Greatland Gold PLC : Operational Update

19 April 2012

Greatland Gold plc

("Greatland" or "the Company")

Operational Update - Commencement of Drilling at Ernest Giles Gold Project

Greatland Gold plc, the gold focused mineral exploration and development company based in Australia, today announces an operational update on its Ernest Giles gold project in Western Australia. The Company is pleased to announce that the 2012 drilling programme has commenced at the Ernest Giles gold project.

Ernest Giles Project (gold), Central Western Australia

The Ernest Giles project comprises three contiguous tenements covering an area of 948sq km in central Western Australia. It is located in a prolific gold producing region of the NE goldfields where Greatland has previously completed encouraging first phase exploration.

A number of gold targets within the project area have been selected for drill testing during 2012. The drill programme is planned to be carried out in three stages commencing within the southern licence where the Company previously discovered gold.  The second and third phases will be carried out in the central and northern licences respectively where previous exploration has never been undertaken.

The Company has received formal Government approval for the three phases of reverse circulation ("RC") drilling. Greatland field personnel have been active on site preparing for drilling activities and the initial field activities have been efficiently completed. Drill equipment has mobilised to site and drilling has commenced. Good progress is currently being made with the drill.

Callum Baxter, CEO of Greatland Gold, commented: "We are pleased to have commenced our 2012 drilling activities at Ernest Giles. This project has the potential for large gold deposits in a region that has a track record of gold production from multiple gold mines. We have 100% ownership of the asset and we aim to drill several targets during the coming months. Regular updates on our efforts will be provided."

 

Competent Persons

The information in this announcement that relates to exploration results is based on information compiled by Mr Callum Baxter, director of Greatland Gold plc, who is a member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Mr Baxter has sufficient experience relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which has been undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person as defined by the 2004 Edition of the 'Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves'. Mr Baxter consents to the inclusion in the announcement of the matters based on their information in the form and context in which it appears.

Enquiries:

Greatland Gold plc

Callum Baxter

Tel  [phone]

Email:  [e-mail]

www.greatlandgold.com

 

Grant Thornton Corporate Finance

Gerry Beaney / Colin Aaronson

Tel  [phone]

 

Newgate Threadneedle

Graham Herring/Beth Harris
Tel [phone]

 

Notes to Editors

About Greatland Gold

The principal activity of Greatland Gold plc is to explore for and develop natural resources, with a focus on gold. The Company was established in London during 2005 and admitted to AIM in July 2006.
The board seeks to increase shareholder value by the systematic evaluation of its existing resource assets, as well as the acquisition of suitable exploration and development projects and producing assets.
The Company operates in Australia where it has projects located in Western Australia and Tasmania.
Greatland has a UK and Australian based board of directors with a head office in London and exploration offices in Australia.

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Source: Greatland Gold PLC via Thomson Reuters ONE

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