Campbell Resources Inc. reports exploration drilling intersects high grade gold mineralization at the Joe Mann West Zone.

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 23, 1996-- Eight deep diamond drill holes totalling 16,620 feet, were drilled from the 1650 foot exploration drift to explore the West Zone at the Joe Mann Mine between depth of 2,350 and 3,450 feet, Results are as follows: -0-

Hole      Gold       Copper      True     Depth     Distance
           (oz/ton)   (%)         Width    (ft)      West of
                                  (ft)               Shaft (ft)

6386      1.029      0.68        6.0      2975      1450
6443       0.619      0.32        14.8     3175      1350
6417       0.550      0.48        6.0      3450      1550
6386B      0.246      0.12        6.0      2760      1450
6144       0.023      0.08        6.0      2750      1100
6142       0.049      0.07        6.0      2375      1100
6143       0.098      0.10        6.0      2575      1100
6217       0.045      0.10        6.0      3100      1100-0-

Three high grade intersections, more than 150 feet apart, are reported within the zone. Four early holes 1,100 feet west of the shaft intersected the shear structure and the lower grade results define the eastern margin of the West Zone and the approximate angle of plunge towards the shaft.

The high grade intersections confirm the presence of the West Zone 1,400 to 1,800 feet below the exploration drift, suggesting potential for a significant sized deposit to the west of the main Joe Mann orebody.

The West Zone was discovered by an eleven hole surface diamond drill program in late 1994. Drill intersections from that program included 0.797 oz. gold/ton over 6.0 feet and 0.258 oz. gold/ton over 21.2 feet, and confirmed the continuity of the main east-west trending, Joe Mann mine shear structure to the west of the shaft.

The proximity to the current production shaft led to the decision to explore the zone underground by drifting west along the shear structure from the shaft on the 1,650 foot level. This drifting commenced in the latter half of 1995. As previously reported, the gold mineralization was encountered in the drift 1,820 feet west of the shaft in the first quarter of this year. -0-

Results along the drift are as follows:

Distance             Length of   Sample   Assay
of Shaft              Sample      Width    Gold      Copper
(ft)                  Drift       (ft)     (oz/ton)    %
                      (ft)

1820' to 1920 '      100'        0.9'     0.377     0.18
                                                     (previously
                                                     reported)
1920' to 2050'        130'        6.0'     0.440     0.36
                                                     (previously
                                                     reported)
2050' to 2375'        325'        6.0'     0.201     0.34
2375' to 2470'        95'         6.0'     narrow fault zone-0-

A 455 foot interval along the drift has averaged 0.27 ounces of gold per ton across a 6.0 foot width. Historical mining grade at the Joe Mann Mine is approximately 0.25 oz. gold/ton.

The underground drift is now 2,470 feet west of the shaft. Drifting is scheduled to continue an additional 740 feet to the west. Intersections from the 1994 surface drilling suggest that the West Zone mineralization could continue across much of this distance.

A series of short drill holes are defining the West Zone both above and below the drift, as the drift advances. This drilling has discovered an additional zone of mineralization parallel to, and 20 feet north of the mineralized zone exposed in the drift. A 190 foot interval parallel to the east-west drift averages 0.229 oz. gold/ton across a 6.8 foot width.

Exploration drilling will continue through to year end and the results will be used to calculate reserves. With the success to date of the West Zone exploration, management is considering advancement of production drifts to the west of the shaft on the 1350 and 1825 levels. The West Zone is serviceable from the existing production shaft which has excess hoisting capacity.

Senior mine management confirm the strong similarity between this West Zone gold mineralization and the ore currently being mined to the east of the shaft. The main Joe Mann orebody has produced over 700,000 ounces of gold and has over 800,000 contained ounces of gold in reserves.

With limited drilling of the West Zone to date, but nine years of mining experience to the east of the shaft, management believes that there is the potential for a new 1.0 to 1.5 million ton deposit to the west of the shaft.

CONTACT: Campbell Resources Inc., Toronto 

Elaine Ellingham

Manager, Investor Relations 

416/366-5201

fax: [phone]