OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - July 26, 2011) - Orezone Gold Corporation (News - Market indicators) is pleased to announce additional positive drill results from an ongoing 170,000 m infill and expansion drill program at its 100% owned Bomboré Gold Project in Burkina Faso, West Africa. Results include 265 reverse circulation (RC) holes (13,914 m) and 34 core holes (5,387 m), from the southern 5 km of the 11 km Bomboré resource. The objectives of the program are to expand and upgrade sulphide resources with core drilling at depth, as well as to upgrade and expand near-surface oxide resources with reverse circulation drilling (RC). With 40% of the drilling completed to date, the results have been successful at achieving both objectives and will contribute to improving the economics of the project. 

This is the fourth release of drill results that indicates higher grades (+38% in the oxide, +29% in the sulphide) and narrower widths (72% in the oxide, 62% in the sulphide) compared to the 2010 resource model. The mineralized zones at depth continue to be in line with previous near surface drilling and the 2010 resource model constrained within Whittle pit shells. The extensions of the mineralization discovered to date below the pit shells will result in a significant increase in sulphide resources within the Maga and Siga South areas. Drilling also demonstrates increased continuity between pit shells along strike that will result in lower open pit mining strip ratios.

Drilling has confirmed that Siga West connects with Siga South resulting in a 3.7 km continuous zone with a vertical depth extent of up to 170 m. The zone remains open at depth and along strike, and warrants further drilling. In the 2010 resource model Siga South was 1.6 km of the 11 km Bomboré resource, supported only by widely-spaced drill holes, and was classified as an inferred resource. With the improved continuity and grades along the 3.7 km Siga South-West zone, there is obvious potential to significantly increase and upgrade the total resources in this area.

"The drill results confirm that the gold mineralization for the 2010 resource model, which was based on an average drill depth of 60 m, continues to depths of up to 170 m," said Ron Little CEO for Orezone. "They also underscore the potential to significantly expand and upgrade resources as well as to improve upon the preliminary economics of the project announced in June 2011.

The above drill results and conclusions are positive but are preliminary and may be further improved as a significant number of fire assay results for the leach sample residues are still pending. Positive residue results would add to the overall composite widths and metal inventory above 0.5 g/t. 

The following table summarizes the above and provides a comparison of the results to date with the October 2010 resource model.

Table 1: Comparison of Current Program with 2010 Resource Model

Table 2 Breakdown of Drilling Meterage for this Release

"The improved continuity that has been demonstrated along the southern half of the Bomboré deposit is the most important result of the recent drilling. Additional expansion and infill drilling is warranted at depth, along strike, and along newly discovered hangingwall zones in the Siga South area," said Pascal Marquis, SVP Exploration for Orezone. "The discovery of several near-surface, parallel mineralized zones to the east of the Siga South zone also suggests that the P11-Siga East mineralization may extend into the Siga South area, and contribute to a further expansion of the oxide resource at Bomboré."

Table 3: Highlights of Core Hole Results for this Release

The RC drill holes confirm the continuity of the mineralized zones in the surface oxide material. These results (Table 4) complement RC results reported in May for Siga West and Siga South that indicated the cut grades (top cut of 5 g/t) are higher than expected, with widths similar to those expected in the model in the Siga South zone and narrower than expected in the Siga West zone.

Table 4: Highlights of RC Results for this Release

The mineralized intervals are based on a lower cut-off grade of 0.5 g/t, a minimal width of 3 m and up to a maximum of two consecutive meters of dilution being included. The true width of the mineralization is equal to about 85% of the drill length intervals in Maga, P16 and P17 areas, and to 95% of the drill length intervals in the Siga area. The half-core samples were collected by Orezone employees using a diamond saw. The core samples from the weathered (oxide) zone were prepared by Abilab Burkina s.a.r.l. (a subsidiary of ALS-Chemex) and SGS Burkina Faso s.a.r.l., and then split by Orezone to 1 kg using Rotary Sample Dividers (RSDs). A 1 kg aliquot was analyzed for leachable gold at BIGS Global Burkina s.a.r.l in Ouagadougou, by bottle-roll cyanidation using a LeachWell ™ catalyst. The samples from the fresh or sulphide zone were prepared by BIGS Global Burkina s.a.r.l and SGS Burkina Faso s.a.r.l. in Ouagadougou and then split by Orezone to 50 g using Rotary Sample Dividers (RSDs). A 50 g aliquot was analyzed by fire assay at Abilab Burkina s.a.r.l. (a subsidiary of ALS-Chemex).

