Nevsun Drills 51M of 3.34 g/t Au at Harena Satellite Deposit


VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - March 2, 2011) - Nevsun Resources Ltd. (TSX:NSU)(NYSE Amex:NSU) is pleased to report the gold assays from the thirty-four infill diamond drill holes at the Harena deposit within its Bisha exploration license in Eritrea. Nevsun plans to use the infill drilling results to complete a resource estimate, mine plan and mining license application to process the material at its Bisha processing plant. Harena lies 9.5 km southwest of the Bisha Main deposit on an exploration license contiguous to the Bisha Mining license.

Highlights

  • High grade, near surface oxide gold cap
  • Copper and zinc primary sulphide underneath
  • Potential additional feed for Bisha both in CIL and flotation phases

Select High Grade Results Include:

  • Hole #H-078 - 18m at 11.78g/t Au, from 51.0 metres to 69.0 metres 
  • Hole #H-062 - 31.9m at 4.09g/t Au, from 5.6 metres to 37.5 metres
  • Hole #H-063 - 51m at 3.34g/t Au, from 19.5 metres to 70.5 metres
  • Hole #H-059 - 60m at 2.73g/t Au, from 13.5 metres to 70.3 metres
  • Hole #H-081 - 18m at 3.89g/t Au, from 45.0 metres to 63.0 metres
  • Hole #H-075 - 24m at 3.19g/t Au, from 46.5 metres to 70.5 metres

The drilling took place in the fall of 2010. Drill hole locations were selected to infill drill the gossanous oxide cap on 25m x 25m and 12.5m x 25m fences which is the same spacing used to define measured and indicated resource categories at the Bisha Main deposit. The results were positive, and have provided increased confidence to the widths and grades of the gold bearing oxide cap at Harena. A resource estimate on the deposit has been initiated with results expected in late April. If the results are positive a reserve estimate and mine study will be done to support a mining license application.

Detailed results of gold in the oxide are in the attached schedule together with a map of hole locations. The results of assays on the sulphides are still in progress and will be disclosed at a later date.

Nevsun views the Harena deposit as a potential source of supplemental feed for the processing plant at Bisha. Supplemental feed can provide valuable cash flow as an extension to mine life without having to absorb any start-up capital costs.

Darin Wasylik, Senior Geologist for Nevsun, a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101, supervised and directed all work associated with the drilling program.

Sample preparation and analysis were conducted at ALS Chemex of Romania and Vancouver, Canada.

Forward Looking Statements: The above contains statements regarding positive drill results, indications that the Bisha concession may host multiple deposits, the Harena deposit as a potential source of supplemental feed and valuable cash flow, the close relationship between the interpreted graphitic horizon and the Harena massive sulphide, and additional prospects at the Harena area. Although we believe the expectations reflected in our forward looking statements are reasonable, results may vary, and we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Forward-looking statements are statements about the future and are inherently uncertain, and actual achievements of the Company or other future events or conditions may differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements due to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors, including, without limitation, those described in the Management Discussion and Analysis of the Company. The Company's forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, expectations and opinions of management on the date the statements are made and the Company assumes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements in the future. For the reasons set forth above, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

NEVSUN RESOURCES LTD.

Cliff T. Davis, President & Chief Executive Officer

SCHEDULE TO NEWS RELEASE OF NEVSUN RESOURCES, dated March 2, 2011

The following are the details of the drill results of the oxide zone at Harena:

