Highvista Gold Inc. Identifies Several High Grade Gold/Silver Zones at the La Republicana Target on Its Canasta Dorada Gold P...

THIS PRESS RELEASE, REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE CANADIAN LAWS, IS NOT FOR
DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES.


Highvista Gold Inc. ("Highvista" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:HVV) is pleased
to report that it has identified several zones of high grade gold and silver
mineralization at the La Republicana target on its 100% owned Canasta Dorada
Gold Project, located within the Sonoran Gold Belt, in Sonora State, Mexico.


The La Republicana target was identified through a surface mapping and sampling
program conducted during 2011. Anomalous gold and silver has been identified
over a surface area measuring approximately 2,000 metres by 1,000 metres. As
reported in its January 12, 2012 press release, the mineralized structure at the
La Republicana target was intersected in two reverse circulation drill holes
located approximately 650 metres apart. As a follow-up to this drill program,
Highvista completed an extensive rock chip sampling program within the La
Republicana target area. A total of 106 samples (558 kilograms) were collected
from surface outcrops and from historic underground workings. Several zones of
high grade gold and silver were identified (refer to Table 1).




Table 1: Significant Rock Chip Samples at the La Republicana Target         
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                                                         Gold               
                         Sample     Gold   Silver  Equivalent               
                 Mass     Width    Grade    Grade       Grade               
Sample Number    (kg)       (m)    (g/t)    (g/t)       (g/t)       Location
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
HV-3879           4.4       2.0    15.75    138.0       18.51    Underground
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
HV-3869           4.1       1.3    14.60     96.1       16.52        Surface
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
HV-3868           4.4       1.2     9.44     56.2       10.56        Surface
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
HV-3966           4.3       2.0     6.78     64.8        8.08        Surface
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
HV-3900           4.6       1.2     6.53     34.6        7.22    Underground
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
HV-3901           5.6       1.1     5.55     26.7        6.08    Underground
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
HV-3968           5.7       2.4     5.10     33.9        5.78        Surface
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
HV-3969           4.0       2.0     4.93      6.4        5.06        Surface
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
HV-3876           5.1       2.0     3.40     55.5        4.51    Underground
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
HV-3895           7.0       2.0     3.60     35.5        4.31    Underground
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
HV-3892           6.0       1.6     3.08     26.1        3.60    Underground
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
HV-3878           4.6       2.0     2.68     38.5        3.45    Underground
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
HV-3959           6.0       0.5     1.68     84.2        3.36    Underground
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
HV-3962           4.3       1.1     0.96     78.6        2.53    Underground
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
HV-3891           6.0       0.7     2.13     19.7        2.52    Underground
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Silver/Gold ratio of 50:1 used for gold equivalent grade              
(metallurgical recoveries are assumed to be 100%).                          



Mineralization at La Republicana consists of a quartz stockwork zone within a
metarhyolite. The mineralized structure is believed to extend to the surface,
both to the north and east, of drill hole CD-11-71. Drill hole CD-11-74, sited
approximately 650 metres to the northwest of drill hole CD-11-71, intersected
what is believed to be the same mineralized structure. Of significant note, rock
chip sample HV-2680 (mass of 3.3 kg, sample width of 0.1 m), collected from an
outcrop located approximately 40 metres to the north of drill hole CD-11-74, is
the highest grade rock chip sample collected to date at the Canasta Dorada
Project. This sample assayed 220 g/t gold and 525 g/t silver, and is believed to
be the same mineralized structure as was intersected in drill hole CD-11-74.


Highvista intends to complete a Phase 2 drill program at La Republicana early in
the second quarter of 2012 to drill test the high grade mineralized zones, to
infill between existing drill holes, and to test for extensions of the
mineralized structure.


Qualified Person

This press release was reviewed and prepared by Rick Adams, P. Eng., the
President, CEO and a Director of the Company, who is recognized as a Qualified
Person under the guidelines of National Instrument 43-101.


Quality Control - Sample Preparation, Analysis and Security

All samples were recorded and delivered to the ALS Chemex sample preparation lab
in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico by trusted Company personnel or ALS Chemex
employees. Pulps of each sample were prepared in Hermosillo and sent to ALS
Chemex, Vancouver, Canada, an ISO 9001-2000 certified full service laboratory.
Each pulp was analyzed using 30g fire assay for gold with AAS finish (ALS method
Au-AA23), and a nitric aqua regia digestion using conventional ICP-AES analysis
for an additional 35 elements, including silver (ALS method ME-ICP41). Over
limit samples for gold were subject to 30g fire assay with gravimetric finish
(ALS code Au-GRA21) and over limit samples for silver were subjected to an aqua
regia (HNO3-HCl) digestion using conventional ICP-AES analysis (ALS code
Ag-OG46).


Details of quality assurance/quality control procedures for sample preparation,
analysis and security are reported in detail in the Canadian National Instrument
43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") compliant
Technical Report filed on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) on September 27, 2011 for the
Canasta Dorada Property.


About Highvista 

Highvista owns 100% of a Mexican subsidiary that controls the 24,215 hectare
Canasta Dorada Gold Project. This project is located in the Sonoran Gold Belt
immediately adjacent to AuRico Gold's El Chanate Mine. 


Details of Highvista's Canasta Dorada Project can be viewed at the Company's
website at www.highvistagold.com. 


READER ADVISORY 

Statements in this press release may contain forward-looking information
including, but not limited to, statements with respect to the Company's proposed
drill programs. In addition, information concerning the interpretation of drill
results and rock chip sampling results may also be considered forward-looking
statements as such information constitutes a prediction of what mineralization
might be found to be present if and when a project is actually developed. Any
statements that are contained in this press release that are not statements of
historical fact may be deemed to be forward looking statements. The reader is
cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking
information may prove to be incorrect, including but not limited to, the ability
of the Corporation to raise sufficient capital to pay the exploration and
development costs on the properties, the availability of skilled labour,
availability of equipment, and future capital and operating costs. Events or
circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those
predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and
other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Factors that
could cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking
information include, but are not limited to, the ability of the Corporation to
fund proposed drill programs and the uncertainties relating to the
interpretation of the exploration results, including drill results and rock chip
sampling results, and other factors. The reader is cautioned not to place undue
reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although
considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be
incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated.
Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly
qualified by this cautionary statement.


The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of
the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake any
obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise,
except as expressly required by securities law.