The RC drilling samples were divided by Orezone employees using Rotary Sample Dividers (RSDs). A 2 kg split was prepared by Abilab Burkina s.a.r.l. (a subsidiary of ALS-Chemex) and SGS Burkina Faso s.a.r.l., and then split by Orezone to 1 kg using RSDs. A 1 kg aliquot was analyzed for leachable gold at BIGS Global Burkina s.a.r.l in Ouagadougou, by bottle-roll cyanidation using a LeachWell ™ catalyst. The leach residues from all samples with a leach grade in excess of 0.2 g/t were prepared by BIGS Global Burkina s.a.r.l. and then split by Orezone to 50 g using Rotary Sample Dividers (RSDs). A 50 g aliquot was analyzed by fire assay at Abilab Burkina s.a.r.l. (a subsidiary of ALS-Chemex).

Orezone employs a rigorous Quality Control Program (QCP) including a minimum of 10% standards, blanks and duplicates. This program was executed under the supervision of Pascal Marquis, SVP Exploration for Orezone, who is a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 and approved the technical information in this release. A complete table of results and the NI 43-101 Bomboré Resource Report that describes the Bomboré resource model can be found at www.orezone.com.

Orezone has now completed 72,115 meters (42%) of the 170,000 m drill program, reported on 25% of these meters drilled and will complete a total resource update once the full program has been completed in the first half of 2012. Drilling continues through the July to September rainy season with 5 rigs (4 core, 1 RC) currently active, and at least one more core rig to be mobilized at the end of July. The current priorities are to complete the first pass of core drilling for the entire Siga and P11 area, while the RC program continues.

About Orezone Gold Corporation

Orezone is a Canadian company with a gold discovery track record of +10 M oz and recent mine development experience in Burkina Faso, West Africa. Bomboré, the Company's 100% owned flagship project, is one of the largest gold deposits in the country and is situated 85 km east of the capital city, adjacent to an international highway. Resources are constrained within optimized open pit shells that span 11 km, and include 1.6 M oz indicated and 1.9 M oz inferred resources with an average drill depth of only 60 meters. The Company is currently completing a $24 M, 170,000 meter drill program to significantly expand resources and support the completion of feasibility studies in 2012. Orezone's goal is to develop Bomboré into a world-class deposit by 2012 and become a mid-tier producer by 2015.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are frequently characterized by words such as "plan," "expect," "project," "intend," "believe," "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements in this release include statements regarding, among others, the completion of a 170,000m drill program; capital and operating cost estimates; gold production for the project; completion of a feasibility study in 2012; completion of a resource update in early 2012; commencement of production at the Bomboré Project; and completion of metallurgical testing and social impact studies.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS are based on certain assumptions, the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. These factors include the inherent risks involved in the exploration and development of mineral properties, the uncertainties involved in interpreting drilling results and other geological data, fluctuating metal prices, the possibility of project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, the ability of contracted parties (including laboratories and drill companies to provide services as contracted); uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future and other factors. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Comparisons between any resource model or estimates with the subsequent drill results are preliminary in nature and should not be relied upon as potential qualified changes to any future resource updates or estimates.

Readers are advised that National Instrument 43-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators requires that each category of mineral reserves and mineral resources be reported separately. Readers should refer to the annual information form of Orezone for the year ended December 31, 2010 and other continuous disclosure documents filed by Orezone since January 1, 2011 available at www.sedar.com, for this detailed information, which is subject to the qualifications and notes set forth therein.