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Borehole RB11_34: 60 m at 0.45 g/t Au;

Borehole RB11_36: 0.9m at 4.54g/t, 2.7m at 1.7g/t

TORONTO, February 6, 2012 - Desert Gold Ventures Inc. (TSX-V: DAU) (the "Company" or "Desert Gold") is pleased to announce the successful renewal of the Rwandan gold permits for another four years and also that the anticipated mineralization over the target area Byumba continues to meet expectations. Desert Gold already has an NI 43-101 compliant inferred mineral resource of 5,551,000 tons at a grade of 1.48 Au g/t for 265,000 oz of gold declared on the mineralised zone and is targeting the extension of that resource. Recent drilling confirms further gold mineralization over 200m along the extension of the Rubaya Deposit with gold values of up to 5.78g/t. Moreover, 18 sampled intervals contain gold grades of over 1g/t. The mineralization occurs as higher grade zones with widths ranging from 0.48 to 6.00 m in broad mineralized zones 3 to 60m wide. The orientation of this structure is NNW to SSE with the mineralization occurring from surface. The mineralization is open down dip and along strike.

Table 1. Selected intersections from boreholes RB11-034 and RB11-036 - Rubaya

Hole No From (m) To (m) Width (m) Au (g/t)
RB11-034 110.83 111.83 1.00 4.19
RB11-034 129.30 130.35 1.05 1.56
RB11-034 164.58 165.68 1.10 1.86
RB11-036 103.76 109.50 5.74 0.79
RB11-036 190.83 191.70 0.87 4.54
RB11-036 213.13 215.79 2.66 1.73

True width has not yet been determined. The tests were conducted by ALS Chemex Johannesburg using the fire assay method with ICP-AES finish.

These results are very encouraging, and are consistent with results declared so far. Drilling shows the Rubaya resource to continue for 200m and more to the NNW and will increase the current resource significantly. Intersection thicknesses and grades are similar to mineralization in the SSE where an inferred resource of 265 000 oz has been estimated.

 020612 1

Figure 1 Satellite image showing the project area

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Figure 2 Satellite image of the project area with the declared resource indicated in red, boreholes planned in yellow and the holes completed during the current program in red.

Current work at Rubaya

Desert Gold is currently drilling the structure hosting the Rubaya resource to the NNW by means of diamond drilling. Two-man portable rigs are being used and drilling tests the mineralization on 100m spaced lines to the NNW. Soil sample anomalies and artisanal workings suggest that mineralization extends over 1.8 km.

About Rubaya

The Rubaya Project is 20km north of the capital city of Kigali and is part of the Central African Kibaran Orogen that hosts gold resources of more than 10.5 million ounces of gold in the nearby South Kivu Province of the DRC. The project is easily accessible by road from Kigali.

Thomas R. Tough, P.Eng., a member of Desert Gold’s board of directors, is the non-independent, Qualified Person, responsible for the technical information reported herein.

About Desert Gold

Desert Gold Ventures Inc. is an advanced exploration and development company which holds mining assets in Mali, Rwanda, Senegal and a 50% participating interest in a joint venture agreement with Kinross Goldbanks Mining Company (a subsidiary of Kinross Gold Corporation) of Toronto, Ontario in respect of the Goldbanks Mining property located in Pershing County, Nevada, USA.

To learn more, visit our website at: www.desertgold.ca 

This press release includes certain "forward-looking statements". All statements regarding the ability of the Company to successfully integrate the businesses of Desert Gold and TransAfrika and to delineate new resources in proposed drilling programs are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation statements regarding future estimates, plans, objectives, assumptions or expectations of future performance, are "forward-looking statements". We caution you that such "forward looking statements" involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Such risks and uncertainties include risk factors as discussed in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulatory agencies. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as may be required by law.

For further information concerning Desert Gold and the TransAfrika material properties, please refer to Desert Gold's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com, or contact:

Roeland van Kerckhoven,
President and CEO
Tel: 1 (604) 566-9240
Fax: 1 (604) 408-9301
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Jared Scharf,
CFO
Tel: 1 (604) 566-9240
Fax: 1 (604) 408-9301
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.