Birim Report on Opon Drilling and on Current Exploration on the Large Bui Properties.

MONTREAL--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 18, 1997--(TSE BGI) Birim Goldfields Inc. is pleased to report the results of the ongoing diamond drilling of the Opon prospect on the Dunkwa property as well as on the rapid work progress being made on the recently-announced major acquisition of the 7,000 km2 Bui licences from Santa Fe Mining Inc. (press release June 9, 1997).

Battle Mountain Gold Company, as operator on the 230 km2 Dunkwa property, has informed Birim of the partial results from the nine- hole diamond drilling program currently taking place on the Opon and Aniamote South prospects, some 27 km SW of the Mampon zone. Below are the more significant intercepts received thus far from the Opon prospect: -0-

Hole no.          from-to (m)       width (m)         Au (g/t)
_________         ___________       _________         ________

BOD-2             0.0 - 26.0          26.0              2.57

BOD-3            43.0 - 57.8          14.8              0.69

BOD-5            47.5 - 66.4          18.9              0.81

-0-

Premilinary interpretation indicates the presence of two well-defined mineralized bands generally dipping gently to the west at 25 to 30 degrees. The width and grade of the mineralization is quite continuous and extends down-dip for at least 150 metres. The best grade was intersected in hole BOD-2 with 2.57 g/t Au over 26 metres (0.07 oz/t over 83 feet) and occurs in oxide material with a distribution that may indicate a "mushroom" effect. On the Aniamote South anomaly, where drilling is currently taking place, sulfides are encountered at a depth of 70 metres. Visual estimates of this zone indicates an average of 10 percent sulfides, with as much as 20 percent pyrite and variable arsenopyrite. The zone is also characterized by strong shearing and deformation, with locally strong quartz stockwork veining over widths of up to 20 metres all of which is highly propitious for gold emplacement.

Elsewhere on the Dunkwa property, results and interpretation of a supplementary and extensive regional sampling program is indicating strong arsenic anomalies, coincident with gold-in-soil anomalies. One of these, located northeast of Opon, is about 400 x 600 metres in diameter, but appears to extend to the north for at least another 2 km. In that area, significant galamsey (artisanal miners) activity has taken place, as indicated by the abundance of pits and trenches. With regard to the Mampon discovery, there are now indications that the moratorium on exploration in national forests is close to being resolved and that the guidelines will be approved shortly. This should pave the way, over the next few months, to the resumption of exploration on this highly promising zone where work has been halted since March 1996, at which time a limited 14-hole diamond drill program had indicated a gold resource of 450,000 ounces.

In west-central Ghana, and of great significance to Birim, work is in full swing on the 7,000 km2 Bui licences. The current work force of 30 should build up to 100 by year-end, at which time drill programs should be underway on both prospecting licenses. The underlying geological and physical features of the Bui area can be compared with that of the main gold producing regions of Ghana, whether they be structurally controlled, like Ashanti Goldfields' huge deposits at Obuasi, located in Birimian sediments, or those of the conglomerate-hosted deposits in the Tarkwa basin. Previous work, by Santa Fe Mining, Inc., over areas underlain by Birimian sediments, has outlined more than 25 targets. No work was undertaken by Santa Fe over the Tarkwaian conglomerates. Newmont Gold Company (NGC:NYSE) holds a back-in right which allows it to earn a 45.1 percent undivided interest in any discovery made by Birim on these licenses. Birim is particularly proud in having put together a strong and competent team for its largest project. Under the capable leadership of Vic King, Birim's exploration manager in Ghana, formerly with Gold Fields of South Africa (GFSA) and instrumental in the discovery of the Tarkwaian gold deposits, the Company has just hired Matthew Chin, also formerly with GFSA and with extensive knowledge of exploration within the Tarkwaian, as Chief Geologist, as well as Jennifer Baxter, as Senior Geologist, who will be mainly responsible for exploration within the Birimian.

Birim is very much encouraged by the progress taking place on both the Dunkwa property and by the strong potential of its newly-acquired Bui properties.

Birim Goldfields Inc. is an emerging mining exploration firm whose mission is to explore and develop gold deposits in Ghana, West Africa.

CONTACT: Birim Goldfields Inc.

Denis Simoneau, 514/393-8611 or 1-800-721-8611

514/393-1158 (FAX)

http://www.birim.com

[e-mail]

or

Birim Goldfields Inc.

David Jones, 514/393-8611 or 1-800-721-8611

514/393-1158 (FAX)

http://www.birim.com

[e-mail]