NewWest Gold Corporation Identifies New Gold Mineralization Zone at Abel Knoll

Lakewood, Colorado (ots/PRNewswire) - NewWest Gold Corporation
(TSX:NWG) ("NewWest") announced today that Phase Two drilling at its
Abel Knoll discovery at the Sandman Project in Humboldt County,
Nevada expanded a previously identified mineralized zone and
discovered a new zone of mineralization to the east-northeast.
NewWest's Phase Two drilling program followed a discovery of
high-grade gold mineralization at Abel Knoll disclosed on October
16, 2006.

The Phase Two drilling program included 25 reverse circulation
(RC) rotary holes with a total of 12,665 feet of drilling at Abel
Knoll. The Abel Knoll drill holes were part of a US$1.2 million
project-wide drilling program to test district exploration targets
and to expand mineralization at three of the deposits at Sandman,
including North Hill, Silica Ridge, and Southeast Pediment.

The Phase Two drilling program advanced the Abel Knoll target to a
deposit with a quantifiable resource and significant upside
potential.

"The presence of multiple and seemingly continuous high-grade
zones in two holes (AK06-2 and AK06-23) is especially promising,"
said Steve Alfers, President and Chief Executive Officer. "The new
discovery just to the east-northeast represents an exciting
opportunity to add substantial size to the gold mineralization at
Abel Knoll."

Phase Two results for Abel Knoll and a map of the drill-hole
locations are available on the News page of NewWest's website at
www.newwestgold.com. Reported average gold grades are based on a
0.010 0z Au/ton cutoff.

Abel Knoll Phase Two Drill Program Objectives

NewWest designed the Abel Knoll Phase Two drilling program to test
the extent of the mineralization identified in the two exploration
holes drilled during the Phase One drilling program. As reported on
October 16, 2006, both Phase One drill holes intercepted gold
mineralization. Hole AK06-2 encountered 420 feet of continuous gold
mineralization from 245 to 655 feet with an average grade of 0.087
oz Au/ton. This interval includes two higher grade zones of 0.397 oz
Au/ton between 350 and 375 feet and 0.192 oz Au/ton between 535 and
635 feet. The Phase Two step-out drilling near AK06-2 substantially
defined the shape of this mineralized zone which remains open to the
northwest. The Phase Two program also tested an inferred structural
trend to follow-up the mineralization encountered in AK06-1, which
contained two low-grade intervals.

Phase Two Drilling Defines Pipe-Shaped Mineralized Zone and
Discovers New Zone of Mineralization

Twenty-one of the Phase Two drill holes were located to determine
the size and geometry of the AK06-2 mineralized zone. Drilling
results reveal a steeply-dipping, pipe-shaped mineralized body that
is roughly 400-feet long in an east-west direction, 150-feet wide in
a north-south direction, and 600 feet deep. Table 1 shows selected
mineralized intervals in several of the drill holes that tested this
pipe-shaped body.

Vertical hole AK06-18 encountered 325 feet with an average grade
of 0.035 oz Au/ton. This hole was lost in mineralization due to bad
ground conditions at a depth of 460 feet. Angle hole AK06-23 was
drilled to a depth of 650 feet; however, assay results are only
reported to a depth of 480 feet. Fire assays indicate that the
remainder of the hole from 480 to 650 feet is mineralized with local
high-grade intervals. Because this mineralization occurs below a 1.8
oz Au/ton interval at a depth of 440 to 445 feet, there is a concern
that some of the higher grades below this interval could be related
to contamination. NewWest intends to verify these assay results with
a core hole before the RC results are released.

Four of the Phase Two drill holes tested an inferred structural
trend near AK06-1. All four holes encountered mineralization and
discovered a new mineralized zone that may be related to an apparent
east-west or east-northeast-trending structure. Table 1 lists
selected mineralized intercepts from these holes.

Table 1: Selected Phase Two Abel Knoll Drilling Results
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Drill     Depth     From    To      Intercept  Gold Grade   High 5' Gold
    Hole      (feet)    (feet)  (feet)  (feet)     (oz Au/ton)  (oz Au/ton)
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Pipe-Shaped Mineralized Zone
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    AK06-4    470       330     430     100        0.039        0.232
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    AK06-11   580       170     175     5          0.053
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    AK06-14   740       550     700     150        0.031        0.067
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    AK06-15   440       340     380     40         0.080        0.267
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    AK06-18   460       135     460     325        0.035        0.094
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    AK06-19   460       160     405     245        0.030        0.100
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    AK06-23   650       215     220     5          0.010
                        235     260     25         0.024        0.047
                        285     480     195        0.136
              Includes  425     450     25         0.604
              Includes  440     445     5          1.800
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    AK06-26   470       230     275     45         0.063        0.313
                        305     355     50         0.041
                        365     375     10         0.031
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Newly Discovered Mineralized Zone
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    AK06-9    360       160     240     80         0.029        0.065
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    AK06-20   280       170     215     45         0.033        0.131
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    AK06-24   220       175     180     5          0.022
                        180     185     5          No sample
                        185     195     10         0.021        0.021
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    AK06-25   320       245     320     75         0.023        0.052
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

Future Planned Drilling

NewWest will conduct follow-up drilling of both the pipe-shaped
mineralized body and the newly discovered zone. Because the
pipe-shaped body contains significant groundwater, two core holes are
planned to verify the high-grade zones identified in AK06-2 and
AK06-23. Additional RC drilling will investigate the extent of the
new discovery east-northeast of AK06-1.

Qualified Person

Michael Gustin, Ph.D., of Mine Development Associates, Reno,
Nevada, is NewWest's qualified person as defined by NI 43-101 and has
reviewed and approved the technical data in this news release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking
statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could
cause actual results, performance, prospects and opportunities to
differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking
information. Forward-looking information in this news release
includes but is not limited to, economic performance, statements
regarding potential mineralization and reserve exploration, and
future plans and objectives of NewWest Gold Corporation including
future exploration and development. Any number of important factors
could cause actual results to differ materially from these
forward-looking statements, including those set out in the Company's
prospectus dated August 18, 2006, as well as future results. Although
the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in
preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue
reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply
as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given
that such events will occur in the disclosed timeframes or at all.
The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or
revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.

About NewWest

NewWest is one of the largest holders of precious metals mineral
rights in Nevada's gold trends, spanning approximately 623,000 acres.
NewWest holds 19 exploration projects, including advanced-stage
projects with measured and indicated resources. NewWest's goal is to
move its projects into production.

Rückfragehinweis:
For further information: NewWest Gold Corporation, Stephen Alfers,
President and Chief Executive Officer, Tel: +1-303-425-7042, Fax:
+1-303-425-6634, [email protected]

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