Company News Alert Avion Intersects 5.79 g\t Au Over 12.0 Metres at Djambaye II Zone-Zone Open Down Plunge (ccnm) TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - June 3, 2010) - Avion Gold Corporation (TSX VENTURE:AVR)(OTCQX:AVGCF)(PINK SHEETS:AVGCF) ("Avion") is pleased to announce the results from core and reverse circulation drill holes that tested a 900 metre long portion of the Djambaye II zone located on the Kenieba Property (see Avion News Releases dated December 21, 2009 and January 8, 2010). The Kenieba Property lies 6.5 kilometres southwest of the Tabakoto Mine/Mill complex, adjacent to the south and southwestern boundary of Avion's Tabakoto Property (see attached figure 1). The property hosts the Djambaye II deposit (Inferred resources of 324,000 ounces of gold, in 2,574,000 tonnes grading 3.92 grams per tonne gold). Highlights of this drilling, which tested the near-surface and depth extensions of the deposit comprise the following: -- 5.79 g/t Au over 12.0 metres in drill hole G-10-07 -- 29.80 g/t Au over 2.3 metres in drill hole G-10-08 -- 7.77 g/t Au over 4.7 metres in drill hole G-10-17 -- 3.89 g/t Au over 11.6 metres in drill hole G-10-18 -- 4.89 g/t Au over 8.7 metres in drill hole G-10-23 -- 9.47 g/t Au over 3.9 metres in drill hole G-10-57 Results for a 900 metre long portion of the steep east dipping Djambaye II hangingwall (HW) zone are presented in this news release (see figure 2). Within this northern section of the Djambaye II zone, drilling has defined a 400 metre long, shallow-south-plunging zone of higher grade gold mineralization. This higher grade portion of the Djambaye II zone can be traced to 240 metres vertical depth along an open ended 640 metre plunge extent. One of the deepest holes on the zone returned 9.47 g/t Au over 3.9 metres core length; intercepts like this and others support the underground potential of this zone. The higher grade sections of this zone (above a grade times width of 11 gram(i)metres) returned a weighted grade of 5.3 g/t Au (4.92 g/t capped at 30 g/t Au) over an average true width of 6.0 metres. This compares favorably with the Company's Segala Deposit where overall mined gold grades average between 3.5 g/t Au to 4.0 g/t Au. A second parallel zone of gold mineralization, Djambaye footwall (FW) zone, lies approximately 15 to 20 metres to the west. This zone has been intersected by 37 core and reverse circulation holes along a 540 metre strike length and to 240 metres depth (see figure 3). It appears to be open to depth and to the north. Hole GRC-10-11 returned the best results with an intercept of 10.66 g/t Au over 5.0 metres. The second best intercept of 6.3 g/t Au over 4.3 metres was returned from hole G-10-2, which represents a 160 metre step-out from the previous resource block; additional drilling will be carried out in this area. This zone has an average weighted grade, from all holes on the long section, of 2.47 g/t Au over an average true width of 2.8 metres. This news release presents results for 24 reverse circulation and 53 diamond drill holes totaling 6,617.5 metres that were completed by Avion in 2010. Once all drill data and sectional interpretations have been completed the Company plans to update the historic resource with a goal to define additional open pittable resources. John Begeman, Avion's President and CEO, stated, "These results support reasonable potential for the definition of good grade, shallow open pit mineable resources for Avion, which in turn has the potential to provide Avion with greater flexibility as we move to develop underground mines at Tabakoto and Segala. This zone also provides an opportunity to define gold mineralization with adequate grades and widths that could potentially support underground mine development and additional immediate open pit resources." Avion's procedures for handling core and reverse circulation drill chips have been presented in previous news releases (See for e.g. Avion News Release dated May 13, 2010). Don Dudek, P.Geo. the Senior Vice President, Exploration of the Company and a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed the scientific and technical information in this press release. About Avion Gold Corporation Avion is a Canadian-based gold mining company focused in West Africa that holds 80% of the Tabakoto and Segala gold projects in Mali. Gold production commenced at these projects in 2009 with just over 51,000 ounces produced; 2010 production is estimated at 75,000 to 85,000 ounces. Production sustainability is supported and enhanced by an aggressive 2010 drill program over an approximately 600 km2 exploration package that both surrounds and is near to our existing mine infrastructure. Additionally, a new, 1,670 km2 exploration property in Burkina Faso is expected to return good results from an ongoing drill program. These properties are the subject of a approx.US$ 12 million dollar, 60,000 metre plus, drill-focused exploration program in 2010, which is expected, based on results to date, to add new resources and future opportunities for Avion. Avion continues to progress towards its longer term goal of 200,000 ounces of gold per year and is evaluating an underground mine plan for the Segala and Tabakoto deposits. Avion has a highly skilled management team, with a foc