Cumberland and Comaplex - Meliadine East: Capricorn One Mineralization Extended to Depth - Meadowbank Gold Project: Significant Au Mineralization Intersected at North Portage.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 1, 1996-- CUMBERLAND RESOURCES,COMAPLEX MINERALS Cumberland Resources Ltd. (CBD-TSE) and Comaplex Minerals Corporation (CMF-TSE) ("the Companies") are pleased to announce results from the first phase of the diamond drilling program on the Meliadine East Gold Property, located 15 kilometres northeast of Rankin Inlet, N.W.T. The property is a 50-50 joint venture between and Cumberland and Comaplex Minerals Corp. The western half of the property is currently under option to WMC International Ltd.

The 1996 exploration program on Meliadine East consists of a two phase program totalling 6000 metres of drilling in two separate target areas. The first phase of the program is testing for gold mineralization in both new and previously outlined targets within 6 kilometres of the Discovery Zone Deposit (geological inventory of 2.03MM tons at a grade of 0.192 opt gold). A total of 2155 metres in 17 drillholes have been completed on this phase of the program. To date, assay results have only been received from the following drillholes.

Six separate grids were drill tested in the Discovery Area (see attached map). Follow-up 1996 drilling of the Capricorn-One Zone, located 350 metres west of the Discovery Zone, intersected high grade mineralization at a depth of 147 metres below surface. Drillhole 96-127 returned 11.23 grams gold per tonne over 21.2 m in a confined fold structure in iron formation. The intersection is a 42 metre down-plunge test below the 1995 intersection of 24.68 grams per tonne gold over 3.81 metres. Drillhole 96-129 tested the margin of the structure and returned low grade values (4.1 grams gold per tonne over 1.0 metre) and thinner iron formation widths. A third 1996 hole (DDH96-145) tested the zone another 42 metres down-plunge of the mineralization in DDH96-127 (see longitudinal section). Assays are pending on this hole. The zone is open to depth.

Drillholes into the other grids in the Discovery Area returned numerous anomalous to medium grade intersections over narrow widths. For example, the Pisces South grid returned 6.51 grams per tonne gold over 1.77 metres in DDH96-121 and 9.9 grams per tonne gold over 1 metre. Two of the Aquarius drillholes returned significant mineralization including 9.6 grams per tonne gold over 2.0 metres and 7.9 grams per tonne gold over 1.52 metres.

Diamond drilling is currently being conducted on the relatively unexplored eastern 32 kilometres of ground that comprises the bulk of the Meliadine East property. This second phase of the 1996 Meliadine East exploration program (approximately 3900 metres of the 6000 metre drill budget) is testing a minimum of 11 separate grids ranging from 700 metres to 2.3 kilometres in length. Most of these targets have never been drill tested and several host very high grade surface samples. Results of this phase of the program will be forwarded as assays are received.

MEADOWBANK GOLD PROJECT

The Companies are also pleased to announce preliminary results from the Meadowbank Gold Project located 47 miles north of Baker Lake, N.W.T. The project is a joint venture between Cumberland (60 percent) and Comaplex Minerals Corp. (40 percent).

The 1996 summer drill program on the Meadowbank Project began testing the North Portage target, located 650 metres north of the Third Portage Deposit. One hole tested this target in 1990 and intersected 18.2 grams over 1.2 m. Drill hole 1996-139, the first hole of the summer program, tested the structure 40 metres below this original hole and intersected 5.07 grams gold per tonne over 11.02 metres including a higher grade intercept of 13.1 grams gold per tonne over 3.0 metres.

Assays are pending from two additional holes drilled 50 metres north which intersected the same structure. Drilling continues to test the zone towards the north.

CUMBERLAND RESOURCES LTD. Kerry Curtis Vice President, Corporate Development COMAPLEX MINERALS CORPORATION Phillip Mudry Vice President, Exploration

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

CONTACT: Cumberland Resources Ltd.

Mr. Glen Dickson, 604/608-2557

or

Cumberland Resources Ltd.

Mr. Kerry Curtis, 604/608-2557

or

Comaplex Minerals Corp.

Mr. George Fink, 403/265-2846

or

Comaplex Minerals Corp.

Mr. Murray Pyke, 403/265-2846

or

Comaplex Minerals Corp.

Mr. Phillip Mudry, 403/265-2846