NEWS RELEASE TRANSMITTED BY CCNMatthews

FOR:  HIGH RIVER GOLD MINES LTD.

TSX SYMBOL:  HRG

DECEMBER 2, 2002 - 10:36 EST

High River Gold Mines Ltd.: Drill Results Confirm High
Grade Zones At Bouroum, Burkina Faso

TORONTO, ONTARIO-- 

- Infill drilling program completed 

- Results confirm previously reported higher grades  

- Pre-feasibility study scheduled for completion early 2003 

AXMIN Inc. (AXM-TSX Venture) is pleased to announce the results 
from the recently completed infill drilling program at the 
Bouroum Permit in Burkina Faso, which confirm the higher grades 
previously reported. The full set of results is appended in Table 
1. Results include: 


/T/

     Prospect            Intersection

     Bissinga           10.7 g/t Au over 10 metres
                         8.6 g/t Au over 18 metres
                         7.0 g/t Au over 16 metres

     F12                 5.9 g/t Au over 14 metres
                         4.5 g/t Au over 20 metres
                         4.7 g/t Au over 16 metres

     Welcome Stranger   12.0 g/t Au over 20 metres

/T/

"The drill program confirms our earlier geological models for the 
Bouroum deposit, with near surface high grade zones at each of 
the prospects providing attractive early targets for mine 
optimization studies," said Dr. Jonathan Forster, AXMIN's CEO.  

The 1,233 metre reverse circulation ("RC") and 722 metre core 
program provides sufficient infill data to allow the resource 
statement to be updated by SRK Consulting in the United Kingdom 
as part of the ongoing pre-feasibility study. At the same time, 
geotechnical and metallurgical studies are in progress utilising 
information generated from the new drill core. A preliminary 
environmental scoping document has been completed by consultants 
Steffen Robertson Kirsten (South Africa). 

The Bouroum Permit is subject to a Heads of Agreement between 
AXMIN and High River Gold Mines Ltd. which envisages the sharing 
of data and joint preparation of a pre-feasibility study to 
investigate the potential for the joint development of the 
Bouroum and adjacent Taparko projects. The pre-feasibility study 
is scheduled for completion early 2003. AXMIN is earning a 65% 
undivided beneficial interest in the Bouroum Permit from Channel 
Resources Ltd. by completing a bankable feasibility study, with 
the ability to purchase the remaining 35% at a cost of between 
US$10-15 per ounce of the pro rata proven and probable reserves 
defined in the feasibility study. 

Sampling methodology involved compositing on two metre intervals 
for both RC and split core samples. Analysis was conducted at the 
independent Transworld Laboratory (Ghana) Ltd. by means of 50 
gram fire assay with duplicates, standards and blanks introduced 
as standard quality control procedures. External check assays 
will also be performed at the independent OMAC Ltd. laboratory in 
Ireland. Care was taken when drilling to ensure that there was no 
down hole contamination by utilising the RC technique only above 
the water table, with deeper holes completed with core drilling 
where necessary.  

AXMIN is a mineral exploration company with a strong focus on 
gold in highly prospective properties across Africa, principally 
in the Central African Republic, Burkina Faso and Mali. 

For more information regarding AXMIN visit our website at 
www.axmin.com.  

Table 1 Summary of intersections, Bouroum Permit 


/T/

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prospect  Hole   Easting Northing   Az    Decl. From  To Interval  Grade
         Number                 degrees degrees Met-  Met-  Met-    g/t
                                                res   res   res      Au
------------------------------------------------------------------------
F12       FB231    9619    19519   180   -60    34     42     8     1.93
          FB232    9640    19524   180   -55     0      4     4     2.33
                                                18     20     2     1.21
                                                40     54    14     3.17
          FB233    9675    19489   180   -70    24     26     2     3.00
          FB234    9640    19553   180   -55     8     20    12     2.40
                                                68     82    14     5.86
          FB235    9655    19493   180   -70     0     10    10     2.10
                                                28     38    10     3.00
          FB237    9675    19543   180   -50    30     38     8     1.40
          FB238    9527    19580   180   -53    78     84     6     1.13
                                                96     98     2     2.65
          FB239    9621    19575   180   -63    28     50    22     3.50
                                                98    108    10     1.38
          FB242    9461    19425    90   -55    32     38     6     5.06
           DDH7    9562    19590   180   -60    68     76     8     1.64
                                                84    104    20     4.46
           DDH8    9599    19582   180   -45    24     40    16     4.66
                                                52     54     2     3.52
                                                72     78     6     5.59
          DDH11    9640    19510   180   -45     8     34    26     3.52
          DDH12    9415    19367    90   -50    52     58     6     1.46
          DDH13    9405    19300    90   -55    46     54*    8*    5.27
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Welcome    DDH9    9600    19800    90   -45    88     90     2    22.15
Stranger  FB224    9650    19805    90   -60    50     70    20    11.95
          FB225    9638    19790    90   -55    56     62     6     3.87
          FB226    9695    19850    90   -45    No mineralisation       
          FB227    9672    19822    90   -45    40     44     4     1.70
                                                50     52     2     1.03
          FB228    9627    19673    90   -50    50     52     2     0.93
          FB229    9706    19490   240   -45    10     12     2     1.66
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bissinga  FB243   14713    16967    90   -45    12     14     2     1.43
          FB244   14700    16967    90   -60    20     30    10    10.66
          FB245   14690    16937    90   -60    12     30    18     8.62
          FB246   14655    16937    90   -60    50     52     2     6.96
          FB247   14681    16910    90   -60    12     20     8     1.41
          FB248   14661    16910    90   -60    34     42     8     1.83
          FB249   14641    16910    90   -60    64     66     2     1.34
          DDH10   14669    16937    90   -50    30     46    16     7.01
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* hole ended in mineralisation

/T/

-30-
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
AXMIN Inc.:
Jon Forster, Chief Executive Officer
+44-(0)1233-665600 (UK)
+44-(0)1233-643728 (UK) (FAX)

or

AXMIN Inc.:
Judith Webster, Manager - Investor Relations
(416) 368-0993 (Canada)
E-mail: ir@axmin.com
The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press
release.
 
 

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