VANCOUVER, Sept. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Northgate Minerals Corporation (TSX: NGX, NYSE Amex: NXG) is pleased to announce the discovery of a new zone of mineralization at its Young-Davidson property, located near the town of Matachewan in northern Ontario. The discovery was made by two geotechnical/condemnation holes drilled in the location of the proposed shaft that intersected a zone of syenite-hosted gold mineralization, 300 metres (m) east of the known reserves and resources on the Young-Davidson property.

                             Drilling Highlights

A summary of assay results from the two drill holes is shown in Table 1 below. Both holes intersected resource grade gold intervals highlighted by hole YDFS-10A, which intersected 2.92 grams per tonne (g/t) gold over 10.5 metres (m).

    Table 1: Assay Results from Holes YDFS-9C and YDFS-10A

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    Hole ID      From (m)    To (m)      Core Length (m)  Gold Cut 20g (g/t)
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    YDFS-9C       617.1      618.9            1.8               2.85
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                  632.9      636.0            3.1               3.67
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                  668.7      672.0            3.3               6.08
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    YDFS-10A      831.5      864.0           32.5               1.76
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    incl          835.5      846.0           10.5               2.92
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    incl          835.5      838.5            3.0               6.59
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    incl          858.0      864.0            6.0               2.50
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Ken Stowe, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "This is an exciting and significant discovery as we have identified what appears to be a down faulted eastern extension of the Young-Davidson ore body at a depth of 600 metres. The new zone is completely open and untested to the east and down dip and although much more work will be required to define the size and grade of the zone, it has the potential to add to the 2.8 million ounces of reserves currently on the property. The new zone is immediately adjacent to the proposed shaft and any reserves that are ultimately identified in the area will be easily minable using the infrastructure that has been contemplated in the recently completed Young-Davidson Prefeasibility study."

Next Steps

The two diamond drill intercepts are located in the same plane as the existing Young-Davidson ore body to the east of the known reserves and resources at depths of approximately 600 and 800 metres, respectively. Follow up diamond drilling will commence later this month (see Figure 1) to test the extent of the new zone of mineralization down dip and along strike to the east.

To view "Figure 1: Young-Davidson Property (Vertical, North Looking, Longitudinal Section with Metric Grid)", please click on

www.northgateminerals.com/Theme/Northgate/files/Releases/YD_LS_Sep09.gif

Quality Control - Analyses and Sample Location

Details of quality assurance/quality control procedures for sample analysis and drill hole survey methodology are reported in detail in the National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101) Technical Report filed on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) on August 21, 2009.

Qualified Persons

The program design, implementation, quality assurance/quality control and interpretation of the results is under the control of Northgate's geological staff that includes a number of individuals who are qualified persons as defined under NI 43-101. Overall supervision of the program is by Carl Edmunds, PGeo, Northgate's Exploration Manager.

    Appendix 1: Drill Hole Collar Locations

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    Hole ID  Easting  Northing Elevation Collar Azimuth Collar Dip  Depth (m)
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    YDFS-9C  9870.9   23943.5   10319.0      345.0         -69.0     1203.0
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    YDFS-10A 9770.8   23849.8   10322.9        0.0         -70.0     1460.0
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Note to Investors:

The terms "Qualified Person", "Mineral Reserve", "Proven Mineral Reserve", "Probable Mineral Reserve", "Mineral Resource", "Measured Mineral Resource", "Indicated Mineral Resource", and "Inferred Mineral Resource" used in this news release are defined in accordance with NI 43-101-Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects of the Canadian Securities Administrators.

Northgate Minerals Corporation is a gold and copper producer with mining operations, development projects and exploration properties in Canada and Australia. The company is forecasting record gold production of over 380,000 ounces in 2009 and is targeting growth through further acquisition opportunities in stable mining jurisdictions around the world. Northgate is listed on the TSX under the symbol NGX and on the NYSE Amex under the symbol NXG.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This Northgate press release contains "forward-looking information", as such term is defined in applicable Canadian securities legislation, concerning Northgate's future financial or operating performance and other statements that express management's expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances or results. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expects", "believes", "anticipates", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "plans" and variations of such words and phrases, or by statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "will", "could", "would" or "might" "be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management based on the business and markets in which Northgate operates, are inherently subject to significant operational, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Northgate cautions that forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Northgate's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such information, including, but not limited to gold and copper price volatility; fluctuations in foreign exchange rates and interest rates; the impact of any hedging activities; discrepancies between actual and estimated production, between actual and estimated reserves and resources or between actual and estimated metallurgical recoveries; costs of production; capital expenditure requirements; the costs and timing of construction and development of new deposits; and the success of exploration and permitting activities. In addition, the factors described or referred to in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Northgate's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2008 or under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in Northgate's 2008 Annual Report, both of which are available on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com, should be reviewed in conjunction with the information found in this press release. Although Northgate has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there can be other factors that cause results, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate or that management's expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances or results will materialize. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information in this press release is made as of the date of this press release, and Northgate disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law.

SOURCE Northgate Minerals Corporation