC1477	38	39	0.10
SNRC1477	39	40	2.50
SNRC1477	40	41	0.08
SNRC1477	41	42	0.14
SNRC1477	42	43	1.20
SNRC1477	43	44	10.03
SNRC1478	30	31	4.93
SNRC1478	31	32	0.81
SNRC1478	32	33	0.50
SNRC1478	33	34	0.95
SNRC1478	34	35	4.28
SNRC1478	35	36	0.05
SNRC1478	36	37	1.97
SNRC1478	37	38	1.93
SNRC1478	38	39	0.01
SNRC1478	39	40	0.02
SNRC1478	40	41	2.08
SNRC1478	41	42	0.42
SNRC1478	42	43	15.57
SNRC1478	43	44	1.16

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