Cumberland - Meliadine East - Capricorn-1 Zone Extended to Depth - New Gold Zone Identified.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 8, 1996-- Cumberland (TSE CBD.) Cumberland Resources Ltd. (CBD-TSE) (the "Company") reports recent drilling has intersected 10.7 g/T gold over 9.0 metres further extending Capricorn-1 Zone to depth. In addition, the Company reports the identification of a new gold bearing zone yielding values of 11.3 g/T gold over 3.6 metres on the Meliadine East Gold Project.

The Meliadine East Gold Project is located 18 km northeast of Rankin Inlet, N.W.T. and is a 50-50 percent joint venture with Comaplex Minerals Corp.

CAPRICORN AREA

Drilling has successfully extended gold mineralization at the Capricorn-1 Zone. Results reported earlier in the season included 11.24 g/T gold 21.22 metres (see August 1, 1996 News Release). Follow-up drilling has since yielded 10.7 g/T gold over 9.0 metres (DDH 96-145) located approximately 42 metres below previous intersections. The zone remains open for depth expansion. The Capricorn-1 Zone is located only 350 metres west of the Discovery Deposit (resource of 2.03 million tons grading 0.196 opt gold) and represents a significant opportunity to add gold resources in close proximity to the Discovery Deposit.

RECONNAISSANCE WORK

The 1996 reconnaissance drill program tested the eastward 28 km extension of the Meliadine Gold Trend. Exploration targets included both iron formation and potential shear hosted gold targets located in 15 widely spaced separate grid areas across the 28 km length of the property.

A new zone of gold mineralization has been identified on the 55 Upper Grid (see map). The 55 Upper Grid is approximately 20 km east of the Discovery Deposit, on the same iron formation trend. Drillhole 96- 161 intersected gold bearing iron formation averaging 11.3 g/T gold over 3.6 metres. This zone remains open for extension both at depth and along strike. Elsewhere, very widely spaced drilling has indicated the presence of shear zones similar to the Tiriruniak (Fox) Zone recently discovered by WMC International on Meliadine West. Cursory drilling on the margins of the Nanook Shear (see map) has intersected anomalous gold values. Follow-up exploration is warranted.

The expansion and discovery of these gold zones, similar in nature to the Discovery Deposit and Tiriruniak (Fox) Zone, greatly enhances the exploration potential of the extensive Meliadine East project.

Cumberland Resources is a Canadian mineral exploration company with two emerging gold projects, Meadowbank (60 percent) and Meliadine (50 percent) located in the Northwest Territories. Cumberland is also actively exploring for base-metals in the N.W.T., Northwestern Ontario and Portugal.

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

CONTACT: Cumberland Resources Ltd.

Mr. Glen Dickson, 604/608-2557

604/608-2559 (FAX)

Mr. Kerry Curtis, 604/608-2557

604/608-2559 (FAX)