Northern Empire Minerals Ltd. (NEM) and Stornoway Ventures Ltd. (SWV) are pleased to report that additional diamond results have now been received from the Aviat project on the Melville Peninsula, Nunavut. The Project is situated 850 kilometres northwest of the territorial capital of Iqaluit. The AV-1 kimberlite discovery was announced on February 3, 2003 and represents the first significantly diamondiferous kimberlite to be discovered in eastern Nunavut. The Aviat Project covers a region in excess of 7 million acres where an aggressive $5 million diamond exploration program is now underway.

A total of 1145 additional diamonds have been recovered from caustic fusion of 760.2 kilograms of kimberlite, representing two composite samples (2003-196 and 2003-198). Sieve results for these are reported below. These two samples include material collected from throughout the surface exposure of AV-1 during March 2003. The four largest stones measured 2.42 X 2.22 X 2.10 mm; 2.12 X 1.78 X 1.50 mm; 2.06 X 1.90 X 1.30 mm; and 2.08 X 1.42 X 0.70 mm. Caustic fusion results from another 200 kilograms of kimberlite material remain outstanding and are expected by the end of May.

*Previously reported on February 3, 2003.

Regional till lines collected at 7.5 to 15km intervals and along line sample spacing of 1 to 5km were collected from the North Aviat property in 2002. Infill sampling using 1.5km spaced lines was undertaken in several areas of specific interest, including areas where kimberlite fragments were recovered from in-field heavy mineral concentrates prepared by traditional panning techniques. Kimberlite indicator mineral grains in till samples down-ice from both the AV-1 outcrop and the separate diamondiferous boulder showing confirm that both occurrences can be detected by this technique. Strongly elevated mineral grain counts were also found in samples more than two kilometers up-ice from AV-1, as well as up-ice and offset from the boulders. The kimberlitic provenance of these grains has been confirmed by electron microprobe analyses, and results suggest the presence of additional kimberlitic source bodies in the immediate vicinity of AV-1. Other indicator mineral anomalies encountered elsewhere within the property will be sampling in more detail during 2003. 

Eira Thomas, Chief Executive Officer of Stornoway, stated, "The latest diamond results confirm that AV-1 is significantly diamondiferous and, although too early to determine economic potential, further investigation, including drilling, is required. The recovery of indicator minerals till samples throughout the property provides further evidence that AV-1 is part of a larger cluster of kimberlites. We anticipate a very busy and productive field season in 2003."

A program of detailed airborne magnetics has commenced over the Aviat North Project area and will be followed by an aggressive ground program consisting of prospecting, ground geophysics, geological mapping, and regional and detailed till sampling as well as drilling. It is anticipated that at least 2000 till samples will be collected and more than 1500 meters of drilling will be completed before year-end. The total budget for the 2003 work program is estimated at between $4.5-$5.0 million.

Aviat represents one of Canada's largest diamond exploration projects and was established as a joint venture between Northern Empire Minerals Ltd., Stornoway Ventures Ltd. and Hunter Exploration Group in 2002 to explore the Melville Peninsula region of Nunavut for diamonds. The partners have secured interests in over 7 million acres of prospective diamond exploration lands on the Melville Peninsula and are optimistic that exploration may result in the discovery of an entirely new kimberlite field. Northern Empire is Operator of all exploration programs on the Aviat Joint Venture and these programs are under the supervision of Dean Besserer, P. Geol., of APEX Geoscience Ltd. a qualified person under NI 43-101.

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