Cross Lake Minerals Ltd. Announces Sheraton-Timmins Preliminary Metallurgical Results, Currie-Bowman Property Drilling Resumes.

Business Editors

VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 22, 2000

(CDNX:CRN)

Cross Lake Minerals Ltd. (the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to the release of December 1, 1999, encouraging results have been received from the preliminary metallurgical testing carried out on samples taken from the Sheraton-Timmins VMS Property, located near Timmins, Ontario.

The work was carried out by International Metallurgical and Environmental Inc., Kelowna, B.C., under the direction of Jeffrey B. Austin, P.Eng. The report's conclusion states that, "... the materials are amenable to traditional process techniques with very good metallurgical performance expected. At this point in time there are no looming metallurgical impediments to the development of a flotation process to recover copper, zinc and silver values from these materials." Furthermore, the summary states, "With both samples [copper-silver and zinc-silver], final concentrates of saleable base metal grades were produced with very high overall recoveries of metals. Silver deportment to the base metal concentrates was very good for both samples." The Company is very pleased with these preliminary results which further enhance the potential of this project. As the project progresses, more detailed metallurgical work will be required.

The Company is also pleased to report that the Ontario Geological Survey, as part of its "Operation Treasure Hunt", a two-year, $19 million geoscience program, will be completing airborne geophysical surveys over the Sheraton-Timmins Property. The results of this work will provide a "finger-print" over the known mineralization which can be used as a guide to identify other possible target areas on the property.

Cross Lake also reports that the two main mining claims on the Sheraton-Timmins property have been converted to Surface and Mining Rights Leases issued by the Province of Ontario. The two leases cover 323.3 hectares and have been issued for an initial term of 21 years. The acquisition of the two leases provides the Company with the securest form of tenure over the known deposit.

The Company is also pleased to announce that it has been advised by Echo Bay Mines Ltd. ("Echo Bay") that additional NQ diamond drilling has commenced on the Currie Bowman Property, located eight kilometres northeast of the Sheraton-Timmins deposit. A program of seven holes totalling 2,100 metres is planned, including three holes to further test the Grindstone Creek Zone in Currie Township where hole CB-04 returned an intersection of 2.08 grams gold (AU), 18.5 grams silver (AG) and 0.54% zinc (ZN) over 18.9 metres from 338.1 to 357.0 metres. This was the deepest intersection in the zone which was tested with a total of five holes in 1999. The results of all the holes are included in the table below.

Drill Hole: CB-1
 Easting Northing Az  Dip  Length  Interval   Length  Au    Ag   Zn
                            (M)    From   To   (M)     (gpt)    (%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
 131+00E 100+60N  360 -50  227.0  159.9  161.8   1.9  0.91   -    -
                                  165.8  170.0   4.2  0.64   -    -
--------------------------------------------------------------------
CB-2
 130+00E 100+50N  360 -50  293.0  167.3  169.3   2.0  1.78 44.4 0.86
                                  187.3  201.0  13.7  0.89 18.3 0.85
                           incl.  187.3  191.7   4.4  2.25 24.0 2.40
--------------------------------------------------------------------
CB-03
 129+00E 101+40N  360 -50  272.0  121.8  154.9 No significant assays
--------------------------------------------------------------------
CB-04
 131+00E 99+00N   360 -45  419.0  338.1  357.0  18.9  2.08 18.5 0.54
                           incl.  349.0  357.0   8.0  3.40 13.7 0.58
--------------------------------------------------------------------
CB-05
 130+00E 100+40N  360 -60  338.7  237.0  248.3  11.3  0.29    -    -
--------------------------------------------------------------------

This winter's program will also include four additional holes, which will test other induced polarization (IP) chargeability anomalies to the west of this zone. Additional IP surveying is also underway to test the area east of the Grindstone Creek Zone. Echo Bay holds an option to acquire Falconbridge Limited's 60% interest in the Currie Bowman Property. The Company holds the remaining 40% and is not required to make financial contributions during Echo Bay's earn-in period.

With respect to its other properties, the Company has terminated options held on the Gerry Lake Property, located near Red Lake, Ontario, and on the Ladybug, near Salmon Arm, B.C.

With the recent restructuring of Canada's capital markets, the Company's CDNX listing was automatically withdrawn on January 31, 2000. The Company's shares continue to trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "CRN".

This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on assumptions and judgements of management regarding future events or results that may prove to be inaccurate as a result of exploration and other risk factors beyond its control and actual results may differ materially from the expected results.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

CROSS LAKE MINERALS LTD.

Henry G. Ewanchuk, Chairman, President and Chief

Executive Officer