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ANG - Anglogold Ashanti Announces Significant Exploration Results At 100% Owned

Release Date: 06/05/2008 08:53
Code(s): ANG
Wrap Text

ANG - Anglogold Ashanti Announces Significant Exploration Results At 100% Owned La Colosa Project In Colombia AngloGold Ashanti Limited Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa Registration Number: 1944/017354/06) ISIN Number: ZAE000043485 JSE Share Code: ANG ("AngloGold Ashanti/Company") ANGLOGOLD ASHANTI ANNOUNCES SIGNIFICANT EXPLORATION RESULTS AT 100% OWNED LA COLOSA PROJECT IN COLOMBIA Initial La Colosa Inferred Resource: 468.8Mt at 0.86g/t gold totaling 12.9Moz AngloGold Ashanti is pleased to announce the completion of the initial JORC- compliant resource estimate for the La Colosa deposit in Colombia. La Colosa is the second significant greenfields discovery (Gramalote being the first) in Colombia and was discovered by AngloGold Ashanti`s Colombian greenfields exploration team during 2006. The Project is 100% owned by AngloGold Ashanti and is located 150km west of Colombia`s capital city, Bogota, in the department of Tolima. Since discovery, only 18 months ago, exploration drilling at La Colosa has rapidly defined `porphyry style` mineralization at a grade > 0.3 g/t Au extending over a strike length in excess of 1,500m and a width of 600m. Additional upside potential, which is considered material, remains untested both along strike to the north and south as well as to the east of the drilled portion of the deposit and regionally where at least three quality targets require follow-up. A conceptual economic study was completed during the quarter and on this basis a JORC-compliant Mineral Resource has been defined. The Inferred Mineral Resource of 12.9Moz is defined at a gold price of $1000/oz and is summarised in the table below. The table also illustrates the Mineral Resource constrained within an optimized pit shell at gold prices of $700/oz and $800/oz. Cut-off Price Tonnage Grade Ounces Mineral Resource (g/t) (Mt) (g/t) (Moz) Category 0.5 $700 293.4 1.03 9.7 Inferred 0.4 $800 351.6 0.95 10.8 Inferred 0.3 $1,000 468.8 0.86 12.9 Inferred Included within the pit optimisation are some 0.5Moz of potentially mineralised material that has not yet been drilled. This material was included in the pit optimization, as it lies at the crest of the La Colosa Hill and has not yet been drilled due to logistical constraints. There is strong geological evidence that this material is mineralised, and as it has not been included in the Mineral Resource, it constitutes further near term upside. Drilling at La Colosa is currently suspended pending the issuance of an environmental permit, which is expected to be finalised within the next few months. Commenting on the discovery, Mark Cutifani, AngloGold Ashanti`s CEO said, "We are extremely pleased with exploration results in Colombia. La Colosa represents a major greenfields find, with further upside to increase its resource potential. Together with Gramalote, this discovery puts us in a strong position to benefit from our land holdings in Colombia and to continue building on the gold producing fundamentals in Colombia that make these such exciting projects." Mr. Cutifani added, "La Colosa`s resource declaration of 12.9Moz, together with AngloGold Ashanti`s Global Greenfield projects in 2007, means that we have added over 20Moz in new greenfields resources to our portfolio over the last fifteen months. With these strong exploration results, our next step will be to continue to refine our processes, convert these resources to reserves and then to bring them to economic account." Background Notes for Editors The Gramalote project, a 51/49 B2Gold/AGA joint venture located 230 km northwest of Bogota and 80 km northeast of Medellin in the central Colombia, was the first greenfields discovery made by AngloGold Ashanti in Colombia. For B2Gold to earn into a 51% shareholding, AGA will be free carried until the completion of a feasibility study by June 2010. The recently completed, JORC- compliant resource estimate published in AngloGold Ashanti`s 2007 fourth quarter exploration summary indicates that Gramalote Ridge contains an initial inferred resource of 57.8 million tonnes (100% basis) with a diluted grade of 1.14 grams per tonne (g/t) Au for 2.12 million ounces on a 100% basis using 0.5 g/t Au cut- off. As at 31 December 2007, AngloGold Ashanti declared mineral resources totaling 207.6Moz, with reserves of 73.1Moz. ENDS 06 May 2007 Contacts South Africa Tel: Mobile: E-mail: Charles Carter (Investor Relations) Tel: +27 (0) 11 637-6385 Mobile: +27 (0) 82 330 5373 E-mail:cecarter@AngloGoldAshanti.com Himesh Persotam (Investor