Alhambra Diamond Drilling Intersects Best Gold Drill Intercepts to Date at Shirotnaia; Including 14.71 g/t Au Over 10.1 Metres

CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - Sep 25, 2013) - Alhambra Resources Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:ALH)(PINKSHEETS:AHBRF)(FRANKFURT:A4Y) ("Alhambra" or the "Corporation"), an international gold producer and explorer, announces assay results for three diamond drill holes ("DDH") completed in 2012 at its 100% owned Shirotnaia Gold Project ("Shirotnaia") (see location map, Figure 1).

Diamond drilling has intersected higher-grade gold mineralization in DDH 28-08 that yielded a weighted average grade of 4.75 grams per tonne gold ("g/t Au") over a core interval of 33.4 metres ("m"), including 14.71 g/t Au over 10.1 m. The highest grade interval was intersected less than 100 m below surface. Together with several other drill intercepts in this area, this higher-grade interval defines a new high-grade zone of gold mineralization trending and plunging to the northwest ("NW"). These results constitute the best drill intercepts to date from Shirotnaia.

As reported in January 2012 (see Table 2 and footnotes below), Shirotnaia is a mineral resource exposed on surface within an envelope of sporadic low-grade gold mineralization and alteration that measures more than 1,800 m long and 750 m across. The current inferred mineral resource for this deposit is approximately 645,000 ounces of gold contained in 35 million tonnes at an average grade of 0.58 g/t Au using a 0.18 g/t Au cutoff. Shirotnaia is one of numerous targets on the Corporation's 9,800 square kilometres ("km²") mineral license. Shirotnaia is approximately 3 kilometres ("kms") NW of the reported multi-million ounce Aksu and Quartzite Hills Deposits currently being mined by KazakhGold Group Ltd. ("KazakhGold"). The technical information on the Aksu and Quartzite Hills gold deposits have not been verified by Alhambra.

Mr. John J. Komarnicki, Alhambra's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer commented on the drilling, "These latest Shirotnaia results are most exciting. This high-grade intercept will markedly improve the grade and thickness of this portion of Shirotnaia. Delivering our fourth Shirotnaia drill hole with more than 100 gram-metres of gold is an indication that our technical team is advancing our knowledge of this emerging discovery. Now that we have identified new targets of structurally controlled high-grade shoots, follow-up drilling will likely result in an increase in both the tonnes and grade of gold mineral resources at Shirotnaia."

DRILLING PROGRAM SUMMARY

In 2012 the Corporation completed 18 DDH totaling 3,691 m. The average depth of the holes was 205 m. In late 2012, the Corporation reported assay results for eight of those holes, totaling 1,408 m (see News Release dated November 14, 2012). The objective of the 2012 drilling program was to confirm and extend the previously identified higher grade gold mineralization zones along strike and to depth (see News Releases dated March 10, 2010 and April 28, 2011). The results to date indicate that this objective has been achieved, resulting in a number of new targets requiring follow-up drilling.

Due to the Corporation's recent financial difficulties, it has been forced to conserve its working capital and defer payment of some invoices. As a result, assay results are being reported as received from the laboratory. At the time of this release, the assays are still pending for 7 DDH from the 2012 drill program. The results from the three DDH discussed here are summarized in Table 1 and Figures 2 and 3.

The geological model of the Shirotnaia gold mineralization includes an interpreted higher-grade (+1.0 g/t Au) zone that is about 1,200 m long and has variable width (see Figure 2). The higher-grade zone is interpreted to trend more E-W than the broader mineralized zone, which is orientated NE-SW. The higher grades are controlled by shear zones, cross structures and related breccias and are generally related to more intense alteration, including pervasive silicification. The mineralized zones dip generally to the NW at an angle of 60°to 70°.

The most significant intervals that were received are summarized in more detail below:

The best mineralized interval reported was in DDH 28-08, which yielded a weighted average of 33.4 m @ 4.75 g/t Au (including 10.1 m @ 14.71 g/t Au) and 13.0 m @ 1.46 g/t Au (including 2.0 m @ 7.60 g/t Au). This hole included numerous other significant intercepts up to 19.6 m in thickness and bottomed in low-grade mineralization at 280.1 m. The hole was steeply inclined in a SE direction, targeted as a 25 m step-out to the NE from DDH 28-09 (see news release dated November 14, 2012), which yielded 136 m of 1.12 g/t Au, including some higher grades over narrower widths. The 2012 Shirotnaia mineral resource does not include results from either of these drill holes.

The broad and higher-grade mineralization in this area is related to a NW striking cross-cutting structure. This structure exhibits significant higher-grade gold values associated with intense silicification, carbonate veining, sulphides, and quartz veining. The higher-grade mineralization extends and deepens the +1 g/t Au mineralization reported in the resource estimate dated January 9, 2012. This zone remains open to the NW and at depth; and it is also poorly constrained on the NW and SE (see Figure 2).

DDP 15-14 targeted the area between the western end of the higher-grade zone and the mineralization situated farther to the west and drilled in 2007. The higher-grade mineralization comes to surface in this area, resulting in a weighted average of 8.9 m of 4.07 g/t Au in oxide to transitional material, including a 1.0 m intercept of 30.9 g/t Au from 16 to 17 m depth. This narrow high-grade interval is open to the west (see Figure 2). Having confirmed the presence of the high-grade mineralization on the west end of the deposit, follow-up drilling will focus on identifying cross structures and other controls on this good quality mineralization.

