Great Basin Gold Continues to Encounter Bonanza Gold Grades at Hollister Property

Great Basin Gold Continues to Encounter Bonanza Gold Grades at Hollister
Property

VANCOUVER, April 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Great Basin Gold Ltd. ("Great
Basin Gold" or the "Company"), (TSX: GBG; NYSE Amex: GBG; JSE: GBG) announces
further high-grade exploration drilling results at its Hollister property in
Nevada for the quarter ending March 31, 2009. An exceptional result was
achieved with underground borehole HDB-274 which intersected 50.11 oz per
short ton ("opt") over 0.7 ft (1,718 g/t Au over 0.23 m) on the western strike
extension of the Central Clementine vein. This is 1 of 25 vein intersections
during the quarter in excess of 1 opt Au (34.28 g/t Au).
During the quarter, underground evaluation and exploration drilling for other
mineralised structures totaled 13,503 ft (4,092 m). Surface drilling totaled
1,449 ft (439 m). The programs continue to encounter high-grade intersections
on the Clementine and Gwenivere vein systems (see below), disseminated
mineralisation in the overlying Tertiary volcanics, as well as further
encouraging intersections from the Hatter Graben Veins to the east of the
Hollister development. Geological modeling and mineral resource estimation of
these mineral systems is currently underway.
The underground drilling is providing more information about the strike (3,000
ft/ 980 m) and vertical (1,300 ft/ 396 m) continuity of the vein systems. The
Hollister mineral system currently comprises 24 discrete east-west striking
subvertical veins, which constitute the Clementine and Gwenivere groups. The
system is still open along strike, at depth, and in areas up to and above the
Ordovician/Tertiary Unconformity. Twenty-six (26) underground boreholes were
completed, of which fifteen (15) were for exploration, seven (7) targeted the
Gwenivere system and four (4) tested the Clementine system.
Recent results from underground exploration, underground delineation and
surface drilling are summarised below. A complete tabulation of the Hollister
drilling results is available on the Great Basin Gold website
www.grtbasin.com.

Underground Programs

Underground exploration drilling results include:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Downhole Significant Intersections
----------------------------------------------------
Vein
Intersection Drilled Est. Analytical Results
(ft) Thick- True -----------------------
Vein Drill -------------- ness Width Au Au Ag Ag
System Hole ID From To (ft) (ft) (opt) (g/t) (opt) (g/t)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exploration HDB-255 91.4 92 0.6 0.6 1.490 51.00 0.6 20
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exploration HDB-265 552.8 554.3 1.5 1.5 0.290 10.10 0.7 23
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
1770.4 1774.0 3.6 3.6 0.560 19.10 0.2 6
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exploration HDB-266 Assay pending
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exploration HDB-271 440.7 441.4 0.7 0.7 0.338 11.60 1.6 56
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
846.1 846.8 0.7 0.7 0.361 12.35 1.8 61
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exploration HDB-255 91.4 92.0 0.6 0.6 1.490 51.09 0.6 21
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exploration HDB-259 No Significant Intercepts
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exploration HDB-265 552.8 554.3 1.5 1.5 0.290 9.94 0.7 24
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
1770.4 1774.0 3.6 3.6 0.560 19.20 0.2 7
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exploration HDB-266 No Significant Intercepts
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exploration HDB-271 440.7 441.4 0.7 0.7 0.338 11.59 1.6 55
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
846.1 846.8 0.7 0.7 0.361 12.38 1.8 62
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exploration HDB-274 8.8 9.9 1.1 1.1 0.139 4.77 0.7 24
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
133.9 134.5 0.6 0.6 0.308 10.56 0.3 10
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
223.8 224.4 0.6 0.6 0.348 11.93 0.6 21
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
238.1 238.8 0.7 0.7 50.110 1718.06 135.1 4632
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
249.0 250.1 1.1 1.1 4.120 141.26 14.8 507
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Downhole Significant Intersections
----------------------------------------------------
Vein
Intersection Drilled Est. Analytical Results
(ft) Thick- True -----------------------
Vein Drill -------------- ness Width Au Au Ag Ag
System Hole ID From To (ft) (ft) (opt) (g/t) (opt) (g/t)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blanket HSD-57 18.4 19.3 0.9 0.7 4.070 139.54 5.1 175
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(less (less
than) than)
199.0 219.0 20.0 16.4 0.114 3.91 0.1 5
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blanket HSD-58 11.8 12.8 1.0 0.7 1.085 37.20 1.9 65
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
194.5 199.0 4.5 3.2 0.109 3.74 0.2 7
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
224.0 229.0 5.0 3.5 0.101 3.46 0.2 7
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
284.0 289.0 5.0 3.5 0.333 11.42 0.4 14
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
294.0 304.0 10.0 7.0 0.193 6.62 0.4 14
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
339.0 350.0 11.0 7.8 0.134 4.59 0.3 10
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blanket HSD-59 27.2 27.7 0.5 0.3 0.642 22.01 2.8 96
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
348.0 353.0 5.0 2.5 0.017 0.58 13.8 473
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
388.0 390.0 2.0 1.0 0.053 1.82 24.5 840
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blanket HSD-60 13.4 14.4 1.0 0.8 0.557 19.10 2.0 69
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(less (less
than) than)
193.8 218.2 24.4 18.7 0.113 3.87 0.1 5
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blanket HSD-61 9.0 10.6 1.6 0.8 0.330 11.31 1.2 41
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
28.5 29.0 0.5 0.3 0.430 14.74 2.9 99
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