Relations) Tel: +27 (0) 11 637-6647 Mobile: +27 (0) 82 339 3890 E-mail:hpersotam@AngloGoldAshanti.com Alan Fine (Media) Tel: +27 (0) 11 637-6383 Mobile:+27 (0) 83 250 0757 E-mail: afine@AngloGoldAshanti.com Joanne Jones (Media) Tel: +27 (0) 11 637- 6813 Mobile:+27 (0) 82 896 0306 E-mail: jjones@AngloGoldAshanti.com North America Tel:Mobile:E-mail: Dan Gagnier (Sard Verbinnen & Co) Tel: +1-212-687-8080 Mobile:+1 646-342-8087 E-mail: dgagnier@sardverb.com UK and Europe Rachel Hirst (Hogarth Partnership Ltd) Tel: +44-207-357 9477 E-mail: rhirst@hogarthpr.co.uk Nick Denton (Hogarth Partnership Ltd) Tel: +44-207-357 9477 E-mail: ndenton@hogarthpr.co.uk Certain statements made during this communication, including, without limitation, those concerning the economic outlook for the gold mining industry, expectations regarding gold prices, production, cash costs and other operating results, growth prospects and the outlook of AngloGold Ashanti`s operations including the completion and commencement of commercial operations of certain of AngloGold Ashanti`s exploration and production projects, and its liquidity and capital resources and expenditure, contain certain forward-looking statements regarding AngloGold Ashanti`s operations, economic performance and financial condition. Although AngloGold Ashanti believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Accordingly, results could differ materially from those set out in the forward-looking statements as a result of, among other factors, changes in economic and market conditions, success of business and operating initiatives, changes in the regulatory environment and other government actions, fluctuations in gold prices and exchange rates, and business and operational risk management. For a discussion of such factors, refer to AngloGold Ashanti`s annual report for the year ended 31 December 2007, which was distributed to shareholders on 31 March 2008. AngloGold Ashanti undertakes no obligation to update publicly or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after today`s date or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. In connection with the proposed merger transaction involving AngloGold Ashanti and Golden Cycle Gold Corporation, AngloGold Ashanti has filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form F-4 and GCGC will mail a proxy statement/prospectus to its stockholders, and each will be filing other documents regarding the proposed transaction with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") as well. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING OR INVESTMENT DECISION, INVESTORS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS REGARDING THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS CAREFULLY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. The final proxy statement/prospectus will be mailed to GCGC`s stockholders. Stockholders will be able to obtain a free copy of the proxy statement/prospectus, as well as other filings containing information about AngloGold Ashanti and GCGC, without charge, at the SEC`s Internet site (http://www.sec.gov). Copies of the proxy statement/prospectus and the filings with the SEC that will be incorporated by reference in the proxy statement/prospectus can also be obtained, without charge, by directing a request to AngloGold Ashanti, 76 Jeppe Street, Newtown, Johannesburg, 2001 (PO Box 62117, Marshalltown, 2107) South Africa, Attention: Investor Relations, +27 11 637 6385, or to Golden Cycle Gold Corporation, 1515 S. Tejon, Suite 201, Colorado Springs, CO 80906, Attention: Chief Executive Officer, (719) 471-9013. This document is not an offer of securities for sale in the United States. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration. AngloGold Ashanti has filed a registration statement in the United States under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in connection with the offer and sale of the securities described herein and intends to register the securities described herein for offer and sale in the United States. Any public offering of securities to be made in the United States will be made by means of a prospectus and a related prospectus supplement that form part of this registration statement and that will contain detailed information about AngloGold Ashanti and its management, as well as financial statements. Such prospectus may be obtained from AngloGold Ashanti at 76 Jeppe Street, Newtown, Johannes Date: 06/05/2008 08:53:09 Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za Produced by the JSE SENS Department. The SENS service is an information dissemination service administered by the JSE Limited (`JSE`). 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