Sandspring Resources Announces First Comprehensive Mineral Agreement in Guyanese Gold Sector Since 1991

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA--(Marketwire - Nov. 10, 2011) - Sandspring Resources Ltd (TSX VENTURE:SSP) ("Sandspring" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has signed a mineral agreement (the "Mineral Agreement") with the government of Guyana during ceremonies at the Office of the President on November 9, 2011 in Georgetown, Guyana. This is the first comprehensive Mineral Agreement in the gold sector in Guyana since the Omai Agreement in 1991.

The Mineral Agreement details all fiscal, property, import-export procedures, taxation provisions and other related conditions for the continued exploration, mine development and operation of the open pit mine at Sandspring's Toroparu Gold Project ("Toroparu").

The key fiscal terms are:

a newly implemented two-tiered gold royalty structure of 5% of gold sales at gold prices up to US$1,000/oz. and 8% of gold sales at gold prices above US$1,000/oz.;

a royalty of 1.5% on sales of copper and other valuable minerals;

a corporate income tax rate of 30% and no withholding tax on interest payments to lenders; and

duty and value added tax exemptions on all imports of equipment and materials for all continuing operations at Toroparu, including the construction and operation of a planned port facility, road and power improvements and the construction and operation of the mine at Toroparu.
Under the Mineral Agreement, there are two pre-conditions to the issuance of a mining license for Toroparu: (i) issuance of an Environmental Authorization by the Guyana Environmental Protection Agency and (ii) delivery of a feasibility study to the government of Guyana. Sandspring is in the final stages of securing the Environmental Authorization for mining operations at Toroparu, pre-feasibility work has commenced, and subject to a positive pre-feasibility study the Company intends to proceed thereafter through to feasibility.

Rich Munson, CEO, stated: "We are very pleased to have completed negotiations with the Guyanese government of a complete Mineral Agreement, bypassing the MOU process. The Guyanese government, along with Sandspring and its advisers, spent significant amounts of time not only on the key fiscal terms but also on procedures for land acquisition rights and other operational features necessary for successful development, construction and operation of a large scale gold mine. While the government secured its desired increased royalty on gold sales in excess of US$1,000/oz., it agreed to maintain its historic royalty rate on the copper component at Toroparu and also agreed to reduce the corporate income tax rate to 30%. We compliment the government and its team working on the Mineral Agreement for their willingness to create a complete regulatory plan for Toroparu and the related off-site facilities to be developed in conjunction with this gold mine. This marks a major milestone for Sandspring in its history of operations in Guyana and sets the stage for construction and operation of a major mining operation in Guyana."

Sandspring will host a conference call for anyone interested in addressing questions to management regarding the Mineral Agreement on Monday, November 14, 2011 at 11:30 AM EST.

Conference Call-in Toll-Free Number - U.S. and Canada (877) 407-8033
Audio Call-in International (201) 689-8033

Anyone not able to participate in the conference call can listen to an audio webcast available for 60 days at: http://www.investorcalendar.com/IC/CEPage.asp?ID=166591.

Sandspring is a well-funded junior mining company currently exploring and developing the NI 43-101 Toroparu gold-copper project in the Republic of Guyana, South America. Additional information on Sandspring can be viewed on SEDAR under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com or on Sandspring's website at www.sandspringresources.com.

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