B.Y.G. Applies for Land Lease for Construction of Pressure Oxidation Plant; Trumpeter Yukon to Earn Interest in Aurchem Property.

WHITEHORSE, Yukon--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 23, 1997-- B.Y.G(TSE;ASE BYG ) B.Y.G. Natural Resources Inc. today announced that it has applied for a land lease of 600 acres on the old Whitehorse Copper site within the city limits of Whitehorse, Yukon. The site will be used for the construction of the Company's custom milling pressure oxidation plant used to process sulfidic ores, as well as its mining service facilities.

The decision to move forward on this facility is an important step which addresses the typically poor recoveries inherent with mining sulfidic ores, a problem which historically has plagued mining operations in this region.

The B.Y.G. group of associated companies, which includes B.Y.G. Natural Resources Inc., Trumpeter Yukon Gold Inc. and Omni Resources Inc. (VSE: ORI), achieve economies of scale and collectively they surpass the gold sulfide ore tonnages required to justify the construction of such a milling facility. A final feasibility study is underway to examine the mining of gold sulfide ores from the Skukum Creek Mine, the Huestis Mine, the Webber Mine, the Brown-McDade Underground Mine and the Arctic Mine. Upon completion of the drilling that is presently being carried out on the Goddell Shear, this property will also be included in the final feasibility study.

An overwhelmingly favourable response to the Whitehorse site and the application has been canvassed by B.Y.G. from all four levels of government (First Nations, municipal, territorial and federal) as well as the local population and industries over the past several months. This preferred site was one of four locations under consideration.

The Company is also pleased to announce that it has an agreement with its subsidiary, Trumpeter Yukon Gold Inc. (ASE: TYG) the exploration arm of B.Y.G., so it can partake of up to a 50 percent interest in B.Y.G.'s agreement on the Aurchem property which lies between B.Y.G.'s ground and Trumpeter's ground 60 kilometers west of Carmacks, Yukon. Trumpeter will earn 20 percent by spending $250,000 on the Aurchem property, a further 20 percent interest for another $250,000 spent on the property and the final 10 percent interest can be earned with a further $150,000 spent on the property.

B.Y.G. also announced today that it has purchased 1,516,780 rights from one of its major shareholders for a total price of one dollar. Two rights enable the holder to subscribe for one Class A Share in Trumpeter Yukon Gold for an additional payment of $0.60. The major shareholder is constrained from exercising the rights due to the size of its present share position and its constitution.

B.Y.G. now holds 10,516,780 rights, 9,000,000 of which the Alberta Stock Exchange has required it not exercise. B.Y.G. is actively working to place these rights with those who will give an undertaking to exercise them. Equity raised in the Trumpeter Yukon rights offering will enable Trumpeter Yukon to complete its 50 percent interest purchase in the exploration properties of Omni Resources Inc.

B.Y.G. Natural Resources Inc. has a 100 percent interest in the Mt. Nansen mine and milling complex in the Yukon, as well as direct and indirect interest in exploration projects associated with the Mt. Nansen Trend. B.Y.G. owns controlling interest in a subsidiary, Trumpeter Yukon Gold Inc., which is an exploration company whose principal mandate is to finance the exploration and development of the properties of Omni Resources Inc. (VSE: ORI). Trumpeter also shares ownership in the Tawa and Klaza properties on the Nansen trend, and has 100 percent ownership of the Arctic Mine.

Shares of B.Y.G. Natural Resources Inc. trade on the Toronto and Alberta Stock Exchanges under the symbol BYG; U.S. S.E.C. Exemption: 12g3-2(b) no 82-2038. Shares of Trumpeter Yukon Gold Inc. trade on the Alberta Stock Exchange, under the symbol TYG.

CONTACT: B.Y.G. Natural Resources Inc.

J. Malcolm Slack, 519/ 942-3181

http://www.juniormine.on.ca/~pslack/

[e-mail]

or

B.Y.G. Natural Resources Inc.

Whitehorse Office, 403/ 668-8060

hhtp://www.juniormine.on.ca/~pslack/

[e-mail]

or

Hume, Kieran Inc.

Cathy Hume, 416/ 868-1079

or

Hume, Kieran Inc.

Jon W. Kieran, 416/ 868-1079