DDP 52-04 intercepted four narrow zones of mineralization down to 157 m below surface. This step out drill hole targeted the deeper part of the higher grade zone established by hole DDH 52-01 (21.3 m @ 1.43 g/t Au), and is in an area of relatively sparse drilling.

Table 1 - Summary Drilling Results

The intervals set out in the above table are not true widths and the assay results are uncut. Intercepts are calculated using a 0.2 g/t cut-off without upper cut, with intervals being not less than 3 m, and with not more than 2 m of internal waste.

SHIROTNAIA REGIONAL SETTING AND MINERALIZATION

Shirotnaia is just one target within Alhambra's 9,800 km² (2.4 million acre) mineral license, located in the world-class Central Asia-Chinese Altayshan Gold Belt.

At Shirotnaia, gold mineralization consists of numerous zones of intensive hydrothermal alteration occurring within a generally east-west oriented, structurally controlled, low grade gold aureole, which is at least 1,800 m long, 750 m wide. Mineralization remains open in several directions as well as at depth. Four zones of gold mineralization are presently known in the explored portions of the system.

The gold mineralization at Shirotnaia is hosted in a sequence of mostly dacitic to andesitic volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks. The oxidized zone extends to an average depth from surface of about 20 m and a transition zone about 16 m thick below that, underlain by primary gold mineralization.

DRILLING AND SAMPLING PROCEDURES

For the core drilling, an NQ diamond drilling core barrel was utilized and core recovery was close to 100%. The core was split by the drilling contractor under the supervision of the Corporation's geologists with one half sampled for assay and another half left for references. Every metre of core was sampled and the exact borders of the sampling interval were determined according to the lithological contacts. The average sample weight was 2.0 kilograms.

Sample preparation was completed by Stewart Assay and Environmental Laboratories (now part of the ALS Group) located in Kyrgyzstan using the following procedure: samples were crushed to minus 2 mm, mixed and split into two 200 gram sub-samples. One sub-sample was pulverized to - 200 mesh and the other sub-sample was retained for reference purposes. A 30 gram sample of the -200 mesh material was used for fire assay atomic absorption finish. Stewart Assay and Environmental Laboratories is independent of Alhambra and is accredited to International Standard Organization ("ISO") 17025 for certain relevant assay methodologies.

QUALITY ASSSURANCE QUALITY CONTROL

The Kyrgyzstan Stewart Assay and Environmental Laboratories have stringent quality assurance and quality control ("QA/QC") procedures. Alhambra also follows a rigorous QA/QC program consisting of inserting standards, blanks and duplicates into the sample stream submitted to the laboratory for analysis to ensure that the sampling and analysis of all samples is conducted in accordance with the best possible practices.

Elmer B. Stewart, MSc. P. Geol., a technical consultant, is the Corporation's nominated Qualified Person. Mr. Stewart has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release.

ABOUT ALHAMBRA

Alhambra is a Canadian based international exploration and gold production corporation with NI 43-101 gold resources as per ACA Howe International UK and Micromine Consulting Services UK as noted below:

Table 2 - Resource Estimates by Project

1. Effective as of Dec 31/07 as per ACA Howe per news release dated Apr 8/08 at a 0.40 g/t cut-off.
2. Effective as of Nov 27/11 as per ACA Howe per news release dated Feb 7/12 using natural cut-off grades of 0.13 g/t, 0.1 g/t and 0.2 g/t for the low grade stockpile, pit infill and in-situ mineralized zones respectively.
3. Effective as of Jan 9/12 as per ACA Howe per news release dated Feb 28/12 using cut-off grades of 0.1 g/t for oxide gold mineralization and 0.2 g/t for transitional and primary gold mineralization respectively.

Alhambra common shares trade in Canada on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol ALH, in the United States on the Over-The-Counter Pink Sheets Market under the symbol AHBRF and in Germany on the Frankfurt Open Market under the symbol A4Y. The Corporation's website can be accessed at www.alhambraresources.com.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange Inc. nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the Policies of the TSX Venture Exchange Inc.) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" as such term is used in applicable Canadian and US securities laws. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. In particular, there is no certainty that additional drilling will be conducted nor that additional resources or increased gold grade will be realized and other factors and events described in this news release should be viewed as forward-looking statements to the extent that they involve estimates thereof. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans, "estimates" or "intends", or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and should be viewed as "forward -looking statements". Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Corporation to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, conducting additional drill programs, identifying additional resources or increasing gold grade, availability of capital to fund exploration projects; political, social and other risks inherent in carrying on business in a foreign jurisdiction and such other business risks as discussed herein and other publicly filed disclosure documents. Although the Corporation has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that additional exploration will intersect or extend the limits of the gold mineralization discussed herein, there is no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could vary or differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this news release.

Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date the statements are made and the Corporation undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements and if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by applicable law.

This news release contains forward-looking statements based on assumptions, uncertainties and management's best estimates of future events. When used herein, words such as "intended" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions by and information available to the Corporation. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated. The forward-looking statements contained herein are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

To view the figures associated with this release, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/AL%20Figures.pdf.