Atlas Mining Adds Gareth Tang to Advisory Board.

Business Editors

OSBURN, Idaho--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 23, 2003

Atlas Mining Company (OTCBB:ALMI) is pleased to announce that Gareth Tang has joined its Advisory Board. Tang is currently the chairman and CFO of China Cable Communications, the first American company to own and operate a cable television network in China. Tang brings substantial experience and extensive contacts within the Chinese business community. He joins two highly respected names in halloysite research, Dr. Paul Adler and Dr. Ron Price, who joined the Advisory Board upon its formation last month.

Atlas President Bill Jacobson said, "We believe that the Pacific Rim will ultimately become a primary market for our halloysite clay and we expect that Mr. Tang's knowledge and experience will accelerate the development of our business relationships there. We are grateful to Mr. Tang for accepting our invitation to join our Advisory Board."

Tang said, "I am impressed with the potential of Atlas Mining Company. Their halloysite clay is the finest product available and they have a superb opportunity to develop a significant industrial minerals operation at the Dragon Mine. I believe that my involvement can benefit Atlas, not only toward marketing their product in Asian markets, but also toward the pursuit of strategic mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures to strengthen their future business position."

Atlas anticipates that production financing and operational planning for the Dragon Mine will be announced shortly. According to existing geological reports, the Dragon Mine contains 300,000 tons of high grade halloysite clay, with the potential for up to one million tons. Market prices for Atlas halloysite are expected to range from $450 to $1,000 per ton. Atlas believes that existing product uses, coupled with potential uses arising from ongoing research into its unique microtubular structure, will result in strong demand for its halloysite clay.

Please visit the Atlas website at www.atlasmining.com for more information.

Atlas Mining Company is a diversified natural resources company with its primary focus on the development of the Dragon Mine in Juab County, Utah, the only known commercial source of halloysite clay outside of New Zealand. The purity and quality of halloysite from the Dragon Mine is unmatched anywhere in the world and has spawned considerable research into new applications for this unique product. Atlas also holds mining and timber interests in northern Idaho, and operates an underground mining contracting business. Atlas stock trades on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol "ALMI".

Safe Harbor Statement -- As a cautionary note to investors, certain matters discussed in this press release may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such matters involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including the following: changes in economic conditions; general competitive factors; the Company's ability to execute its business model and strategic plans; and the risks described from time to time in the Company's SEC filings.