There are a number of highlights from the underground exploration
drilling, including:

- HDB-265 was drilled at a shallow angle eastwards from the main
lateral development and towards the Hatter Graben prospect. The
borehole intersected a zone of tectonic brecciation and shearing that
separates Ordovician metasedimentary rocks and downthrown Tertiary
volcanic rocks at 1,504-1,534 ft (456-465 m). Follow-up drilling is
targeting below the Tertiary/Ordovician unconformity for epithermal
veining. Two zones of mineralisation have been intersected at 553 and
1,772 ft, grading 0.29 opt over 1.5 ft (9.9 g/t over 0.5 m) and
0.56 opt over 3.6 ft (19.2 g/t over 1.1 m), respectively. These
intersections require follow-up but are significant, indicating the
existence of epithermal veining between the current eastern extent of
the Clementine/Gwenivere vein system (as defined by drilling) and the
Hatter Graben target;

- HDB-274 intersected spectacularly high grade gold mineralisation
(4.1 opt Au/ 141 g/t Au over 1.1 ft; 50.1 opt Au/ 1,718 g/t Au over
0.7 ft) associated with the Central and East Clementine vein system,
notably towards the west of the exploration infrastructure.
Underground structural mapping in the area is indicating the
development of a new discrete high grade shoot containing the bonanza
grades; and

- HSD 57-61 targeted "Blanket Zone" mineralisation hosted in the
overlying Tertiary volcanics and proximal to the Tertiary/Ordovician
unconformity, and encountered a number of broad intersections
(7 ft/2 m to 18.7 ft/6 m) grading between 0.1 and 0.4 opt Au (3 and
14 g/t Au). A number of high grade zones associated with epithermal
vein clay-rich zones in the Vanini Formation (Ordovician) host rocks
were also intersected in these boreholes. The Blanket Zone
intersections are of significance, as there is growing evidence for
the existence of a number of discrete broader zones of disseminated
gold mineralisation hosted in proximity to the overlying Tertiary
volcanic/Ordovician unconformity and penetrative subvertical
structures probably controlling vein mineralisation below in the
Ordovician Vanini host meta-sedimentary rocks. Previous open pit
mining and heap leaching of similar style mineralisation at Hollister
was conducted by the Touchstone - Galactic JV (1990-1992). This
operation extracted 116,000 oz Au at 0.046 opt Au (1.57 g/t Au) from
within a historical resource of 2.8 million oz Au grading 0.035 opt
Au (1.20 g/t Au). Great Basin Gold intends to remodel the area of
previous mining with a view to developing a predictive structural and
alteration model to detect Blanket style mineralisation.