  From To Length Au     From To Length Au
Hole # (m) (m) (m) (g/t)   Hole # (m) (m) (m) (g/t)
H-048 25.5 28.5 3.0 1.09   H-066 30.0 61.5 31.5 0.94
H-049 46.5 55.5 9.0 3.18     incl. 43.5 48.0 4.5 2.59
  incl. 49.5 52.5 3.0 8.55     and 57.0 60.0 3.0 2.57
H-050 16.5 28.5 12.0 1.15   H-067 19.5 28.5 9.0 1.68
  incl. 16.5 21.0 4.5 1.45     19.5 22.5 3.0 2.61
  and 25.5 28.5 3.0 1.89   H-068 7.5 40.5 33.0 1.53
H-051 67.5 77.0 9.5 0.90     incl. 9.3 12.4 3.1 1.35
  incl. 69.0 72.0 3.0 1.31     and 24.0 25.5 1.5 1.02
H-052 3.0 12.0 9.0 2.42     and 31.5 39.0 7.5 5.09
  incl. 6.0 11.0 5.0 4.23   H-069 18.0 21.0 3.0 1.02
H-053 25.5 46.5 21.0 1.37     incl. 19.5 21.0 1.5 1.60
  incl. 25.5 33.0 7.5 3.40   H-070 6.0 24.0 18.0 1.14
  and 45.0 46.5 1.5 1.75     13.5 16.5 3.0 4.34
H-055 37.5 67.5 30.0 1.23   H-071 16.5 60.0 43.5 1.68
  incl. 55.5 67.5 12.0 2.56     incl. 28.5 28.5 10.5 4.54
H-056 33.0 61.5 28.5 1.44     and 36.0 52.5 16.5 1.27
  incl. 33.0 34.5 1.5 2.78   H-072 18.0 24.0 6.0 1.06
  and 40.5 46.5 6.0 3.53     incl. 21.0 22.5 1.5 2.21
  and 55.5 58.5 3.0 2.94     and 36.0 40.5 4.5 1.33
H-058 6.0 34.5 28.5 0.80     and 45.0 57.0 7.5 1.31
  incl. 6.0 18.0 12.0 1.25     incl. 45.0 48.0 3.0 2.78
  and 31.5 34.5 3.0 1.47   H-073 21.0 25.5 4.5 1.21
H-059 13.5 73.5 60.0 2.73   H-074 30.0 45.0 15.0 1.01
  incl. 13.5 19.5 6.0 12.84     incl. 36.0 40.5 4.5 2.81
  and 60.0 64.5 4.5 14.26   H-075 36.0 39.0 3.0 1.80
H-060 34.5 51.0 16.5 0.75     and 46.5 70.5 24.0 3.19
  incl. 34.5 37.5 3.0 2.65     incl. 46.5 57.0 10.5 3.51
H-061 55.5 58.5 3.0 1.31     and 60.0 70.5 10.5 3.77
H-062 5.6 37.5 31.9 4.09   H-078 51.0 69.0 18.0 11.78
  incl. 18.0 24.0 6.0 3.22     incl. 51.0 54.0 3.0 1.61
and 30.0 36.0 6.0 16.17     and 58.5 69.0 10.5 19.64
H-063 19.5 70.5 51.0 3.34     and 73.5 81.0 7.5 1.03
  incl. 27.0 30.0 3.0 4.02     incl. 76.5 79.5 3.0 1.84
  and 48.0 70.5 22.5 6.57   H-079 16.5 27.0 10.5 0.93
H-064 52.5 63.2 10.7 1.19     incl. 25.5 27.0 1.5 5.54
  incl. 58.5 63.2 4.7 2.20   H-080 10.5 15.0 4.5 0.60
H-065 43.5 69.0 25.5 1.44     incl. 13.5 15.0 1.5 0.97
  incl. 43.5 46.5 3.0 1.77   H-081 45.0 63.0 18.0 3.89
  and 61.5 69.0 7.5 3.01     incl. 46.5 54.0 7.5 9.19

Note: True thickness is estimated at approximately 90% of the drill intervals reported in the table. All holes were done at 45 degrees from horizontal.

Hole H-057 showed no significant mineralization.

Historic holes 1 through 27 were carried out and published in 2005 and holes 28 through 44 were carried out in the fall of 2009 and the results were published in February 2010.

Oxide gold results from those programs are restated below:

  From To Length Au
Hole # (m) (m) (m) (g/t)
H-029 61.5 68.5 7.0 2.71
  Incl. 67.5 68.5 1.0 16.60
H-031 20.5 44.9 24.4 1.63
  Incl. 30.0 35.7 5.7 3.31
  Incl. 38.0 43.9 5.9 2.26
H-035 36.0 38.0 2.0 1.24
  and 42.0 73.0 31.0 2.41
  Incl. 49.5 57.0 7.5 3.71
  Incl. 58.5 64.0 5.5 4.93
  Incl. 67.0 71.5 4.5 3.47
H-001 30.8 39.0 8.2 0.80
  and 45.0 57.0 12.0 3.16
  Incl. 51.0 57.0 6.0 5.97
H-005 51.0 55.3 4.3 1.33
H-009 42.0 51.0 9.0 0.68

MAP: LOCATIONS OF DRILL HOLES

To view map please click on the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/0302NSU.pdf

Contact Information: Kin Communications
604 684 6730 or Toll free: 1 866 684 6730
ir@kincommunications.com
www.nevsun.com