Crown Resources Now Accounts for Investment in Solitario Under the Equity Method.

Business Editors

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 9, 2001

Crown Resources Corporation (TSE:CRO) (OTCBB:CRRS) will account for its investment in Solitario Resources Corporation ("Solitario") (TSE:SLR), under the equity method effective as of October 18, 2000, which was date of the completion of the Plan of Arrangement ("Plan") between Solitario and Altoro Gold Corporation ("Altoro").

As part of the Plan, Solitario issued 6.23 million shares of stock to the shareholders of Altoro in exchange for 100% of the outstanding shares of Altoro. Crown's ownership interest in Solitario has been reduced from 57.2% to 41.3%, primarily as a result of the issuance of the Solitario stock in connection with the Plan. Accordingly, it has been determined that the equity method of accounting is appropriate for Crown's 9.6 million share investment in Solitario.

The following pro forma financial statements, which were included in a Current Report on Form 8K/A filed with the SEC, reflect the deconsolidation of Solitario from Crown and the inclusion of Crown's investment in the pro forma combined Solitario (with Altoro) under the equity method as of September 30, 2000, and for the nine months then ended.

Crown Resources is traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol CRO and on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol CRRS. Crown is a gold, PGE and base metals exploration company which holds a 41.3%-equity interest in Solitario Resources Corporation (Toronto Stock Exchange:SLR).

                      Crown Resources Corporation
                        Pro Forma Balance Sheet
                       As of September 30, 2000
                               unaudited
                                (000's)

                       Consolidated
                         Crown as     Pro forma              Pro forma
Description              reported    adjustments    Notes     Results
------------            ----------   -----------   -------    --------
Assets:
 Current assets          $ 8,195      $ (6,924)     a, b      $ 1,253
 Mineral Properties       15,708           (97)        a       15,611
 Investment in
  unconsolidated sub.          -         5,180         b        5,180
 Other assets              1,104          (944)        a          160
                          ------        ------                 ------
Total assets            $ 25,007     $  (2,803)              $ 22,204
                          ======        ======                 ======

Liabilities:
 Current liabilities    $ 15,256         $ (98)        a     $ 15,158
 Minority interest in
  consolidated sub.        3,376        (3,376)        a            -
                          ------        ------                 ------
Total liabilities         18,632        (3,474)                15,158
                          ------        ------                 ------

Equity:
 Common stock                146             -                    146
 Paid in capital          34,827           676         a       35,503
 Retained earnings       (28,603)            -                (28,603)
 Other comprehensive
  income (loss)                5            (5)        a            -
                          ------        ------                 ------
Total equity               6,375           671                  7,046
                          ------        ------                 ------

Total liabilities and
 stockholder's equity   $ 25,007      $ (2,803)              $ 22,204
                          ======        ======                 ======

      Notes:
a)  Reflects removal of assets, liabilities and minority interest of
    Solitario from Crown's previously reported (historical)
    consolidated financial statements.
b)  Reflects the addition of the equity ownership of Crown in the
    combined Solitario's net assets as of September 30, 2000, under
    the equity method. Note this includes the inclusion of a $91,000
    receivable from Solitario, which had previously been eliminated in
    consolidation.



                      Crown Resources Corporation
                      Pro Forma Income Statement
             for the nine months ended September 30, 2000
                               unaudited
                                (000's)

                        Consolidated
                         Crown as     Pro forma              Pro forma
Description              reported    adjustments    Notes     Results
------------            ----------   -----------   -------    --------
Revenues                 $ 6,332      $ (6,169)        a        $ 163
                          ------        ------                 ------
Costs and expenses:
 Exploration expense         880          (703)        a          177
 General administration
  and other                1,807          (467)        a        1,340
 Abandonment and impairment
  of mining claims and
  leases                   1,269             -                  1,269
                          ------        ------                 ------
 Total costs and expenses  3,956        (1,170)                 2,786
                          ------        ------                 ------

                           2,376        (4,999)        a       (2,623)
Equity in earnings of
 unconsolidated sub.           -        (1,721)        b        1,721
                          ------        ------                 ------
Net income before minority
 interest                  2,376        (3,278)                  (902)
Minority interest in
 subsidiary               (2,142)        2,142         a            -
                          ------        ------                 ------
Net income                 $ 234      $ (1,136)                $ (902)
                          ======        ======                 ======

Basic and fully diluted
 earnings per common and
 common equivalent share  $ 0.02      $ ( 0.08)               $ (0.06)
                          ======        ======                 ======
Weighted average number of
 shares outstanding       14,552        14,552                 14,552
                          ======        ======                 ======

      Notes:
a)  Reflects removal of revenues, expenses and minority interest in
    Solitario from Crown's previously reported (historical)
    consolidated financial statements.
b)  Reflects the addition of the equity ownership of Crown in the
    combined Solitario's net income under the equity method.