CUMBERLAND REPORTS ENCOURAGING INITIAL DRILL RESULTS ON MELIADINE GOLD PROJECT - PROJECT TO BE EXPANDED.

VANCOUVER, BC--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 4, 1995--CUMBERLAND RESOURCES(VSE: CBD ) Cumberland Resources Ltd. today announced that as a result of encouraging first assay results from its ongoing exploration program at the Meliadine Gold Project, Cumberland and its 50-50 joint venture partner Comaplex Minerals Corp. will increase its drill program by a further 3,3000 feet.

The drill program on this project, located 20 miles north of Rankin Inlet, N.W.T., is designed to delineate and confirm both the grade and structure of the Discovery deposit (740,000 tons grading 0.29 ounces per ton gold) and to test similar iron formation targets in the immediate area.

To date 29 holes (14,000 feet) of a 16,400 foot program have been completed on the Meliadine East. Results have been returned from the first 7 holes only. The results of subsequent holes have been unavoidably delayed at the analytical lab. These problems have been rectified and assay results will now be available on a regular basis. At the Discovery deposit, drill hole 95-86 (0.34 oz/t Au over 9.9 feet) tested a sparsely drilled portion of the deposit. This hole is expected to add to the resource base in the mid-levels of the deposit. Three additional holes tested the eastern and western limits of the deposit at shallow and mid-levels. These holes confirm the presence of mineralized structures at these levels. Further results from recently completed holes are expected shortly.

At the Pisces Zone, which is located 660 feet east of the Discovery deposit and on the same mineralized horizon, three widely spaced holes have intersected significant mineralization (Hole 95-87 0.36 oz/t Au over 9.2 feet). Additional drilling is currently in progress on this target. The Pisces Zone represents an excellent opportunity to add proximal resources to the nearby Discovery deposit.

Results from other zones recently drilled, including Capricorn, are expected within 2 weeks. It should be noted that drill holes presently being assayed have encountered intervals of the gold host rocks over a width of up to 40 feet. Assays for these thicker zones are pending.

The expanded drill program will be used to define additional tonnage in the Discovery zone and to delineate the size and grade of the mineralization in the Capricorn zone (1,300 feet west of Discovery). Both zones are open to depth.

Drilling continues to proceed on the Meliadine East (Cumberland/Comaplex) and on the Meliadine West (WMC International) with a total of four drills operating across the 40 mile length of the property.

Cumberland Resources is a Canadian mineral exploration company with two emerging gold projects, Meliadine and Meadowbank, located in the Northwest Territories. On June 9, 1995 the company announced that WMC International, a senior Australian metal producer became a joint venture partner in the western portion of the Meliadine gold property. Cumberland is also exploring for diamonds in the Northwest Territories and base metals in Northwestern Ontario. -0-

                  DISCOVERY PROSPECT AREA

          Meliadine East, Rankin Inlet Area, N.W.T.

         Seven Holes Received - 29 Holes Completed

Hole    Target      From    To     Core Length  Grade (opt)
 #                                   (feet)      oz/ton Au
-----------------------------------------------------------

95-82   Discovery   156.2   159.4     3.2         0.25
                    198.5   201.1     6.6         0.26
-----------------------------------------------------------
95-84   Discovery   409.4   434.4    25.0         0.17
-----------------------------------------------------------
95-86   Discovery   659.4   669.3     9.9         0.34
-----------------------------------------------------------
95-88   Discovery   992.8  1008.9    16.1         0.14
                   1022.0  1025.3     3.3         0.26
-----------------------------------------------------------
95-83   Pisces       55.1    61.7     6.6         0.21
                    170.3   176.3     6.0         0.17
-----------------------------------------------------------
95-85   Pisces       60.0    69.9     9.9         0.15
                    391.4   405.3    13.9         0.20
               incl 391.4   398.0     6.6         0.43
                    410.1   415.0     4.9         0.17
-----------------------------------------------------------
95-87   Pisces      500.3   506.9     6.6         0.14
                    567.9   577.1     9.2         0.36
-----------------------------------------------------------

NOTE: Location map available from the Company at the phone number listed above.

CONTACT: Mr. Glen Dickson

or

Mr. Kerry Curtis

604/244-7112

604/244-3996 (FAX)