Underground delineation drilling has continued on the Clementine-Gwenivere
vein systems. Results are summarised below:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Downhole Significant Intersections
----------------------------------------------------
Vein
Intersection Drilled Est. Analytical Results
(ft) Thick- True -----------------------
Vein Drill -------------- ness Width Au Au Ag Ag
System Hole ID From To (ft) (ft) (opt) (g/t) (opt) (g/t)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clementine HDB-272 No Significant Intercepts
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clementine HDB-273 No Significant Intercepts
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clementine HDB-279 149.8 150.9 1.1 0.9 0.203 6.96 0.2 7
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
172.6 173.1 0.5 0.4 0.109 3.74 0.2 7
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
212.0 212.6 0.6 0.5 0.216 7.41 0.3 10
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(less (less
than) than)
374.2 375.0 0.8 0.7 0.110 3.77 0.1 5
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(less (less
than) than)
Clementine HDB-280 216.5 217.5 1.0 0.6 0.113 3.87 0.1 5
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(less (less
than) than)
218.8 219.7 0.9 0.6 0.133 4.56 0.1 5
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gwenivere HSD-46 12.0 13.4 1.4 1.0 1.390 47.66 0.8 27
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
78.0 78.6 0.6 0.5 2.610 89.49 4.6 158
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
83.6 84.1 0.5 0.4 1.855 63.60 3.1 106
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
165.9 166.6 0.7 0.5 0.313 10.73 3.6 123
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
205.9 207.1 1.2 0.9 0.518 17.76 0.6 21
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
235.0 238.5 3.5 2.7 0.959 32.88 2.1 72
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
273.3 275.8 2.5 1.8 0.421 14.43 1.5 51
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
302.7 304.2 1.5 1.1 5.610 192.34 12.0 411
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gwenivere HSD-48 82.3 83.3 1.0 0.7 3.900 133.71 6.3 216
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
239.0 242.0 3.0 2.1 1.550 53.14 4.0 136
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
252.9 254.0 1.1 0.8 0.657 22.53 0.5 17
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(less (less
than) than)
272.8 274.0 1.2 0.8 0.455 15.60 0.1 5
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gwenivere HSD-49 11.8 12.6 0.8 0.7 2.010 68.91 1.3 45
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
66.1 71.5 5.4 4.7 0.164 5.62 0.2 6
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(less (less
than) than)
139.5 140.3 0.8 0.7 0.106 3.63 5 0.1
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
147.0 150.8 3.8 3.3 0.651 22.32 2.4 81
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
206.0 208.1 2.1 1.8 0.324 11.11 0.5 17
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
237.6 238.4 0.8 0.7 0.411 14.09 15.8 542
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
267.5 268.8 1.3 1.1 1.740 59.66 5.0 171
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
274.3 275.1 0.8 0.7 0.155 5.31 14.4 494
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
365.2 366.0 0.8 0.7 1.915 65.66 1.0 34
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gwenivere HSD-50 7.0 12.8 5.8 5.5 1.455 49.89 0.6 19
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
57.2 57.7 0.5 0.5 1.145 39.26 1.8 62
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
76.5 77.0 0.5 0.5 0.453 15.53 0.3 10
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
167.0 171.8 4.8 4.6 0.286 9.81 0.1 3
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
342.0 343.0 1.0 0.9 1.720 58.97 2.3 79
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
348.5 349.5 1.0 0.9 0.155 5.31 8.0 274
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gwenivere HDB-276 113.0 116.0 3.0 1.7 1.310 44.90 10.7 366
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
122.0 127.0 5.0 3.5 1.470 44.60 7.4 255
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
251.0 253.0 2.0 1.4 0.360 12.35 1.3 44
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gwenivere HSD-47 15.2 17.0 1.8 1.3 1.035 35.50 3.6 124
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
85.0 85.6 0.6 0.4 2.140 73.30 13.1 449
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(less (less
than) than)
400.0 410.0 10.0 7.0 0.245 8.40 0.1 5
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
475.0 480.0 5.0 3.5 0.101 3.46 0.5 16
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gwenivere HSD-51 14.8 15.6 0.8 0.7 0.155 5.31 0.5 17
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
72.4 73.1 0.7 0.6 1.135 38.91 0.9 31
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
135.4 136.2 0.8 0.7 0.389 13.34 0.8 27
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
150.3 150.9 0.6 0.5 3.300 113.14 19.5 669
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
194.0 207.2 13.2 11.4 0.251 8.61 0.9 29
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mineralisation in the Gwenivere Veins continues to give intersections with
robust grades; seven boreholes averaged 0.563 opt Au over 1.9 ft (19.3 g/t Au
over 0.6 m).
Significant advances have been made during the quarter with revised geological
modeling and detailed underground mapping. These observations are providing
more insight and predictability into the controls of the Clementine-Gwenivere
vein systems, and certain aspects are being incorporated into the mineral
resource review which is nearing completion.

Surface Programs

The surface drilling program is focusing on the Hatter Graben target, located
about 5,000 ft (1,667 m) east of the Clementine-Gwenivere vein cluster. The
geology of the area is highlighted by a number of
North/Northwest-South/Southeast and E-W structures, as well as Eocene to
Tertiary aged intermediate to felsic intrusive rocks. However a number of
narrow and discrete vein intersections support an East-West trending vein
swarm not unlike the Clementine-Gwenivere system. The Hatter Graben target
area now has a strike extent of approximately 3,000 ft (1,400 m) and a width
of up to 1,320 ft (400 m), which is of similar extent to the Hollister vein
system. During the quarter, Hole HDB-285 was completed, and the drill rig has
now been moved to complete certain geotechnical investigations.

