NewWest Gold Corporation Extends Mineralization at Silica Ridge

Lakewood, Colorado (ots/PRNewswire) - NewWest Gold Corporation
(TSX:NWG) ("NewWest") today announced that its 2006 Phase Two
drilling program at Silica Ridge extended near-surface
mineralization by 700 feet to the south. The announced results at
Silica Ridge are in conjunction with NewWest's Phase Two drilling
program at its Sandman Project (Sandman), located in Humboldt
County, Nevada. Silica Ridge is one of four deposits and numerous
district anomalies being explored at Sandman.

Phase Two drilling at Silica Ridge consisted of 20 drill holes,
including 17 reverse-circulation (RC) rotary holes and three core
holes with total footage of 3,449 feet. In addition to Silica Ridge,
NewWest's Phase Two program at Sandman is ongoing and is designed to
include five core holes, four at North Hill, and one at Abel Knoll.
The estimated budget for the complete Phase Two program at Sandman
is approximately US$1.2 million.

Additional RC drilling at Silica Ridge will await a NI 43-101
compliant resource estimation, which is scheduled for this year.

"We look forward to the results of the upcoming resource
estimation," said Steve Alfers, President and Chief Executive
Officer. "The fact that some mineralized zones remain open after the
Phase Two program indicates that the deposit may continue to expand
after the resource is initially quantified."

Four RC holes confirmed the interpretation of the geometry of the
mineralized zones. Specifically, SR06-148 indicated that the
mineralized zone remains open to the west, providing additional
opportunity for expansion of mineralization. Three core holes were
drilled that verify the RC rotary drill results.

Phase Two results for Silica Ridge and a map of the drill-hole
locations are available on the News page of NewWest's website at
www.newwestgold.com. Phase Two results from Southeast Pediment,
another deposit at Sandman, were disclosed on December 21, 2006 and
are available on the News page of the Company's website.

Silica Ridge Phase Two Drill Program Objectives

The objectives of the Phase Two program at Silica Ridge were
threefold: to extend mineralization to the south along the Silica
Ridge fault target, to complete additional drilling to define the
grade model, and to obtain core samples for grade verification and
metallurgical testing.

Selected assays are presented below. Intervals are averages of
fire- assay gold values using a cut-off grade of approximately 0.010
ounces of gold per ton (oz Au/ton).

Extend Mineralization to the South

Thirteen shallow RC holes (SR06-133 to SR06-136, SR06-138 to
SR06-144, SR06-146, and SR06-147) were drilled along a north-south
trend line to extend mineralization along the southern projection of
the Silica Ridge Fault. The holes encountered mineralization and
defined a shallow, generally continuous zone of lower-grade
mineralization that extends the deposit approximately 700 feet to
the south where the mineralization remains open. The mineralized
zone has a vertical depth of up to 100 feet. Most of the holes are
angle holes drilled roughly perpendicular to the dip direction so
that reported intercept length approximates actual thickness.
Although the extended zone is generally lower grade, angle-hole
SR06-144 penetrated 20 feet of 0.199 oz Au/ton within a 55-foot
thick zone of 0.085 oz Au/ton.

Further Define the Grade Model through Drilling

Four vertical and angle RC holes, SR06-137, SR06-145, SR06-148 and
SR06- 149, were drilled as either infill or step-out holes designed
to achieve a 100-foot east-west hole spacing at locations needed to
help interpret the geometry of mineralization. Each of the holes
encountered mineralization. Hole SR06-148 intersected deeper
mineralization, open to the west, that is hosted within a steeply
dipping andesite dike.

Core Verification and Metallurgical Sampling

SR06-130C, SR06-131C and SR06-132C are vertical HQ core holes that
twin higher-grade RC holes. Each core hole lies within ten feet of
its RC twin and generally supports the RC drill information. Hole
SR06-131C encountered a 15-foot intercept of 1.208 oz Au/ton. Core
halves will be used as samples for metallurgical tests.

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
staged projects with measured and indicated resources. NewWest's
goal is to advance its projects along the pipeline into production.

ots Originaltext: NewWest Gold Corporation
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
For further information: NewWest Gold Corporation, Stephen Alfers,
President and Chief Executive Officer, Tel: +1-(303)-425-7042, Fax:
+1-(303)-425-6634, info@newwestgold.com