NEWS RELEASE TRANSMITTED BY CCN NEWSWIRE

FOR:  HIGH RIVER GOLD MINES LTD.

TSE SYMBOL:  HRG

SEPTEMBER 4, 2001 - 08:04 EDT

High River Gold Announces Deep Drilling Programme At
Taparko Project, Burkina Faso

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(TSE:HRG) - High River Gold Mines Ltd. is 
pleased to announce the signing of an agreement with St. Lambert 
Drilling for a 900 metre programme of deep drilling at its Taparko
Project in Burkina Faso, West Africa. The objective of the 
programme is to test the depth extension to approximately 200 
metres below surface on Zone 3/5, which currently contains 
approximately 65% of the identified gold resource of the Taparko 
Structure. Zone 3/5 is mineralized over a strike length of 1.1 
kilometres and has been systematically drilled to a depth of 100 
metres. Results from the deep drilling will help to determine the 
potential for either an expanded open pit (with higher gold 
prices) or an underground operation following open pit mining to 
the 100 metre level. 

At Taparko, High River has defined an unclassified gold resource 
of 1.04 million ounces, amenable to low-cost open pit mining, as 
calculated by Michael J. Michaud of Steffen, Robertson and Kirsten
(Canada) Inc. using a cut-off of 1.0 gram of gold per tonne. The 
resource consists of approximately 12.6 million tonnes grading 2.6
grams of gold per tonne and is contained in four zones within a 
4.4 kilometre long section of the Taparko Shear Zone. 

Systematic drilling of 321 holes (75% core), including 146 holes 
on Zone 3/5 (92% core), delineated the four zones. Zone 3/5 
remains open to depth and contains higher grade sections over 
mineable widths that indicate the potential for defining an 
extension of the zone that could be amenable to underground mining
below 100 metres. 

Taparko continues to be one of the most promising gold projects in
Burkina Faso. High River owns 61.5% and is operator of the 
project. The acquisition of an option to purchase an additional 
18.5% interest in Taparko effectively gives the Company control 
over 80% of the project and opens up joint venture possibilities. 
The Government of Burkina Faso holds the remaining 20% interest. 

High River is continuing feasibility work on the project in order 
to be in position to make a development decision when justified by
either a higher gold price or optimized capital/operating costs 
and an increase in reserves. 

The deep drilling programme is planned to start on September 5. 

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