Summary of surface results received during Q1 2009 are shown below:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Downhole Significant Intersections
----------------------------------------------------
Vein
Intersection Drilled Est. Analytical Results
(ft) Thick- True -----------------------
Vein Drill -------------- ness Width Au Au Ag Ag
System Hole ID From To (ft) (ft) (opt) (g/t) (opt) (g/t)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hatter H8-283 2054.6 2055.5 0.9 0.6 0.964 33.05 29.0 994
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
2131.8 2133.3 1.5 1.1 1.776 60.89 8.2 281
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
2134.8 2139.0 4.2 2.9 0.352 12.07 9.4 322
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hatter H8-284 2286.7 2288.2 1.5 1.1 0.032 1.10 0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
2296.2 2300.0 3.8 2.7 0.025 0.86 0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
2302.8 2304.3 1.5 1.1 0.066 2.26 0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
2559.0 2562.3 3.3 2.3 0.023 0.79 0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hatter H8-285 1791.3 1803.8 12.5 8.8 0.467 16.01 13.1 451
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
2109.5 2115.8 6.3 4.4 Assays pending
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
2184.4 2185.3 0.9 0.6 Assays pending
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
2317.3 2318.8 1.5 1.1 Assays pending
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

The most significant intersections were gained from H8-285, which was
completed in February to a depth of 2,937 ft (895.2 m). H8-285 encountered the
most robust and wide mineralised intersection to date in the Hatter Graben
Vein system, a 12.5 ft (3.8 m) vein drill intercept. Noteworthy is that this
wide vein intercept is hosted in an intrusive felsic porphyry rock unit,
normally an unfavorable host rock in the graben area. The mineralized zones
are marked by banded quartz veins with naumannite (selenium sulphide), bladed
quartz with visible gold and naumannite, and brecciation zones with
sulphidation and silicification. A follow up drill program targeting this area
has been designed.
The Hollister Development Project still has significant exploration potential
on the surrounding claim areas. A total of sixteen (16) targets have been
identified for future exploration.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
TARGET CLASSIFICATION No TARGET
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reserve delineation 1 Hollister Development Block
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Resource delineation 2 Gwenivere
East Clementine
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hatter Graben
East Clementine Fault
Advanced follow-up targets 5 South Velvet
Blanket zone
Big Gwen
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Butte Fault
Follow-up targets 4 Heap Leach
Western Sinters
North Hatter
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Identified targets 2 Bounding structures
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regional targets 2 Other Hollister permits
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL 16
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

All the project geospatial data from historic and current exploration is in
the process of being collated, reviewed and structural targets reassessed and
priority ranked. The development of a structural model for the area is seen as
an important component to predicting both Tertiary and Ordovician hosted
mineralisation.
Ferdi Dippenaar, President and CEO, commented: "Good progress continues to be
made with the planned exploration programs of the Hollister Development Block
and the Hatter Graben discovery area.
"Our underground exploration drilling continues to prove strike and depth
extensions to the Hollister system. The drilling eastwards towards the Hatter
system is also indicating new intermediary zones of mineralisation between the
Hollister and Hatter systems. The Hatter system will be subject to follow-up
drilling, specifically designed to ascertain the lateral and depth continuity
of the vein system. The geological team is also making good progress
unraveling structural controls to the mineralisation in general, and future
drilling will continue to test the predictive model being developed.
"On the mine development side, we are continuing to test and optimize the
applicability of thermal fragmentation technology as a cost effective solution
to minimizing dilution during extraction of high grade narrow veins less than
3 ft in width."
Phil Bentley, Pr.Sci.Nat. (SACNAS) Vice President for Geology and Exploration
for the Company and a qualified person, has reviewed this news release on
behalf of Great Basin Gold.

Ferdi Dippenaar
President and CEO

No regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information
contained in this news release.

This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking
statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of
historical facts, that address possible future commercial production, reserve
potential, exploration drilling results, development, feasibility or
exploitation activities and events or developments that Great Basin Gold
expects to occur are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes
the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on
reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future
performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from
those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include
market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, continuity of
mineralization, uncertainties related to the ability to obtain necessary
permits, licenses and title and delays due to third party opposition,
geopolitical uncertainty, changes in government policies regarding mining and
natural resource exploration and exploitation, and continued availability of
capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions.
Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future
performance and those actual results or developments may differ materially
from those projected in the forward-looking statements. For more information
on the Company, Investors should review the Company's annual Form 40-F filing
with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and its home
jurisdiction filings that are available at www.sedar.com.

SOURCE Great Basin Gold Ltd.

For additional details on Great Basin Gold Ltd. and its gold properties,
please visit the Company's website at www.grtbasin.com or contact Investor
Services: Tsholo Serunye in South Africa, 27 (0) 11 301 1800; Michael Curlook
in North America, 1-888-633-9332; Barbara Cano at Breakstone Group in the USA,
(646) 452-2334