Commercial Production from Underground Mining at Black Fox

bwire




HALIFAX, Nova Scotia (Business Wire) -- Brigus Gold Corp. ("Brigus" or the "Company") (TSX: BRD) (NYSE Amex:
BRD) is making steady progress towards the commencement of commercial
production from underground operations at its Black Fox Mine in the
Timmins Gold District, Ontario, Canada.




Underground ore production from new mining stopes is expected to exceed
250 tonnes per day ("tpd") by March 15, 2011, ramping up to an average
of 800 tpd in the second quarter of 2011 ("Q2 2011") and to 1,100 tpd by
the fourth quarter of 2011 ("Q4 2011"). The higher grade underground ore
will augment production from the Black Fox open pit, resulting in
projected increases in quarter-over-quarter gold production for 2011.




Underground Development Update




Construction of the ventilation and service raise, which includes the
secondary egress manway, was completed on February 12, 2011. The
associated underground services, including fans, heaters, compressed air
and power supply are undergoing final connection and commissioning. The
connection to the upgraded power supply, serving the underground
operations, will enable increased utilization of major mining equipment
and result in an acceleration of development progress. Several other
systems including radio communications, have been installed and are
functioning.




Immediately following the commissioning of the ventilation and service
raise, the old infrastructure will be removed. The removal of the old
infrastructure is expected to be completed by March 15, 2011, following
which ore mining and production will recommence in the open pit. During
this period, Brigus will continue to process existing stockpiles of
lower grade ore (~1.4 gpt) at the 2,000 tpd Black Fox Mill. Overburden
removal for Phase 2 of the open pit commenced in July 2010 and was
substantively completed at the end of 2010. Waste mining in Phase 2 of
the open pit has progressed well since commencement in December 2010.




The new portal and ramp access is over 80% complete, with only one short
section near surface remaining. Brigus' mine team is driving the ramp
from surface, while the mining contractor is advancing up from
underground. To date, 820 metres have been completed in the new ramp,
with the longest section from the 235-metre level to the 140-metre level
completed on February 8, 2011. Final commissioning of the new ramp will
occur by March 24, 2011.




Underground development continues on both the eastern and western limbs
of the ore body. On the east side of the underground mine, ore
development has begun on the 260-metre level and the main ore zone has
been intersected. The main decline ramp is continuing at depth towards
the next mining horizon. On the 260-metre level, multiple ore
development headings are currently being advanced in order to establish
new working stopes to achieve the commercial production rate of 800 tpd
of ore from underground during Q2 2011. The 2011 mine plan is being
adjusted to reflect the updated schedule and guidance will be provided
following completion and commissioning of the portal and ramp.




Richard Allan, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, said, "The
ongoing commissioning of the ventilation and service raise is a critical
milestone in being able to accelerate the underground development. We
are nearing completion and commissioning of the new portal and ramp to
allow commercial production to be achieved by the end of March 2011. Our
open pit mining will resume normal operations in March 2011 and we look
forward to beginning Q2 2011 with both the underground and open pit
mines going full bore. We are well positioned to achieve quarterly
production increases over 2011."




Recruiting of the underground workforce has been ongoing since the
beginning of the year and is progressing well, with 41 miners hired at
Black Fox. Brigus expects to be fully staffed for the underground
operations by mid 2011. In the interim period, Brigus will continue to
augment its workforce with contract miners.




The Company believes that there is significant upside opportunity for
additions to reserves and resources from its ongoing exploration
drilling program within the Black Fox Complex, including potential
extensions to the Black Fox ore body. Continuing exploration drilling
success at the Contact and Gibson Zones and planned 2011 exploration at
the former Stock gold mine, located at the Black Fox Mill, provide
additional upside potential. Brigus will commence drilling from
underground at the Black Fox mine mid year, as the orebody remains open
for expansion in several areas.




Qualified Persons




The Qualified Persons who reviewed the technical information of this
news release were Richard Allan, P. Eng., Vice President and Chief
Operating Officer for Brigus.




About Brigus Gold




Brigus is a growing gold producer committed to maximizing shareholder
value through a strategy of efficient production, targeted exploration
and select acquisitions. The Company operates the wholly owned Black Fox
Mine in the Timmins gold district of Ontario, Canada. The Black Fox
Complex encompasses the Black Fox Mine and Mill, and adjoining Grey
Fox-Pike River property, all in the Township of Black River-Matheson,
Ontario, Canada. Brigus is also advancing the Goldfields Project located
near Uranium City, Saskatchewan, Canada, which hosts the Box and Athona
gold deposits. In Mexico, Brigus holds a 100% interest in the Ixhuatan
Project located in the state of Chiapas. In the Dominican Republic,
Brigus Gold has a joint venture covering three mineral exploration
projects.




Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements




This news release includes "Forward-Looking Statements" within the
meaning of section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended. All statements regarding the ability of the Company to
successfully complete the underground infrastructure, including
commissioning of a new ventilation raise and portal; to commence
underground and resume open pit mining as projected; to increase gold
production quarter-over-quarter; to be able to hire sufficient skilled
workers; to ensure that the underground contractor meets its schedules;
and to be able to add to reserves and resources are forward-looking
statements and estimates that involve various risks and uncertainties.
There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate
and actual results and future events could differ materially from those
anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking
statements include environmental risks and other factors disclosed under
the heading "Risk Factors" in Brigus Gold's and its predecessor
companies' most recent annual report on Form 10-K filed with the United
States Securities and Exchange Commission and elsewhere in Brigus Gold's
documents filed from time to time with the Toronto Stock Exchange, the
NYSE Amex, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and
other regulatory authorities. All forward-looking statements included in
this news release are based on information available to the Company on
the date hereof. The Company assumes no obligation to update any
forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities
laws.












Brigus Gold Corp.Wendy Yang, 720-886-9656 Ext. 217Vice
President of Investor [email protected]