Brigus Gold Releases Q2 Financial Results

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Brigus Gold Corp. (“Brigus” or the “Company”) (NYSE Amex: BRD); (TSX:BRD) produced 15,688 ounces of gold from its Black Fox Mine in the Timmins Mining district during the second quarter of 2011, an 80% increase over first quarter production of 8,772 ounces. Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2011 was $0.9 million compared to a net loss of $20.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010. The Company incurred a net loss of $3.8 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2011 compared to a net loss of $19.1 million for the same period in 2010.

Production from the Phase 2 of the open pit commenced during the quarter but was somewhat constrained in the initial stages while the mining area of the pit was developed. Initial grades from the Phase 2 open pit are meeting expectations. Production in the underground mine also began but consisted primarily of pre-production development ore. Underground production from mining stopes is continuing to increase and grades are in line with the mine plan. Development of the underground mine has been slower than anticipated and has resulted in a longer ramp up period for underground production.

(All dollar amounts in this news release are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.)

Among the highlights for Q2 2011 and to the date of this release, the Company:

• Produced 15,688 ounces of gold in the second quarter, an 80% increase over first quarter production.
• Processed 181,488 tonnes of ore at an average grade of 2.86 grams of gold per tonne and an average recovery of 94.1%.
• Sold 15,178 ounces of gold at an average realized price of $1,463 per ounce in Q2 2011.
• Achieved commercial production from the Phase 2 open pit in April 2011.
• Commenced Phase 1 of the Black Fox Mill expansion, which is expected to be completed and in service by the second quarter of 2012, increasing processing capacity by 5 to 10%.
• Filled several key mine positions and made progress with recruiting underground mining employees. At present 90% of positions are filled.
• Reported positive drill results from the newly discovered 147 Zone, which now extends to a vertical depth of 240 metres below surface and remains open for expansion.
• Signed an Impact Benefit Agreement with the Wahgoshig First Nation.
• Will achieve commercial production from the underground mine in the third quarter of 2011.

“We are encouraged by the continuing progress at our Black Fox Mine. We significantly increased gold production in the second quarter and expect further quarter over quarter increases for the rest of 2011 as operations ramp up. We are working toward definition of a resource on the recently discovered 147 Zone and Contact Zone within the Black Fox Complex and expect to increase profitability through the remainder of the year,” said Wade K. Dawe, President and CEO for Brigus. “Development of the underground mine has been slower than expected due primarily to staffing and equipment challenges. We have recently made several key hires and at present 90% of our mine positions are filled.”

Operational Summary
	Three months ended June 30, 2011	Three months ended June 30, 2010	Six months ended June 30, 2011	Six months ended June 30, 2010
Production:
Open pit ore tonnes mined	87,760	228,400	117,569	418,400
Open pit operating waste tonnes mined	1,533,069	1,459,304	1,624,136	3,264,416
Open pit capital stripping tonnes mined	712,273	340,756	2,896,404	407,244
Total open pit tonnes mined	2,333,102	2,028,460	4,638,109	4,090,060
Total underground ore tonnes mined	30,316	–	39,132	–
Tonnes milled at Black Fox Mill	181,488	178,357	360,717	356,357
Tonnes milled per day	1,994	1,960	1,993	3,938
Head grade of ore (gpt)	2.86	3.43	2.26	3.06
Recovery (%)	94%	92%	93%	93%
Total gold ounces produced	15,688	18,028	24,460	32,203
Total gold ounces sold	15,178	18,430	25,181	34,226

Overview

Phase 2 of the Black Fox open pit mine began producing ore in April 2011 and is currently producing at a rate of 1,000 to 1,500 tonnes per day (“tpd”). During the second quarter 87,760 tonnes of ore, at an average grade of 4.03 grams per tonne (“gpt”), were produced from the open pit mine and 30,316 tonnes at an average grade of 3.54 gpt were mined from the underground which resulted in a credit to underground development cost of $4.3 million. Underground production consisted of a combination of pre-production ore and initial ore from a limited number of accessible stopes. The balance of production during the quarter consisted of 63,412 tonnes of low-grade ores drawn from existing stockpiles that were milled at an average grade of 0.91 gpt.

The Black Fox underground mine is expected to reach commercial production in the third quarter of 2011. Underground ore production is expected to reach 800 tpd during the third quarter and approximately 1,000 tpd by year-end, as previously announced, once additional stopes are opened up.

