FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 26, 2012 PR 12-05 Atna Resources Reports Fourth Quarter and 2011 Fiscal Year Results and Highlights Golden, CO - Atna Resources Ltd. (“Atna” or the “Company”) (TSX:ATN / OTCBB:ATNAF) today reported audited financial and operating results for the Company’s year ended December 31, 2011. Unless otherwise designated, all amounts are in U.S. dollars. Additional details may be found in the MD&A and Financials filed on SEDAR and EDGAR or on our website at www.atna.com. Highlights for 2011 and Subsequent Events  Atna generated net income of $15.1 million, or $.14 per share, in the year ended December 31, 2011 (“2011”). Income before income tax was $6.0 million, or $.06 per share. As of December 31, 2011, cash and cash equivalents were $10.0 million.  Atna’s stock price increased from C$0.63 on December 31, 2010 to C$0.84 on December 31, 2011, increasing further to C$1.14 as of March 22, 2012.  The Briggs mine produced $18.5 million in positive operating cash flow and $13.5 million of income before tax.  The Briggs mine sold 32,371 oun ces of gold in 2011, a 29 percent increase over 2010 results, to produce $51.7 million in gross revenue, a 69 percent increase over 2010 gross revenue. The average selling price per ounce of gold was $1,588.  Through drilling at Briggs and Reward and the acquisition of a 70 percent interest in the Pinson property (“Pinson”), Atna increased its global measured and indicated gold resource by 95 percent to approximately 3.9 million contained ounces. Inferred gold resources increased by 42 percent to approximately 1.7 million ounces.  In September 2011, the Company closed its transaction with Pinson Mining Company ("PMC"), a subsidiary of Barrick Gold Corporation, acquiring PMC's 70 percent interest in Pinson. The acquisition gave Atna 100 percent control of a high grade gold resource on the Getchell gold belt of northern Nevada.  Proven and probable reserves at Briggs were increased in 2011 by 23 percent, net of gold ounces mined in 2011, due to additional drilling and the use of a $1,300 three year trailing average price of gold, adding approximately two years of additional mine life.  Proven and probable reserves at Reward were increased by 46 percent due to additional drilling and the use of a $1,300 three year trailing average price of gold.  In August 2011, the Company closed a C$20 million Credit Agreement with Sprott Resource Lending Partnership to finance the Pinson acquisition and commence initial phases of development. In February 2012, the term of this facility was extended, now due in three payments in 2013.