Northern Empire Minerals Ltd. (CDNX:NEM), and partners Chilean Gold Ltd. (CDNX:CHN), Wind River Resources Ltd. (CDNX:WRR) and International Samuel Exploration Corp. (CDNX:SAZ) have agreed to the exploration expenditures proposed for Phase 1 of its proposed 2002 exploration program the Jubilee joint-venture program by project operator Stornoway Ventures Ltd. (CDNX:SWV),.

The Phase 1 budget has been approved at $454,000. The exploration program will consist of an integrated program encompassing remote sensing, airborne magnetics, till sampling and ground truthing of anomalies. The geophysical program will commence early in the early this Spring to be followed by a detailed till sampling program. The purpose of the program is to identify primary magnetic targets, conduct preliminary till sampling, followed up by detailed tight spaced till sampling and boulder train prospecting for land based kimberlite pipes. Identifying kimberlite boulders in mineral indicator trains has led to the rapid discovery of a number of the diamondiferous pipes found to date in the Coronation Diamond District.

The Jubilee property is comprised of approximately 137,250 acres of prospective diamond claims within the Coronation Diamond District of Nunavut. The property is located immediately north of Ashton Mining of Canada's Vic Property, and is located some 550 kilometres north of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories and 90 kilometers southeast of Kugluktuk, Nunavut. The Jubilee property is strategically positioned within the newly recognized Coronation diamond district where Ashton Mining of Canada and partners, Kennecott Canada Exploration Inc., Tahera Corporation, DeBeers Canada Corporation and Rhonda Corporation, have discovered at least twelve kimberlites as a result of their efforts. 

Under the terms of the option agreement Northern Empire may acquire a 20-per-cent interest in the property by advancing money to fund its 20-per-cent share of $1,000,000 in exploration expenditures on the property by March 1, 2004. The property is subject to an underlying 1-per-cent net smelter return royalty on precious metals and a 1-per-cent gross overriding reserve royalty on diamonds.

On behalf of the Board,

NORTHERN EMPIRE MINERALS LTD.

"John E. Robins"                                   

John Robins, P. Geo.
President
 
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