Mill throughput averaged 1,994 tpd during the quarter and 2,115 tpd in the month of June 2011. Mill throughput is expected to average 2,000 tpd for the balance of the year.

The Company announced at the end of June that it would proceed with an initial expansion of the Black Fox Mill, which is expected to be completed and in service during the first half of 2012. This initial expansion will increase processing capacity at the mill to up to 2,200 tpd. Processing capacity and recovery will be increased through optimization of existing equipment, equipment additions and elimination of production losses.

Continued positive exploration drill results from targets such as the Contact Zone, the newly discovered 147 Zone, Gibson and Grey Fox South represent near term potential to expand gold resources and reserves.

2011 Outlook

Brigus projects increasing gold production quarter over quarter during 2011 with higher-grade underground ore augmenting open pit ore for a total throughput of 2,000 tpd at the Black Fox Mill. The Company is projecting third quarter 2011 production of approximately 17,500 ounces and quarter four production of approximately 19,500 ounces.

Planned capital expenditures related to underground development and mine equipment are estimated to be $37 million for 2011 as previously guided. As a result of the adoption of IFRS, approximately $15M in stripping costs will be capitalized in 2011, which would have been charged to operating costs under US GAAP. The Company has also initiated the Phase 1 mill expansion announced in June 2011 and expects to incur $3.5 million of expenditures in 2011.

Exploration expenditures are expected to be approximately $12.4 million related primarily to increased drilling at the 147 Zone and Contact Zones of the Black Fox Complex.

At the Goldfields Project in Saskatchewan, the Company expects to complete an updated National Instrument (“NI”) 43-101 technical report during the second half of 2011.

Please note a copy of the Company’s MD&A and financial statements can be found on the website, www.brigusgold.com.

About Brigus

Brigus is a growing gold producer committed to maximizing shareholder value through a strategy of efficient production, targeted exploration and select acquisitions. The Company operates the wholly owned Black Fox Complex in the Timmins gold district of Ontario, Canada. The Black Fox Complex encompasses the Black Fox Mine and Mill, and adjoining Grey Fox-Pike River property, all in the Township of Black River-Matheson, Ontario, Canada. Brigus is also advancing its Goldfields Project located near Uranium City, Saskatchewan, Canada, which hosts the Box and Athona gold deposits. In Mexico, Brigus has a letter of intent to sell 75% of its Ixhuatan silver-gold projected located in the state of Chiapas. In the Dominican Republic, Brigus has a letter of intent to sell its remaining interests in three mineral exploration projects.

Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors Concerning Estimates of Mineral Resources

This news release uses the term mineral “resources”. The Company advises U.S. investors that while these terms are defined in and required by Canadian regulations, these terms are not defined terms under the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Industry Guide 7 and are generally not permitted to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the SEC. The SEC generally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute SEC Industry Guide 7 compliant “reserves” as in-place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves.

Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this news release, which are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements that involve risk, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements regarding the ability of the Company to achieve its production, total cash costs, steady state annual production and mining rate estimates; to achieve ramping up the Black Fox underground mine to reach commercial production by the end of the third quarter of 2011; estimated average gold grades for the open pit and underground operations; exploration and capital programs for 2011, including the estimated expenditures; expansion of the Black Fox Mill capacity; increase in gold production; increase in profitability; exploration drill results and resource additions; and the Company’s ability to deliver gold pursuant to the gold stream agreement, are forward-looking statements and estimates that involve various risks and uncertainties. This forward-looking statements include, or may be based upon, estimates, forecasts, and statements as to management's expectations with respect to, among other things, the outcome of legal proceedings, the issue of permits, the size and quality of the company's mineral resources, progress in development of mineral properties, future production and sales volumes, capital and mine production costs, demand and market outlook for metals, future metal prices and treatment and refining charges, and the financial results of the Company.

Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include environmental risks and other factors disclosed under the heading “Risk Factors” in Brigus’ most recent Annual Information Form and Management Discussion and Analysis filed under the Company’s name at www.sedar.com and annual report on Form 40-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov as well as elsewhere in Brigus’ documents filed from time to time with the Toronto Stock Exchange, the NYSE Amex Equities, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulatory authorities. All forward-looking statements included in this news release are based on information available to the Company on the date hereof. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities laws.