Northern Empire Minerals Ltd. ("Empire") is pleased to announce Empire has acquired the 50,000 acre Bear Property (the "Property") located in the Coronation Diamond District from 524520 BC Ltd. a private company. The purchase price to be paid by Empire, subject to regulatory approval, is 100,000 shares of Empire. The Property is already subject to an option agreement with Navigator Exploration Corp. (CDNX:NVR) ("Navigator"), whereby Navigator has the right to earn a seventy percent (70%) interest in the Property by incurring $1,000,000 in exploration expenditures. The Property is subject to a two percent (2%) NSR/GORR with a $2 million buyout on one percent (1%).

The Property lies east and adjacent to both Ashton/Empire's Kikerk Lake property and Rhonda/De Beers' Inulik property. Ashton recently reported encouraging diamond counts from the Potentilla kimberlite (Kikerk Lake Property) and Artemisia kimberlite (Kim Property) that compare favorably with early results from the Lac de Gras area where several economic diamond deposits have been discovered in recent years.

The Bear Property represents a significant addition to Empire's portfolio of diamond properties in the growing Coronation Diamond Play bringing the companies total exposure to over 750,000 acres.

An exploration program of airborne geophysics and detailed till sampling is under consideration for the 2001 field season.

Empire views this acquisition as a strategic step in establishing itself as a dominant player in the emerging Coronation Diamond District. Empire is continuing to pursue opportunities in diamond exploration throughout Canada.

On behalf of the Board,

NORTHERN EMPIRE MINERALS LTD.

"John E. Robins"                                   

John Robins, P. Geo.
President
 
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