Desert Sun Mining Reports More Positive Drilling Results; Open Pit Potential Confirmed at Serra do Corrego for Inclusion in Feasibility

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 15, 2003--

Three Drills Move to next Open Pit Target - Morro do Vento

DESERT SUN MINING CORP. (TSX.V:DSM) is pleased to report further results of its Phase II exploration program which consists of 8,000meters of NQ diamond drilling, induced polarization (IP) geophysical surveys and continuation of the regional exploration program at its Bahia gold property at Jacobina, State of Bahia, Brazil.

The first stage in the Phase II program is to delineate an open pittable mineral resource in the Intermediate reefs at Serra do Corrego that can be incorporated into the feasibility study as a starter pit for the existing mill in order to expedite production. Subsequent drilling will focus on testing more extensive potential open pittable targets in the same stratigraphy at Morro do Vento and Joao Belo Sul.

Open Pittable Zone Firming Up at Serra do Corrego

Serra do Corrego, located 2 kilometres north of the processing plant (Figure 1), is a 900 metre long target zone in the Intermediate reefs. Drill holes in the Phase I program suggested the potential for an open pittable zone approximately 30 to 40 metres wide grading in the order of 1.0 to 1.3 grams gold per tonne (g Au/t). Twelve (12) drill holes totaling 1,200 metres have been completed at Serra do Corrego in Phase II in addition to the three (3) holes totaling 360m done in Phase I. One hole, SCO-84 which returned 1.39 g Au/t over a true thickness of 32.1m, was previously reported. Results of this definition drilling continue to confirm the overall continuity and grade of mineralization within the target zone. This new data combined with historical drill information will form the basis for estimation of a new mineral resource which will be incorporated into the feasibility study in progress.

Significant drill results for five new holes (SCO-85 to SCO-89 incl.) are shown in Table 1. Assays for the remaining six (6) holes (SCO-90 to SCO-95) are pending. Also included are the first results from re-sampling of old holes for which core are available. These initial results from resampling suggest that there may be significant underestimation of grade in previously identified lower grade areas, however further data is required to confirm this trend.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal of the mineralized zone showing pierce points of both new and historical drill holes. Historic holes for which core are available and are being sampled have been indicated. Many of the old holes had incomplete sampling due to the previous focus on narrower higher grade zones. In estimating average grades of intersections for historical holes, missing samples have been assigned zero grade.

         TABLE 1: SIGNIFICANT DRILLING AND SAMPLING RESULTS

                         SERRA DO CORREGO

Hole No.(a)     From (m)  To (m)  Gold  Interval  True    Depth
                                  (g/t)    (m)    Width   Below
                                                   (m)   Surface (b)
                                                           (m)
SCO-84+           19.71   20.45   10.68   0.74     0.6     10
Dip -40 deg.      53.46   90.38    1.39  36.92    32.1     40
           Incl.  53.46   54.78    4.24   1.32     1.2     30
           Incl.  86.04   90.38    6.92   4.34     3.8     45
SCO-85
Dip -45 deg.      51.26   91.95    0.38  40.69    31.3     48
           Incl.  51.26   58.75    0.76   7.49     5.8     38
           Incl.  87.72   91.95    0.71   4.23     3.3     53

SCO-86
Dip -44 deg.      53.06   62.40    1.19   9.34     7.1     50
                 123.70  129.45    2.21   5.75     4.4     97

SCO-87
Dip -44 deg.      46.34   77.34    1.30  31.00    25.7     31
           Incl.  46.34   53.96    3.19   7.62     6.3     25
           Incl.  73.19   77.34    1.53   4.15     3.4     36

SCO-88
Dip -50 deg.      56.23  103.87    0.58  47.64    34.8     50
                  56.23   61.03    1.63   4.80     3.5     40
                  89.69  103.87    1.03  14.18    10.4     60

SCO-89
Dip -41 deg.      40.29   82.98    1.30  42.69    33.3     35
           Incl.  40.29   44.22    5.30   3.93     3.1     25
           Incl.  72.87   82.98    3.06  10.11     7.9     40

                   Re-Sampling of Core from Old Holes
SCO-71
Dip -49 deg.
Original Result   59.80  101.80    0.88  42.00    34.9     70
                 119.06  122.77    0.20   3.71     3.1     97

DSM Sampling      59.80  101.80    1.52  42.00    34.9     70
                 119.06  122.77    1.96   3.71     3.1     97

(a) all holes are NQ diamond drill core size
(b) depth calculated based on midpoint of intersection
 +  results previously released

Drilling Commences on Major Open Pit Target at Morro do Vento

DSM has recently started 4,000m of drilling in 29 holes to test the promising Intermediate Reef package at Morro do Vento which is located 1.5 kilometres south of the processing plant. Most of the holes will be concentrated in the top 100m with several wide spaced holes planned at a deeper level to confirm downdip continuity. Three drills are now on this target site. Based on previous drill information, DSM considers that Morro do Vento has the potential to host an open pittable deposit in the range of 10 to 20 million tonnes at a grade of 1.5 to 1.7 g Au/t. This estimate is conceptual and further investigation is required to confirm a mineral resource.

Induced Polarization Surveys in Progress

DSM has received initial data from the first induced polarization (IP) geophysical section lines. The survey is using a recently developed IP survey technique by Insight Geophysics that is ideally suited to the Jacobina geological environment. The very high inducing signal and the broad range of contrasts between the rock units are providing excellent quality data in both the resistivity and chargeability parameters. It is expected that this method will be able to outline the geological stratigraphy, alteration and mineralization directly associated with gold horizons and variation in geological structure, to a depth of 400 metres. The survey is initially being conducted in areas where good geological control will be used to 'fingerprint' the responses from the gold-bearing lithologies.

Assaying for the program was carried out by Lakefield Geosol, an ISO 9002 laboratory based in Brazil, using fire assay on 50 gram pulps. Check assaying is routinely carried out, by ALS Chemex in Vancouver, on 10% of sample pulps and 5% of sample rejects. Security is maintained at the core logging and sampling facility. Dr. Bill Pearson, P.Geo. is the Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101 responsible for the scientific and technical work on the program.

Over the past year, the Board of DSM has entered into management contracts totaling $47,500 per month with 7 individuals and 1 company. These contracts will be approved at the next shareholders meeting.

DSM has issued 125,000 options to officers and consultants at $1.00 per share, subject to final approval from the TSX Venture Exchange.

Desert Sun Mining is a Canadian gold exploration and development company listed on the Toronto Venture Exchange. (www.desertsunmining.com).

NOTE: There are Maps available on CCNMatthews' website at: http://www2.cdn-news.com/database/fax/2000/dm20515.pdf

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