Desert Sun Identifies Major New Zone At Morro Do Vento Extension.

TORONTO -- DESERT SUN MINING CORP. (TSX:DSM) (AMEX:DEZ) has received surface diamond drill results from the Morro do Vento Extension ("MVTE") area, located immediately north of the processing plant at the Jacobina Mine area, on the Bahia Gold Belt in Northeastern Brazil (see Figure 1).

Highlights include:

- Hole MCZ-83 intersected 4.94 g Au/t over a true width of 12.6m and Hole MCZ-79 intersected 3.17 g Au/t over 9.8 m, both in the Main Reef

- Hole MCZ-81 intersected 2.84 g Au/t over a true width of 13.8m and Hole MCZ-80 intersected 2.13 g Au/t over a true width of 15.1m, both in the Basal Reef

The two conglomerate reefs known as the Basal and Main Reefs that were intersected in the new drill holes are the northern extension of the same reefs in the Morro do Vento area that were previously mined. The Main Reef in the MVTE is a major new extension that potentially could be up to 1 km in strike length while the results from the Basal Reef confirm the downdip continuity below current measured and indicated mineral resources. As shown in Figure 2, a cross section, these reefs are about 50m apart and approximately 200 metres stratigraphically below the Intermediate Reefs that are being explored for their open pit potential at Morro do Vento. The Intermediate Reefs are stratigraphically equivalent to the main conglomerate zone at the Jacobina Mine which is currently being reactivated by DSM.

Dr. Bill Pearson, P.Geo., Vice President, Exploration stated: "These results are very positive as they indicate another major target zone with the potential to outline significant higher grade resources close to existing underground workings."

Past production from the Basal and Main Reefs in both the Morro do Vento and MVTE areas totaled 2,036,634 tonnes at a recovered grade of 4.14 g Au/tonne containing 271,046 ounces of gold. Of the total past production, about 72% came from the Main Reef zone, however no previous production is recorded from this reef in the MVTE area. The Basal Reef in the MVTE contains measured and indicated mineral resources of 2,148,000 tonnes at 2.75 g Au/t containing 190,000 ounces of gold and an inferred mineral resource of 645,000 tonnes at 2.67 g Au/t containing 55,000 ounces of gold as previously reported (see press release of August 25, 2003 and NI 43-101 report by Micon International dated August 2003). Historic underground and surface diamond drill holes that tested the Basal Reef also intersected the Main Reef target zone area however most drill core in this zone was not previously assayed because of the predominantly structural style of the mineralization. This core is now being sampled as part of the current program.

Table 1: Significant Drilling Results, Morro do Vento Extension

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Hole       From        To      Gold   Interval   True   Reef/  Depth
No.(a)     (m)        (m)      (g/t)   (m)       Width  Zone   Below
                                                  (m)         Surface
                                                              (b) (m)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
MORRO DO VENTO EXTENSION (CUSCUZ)

MCZ-79     N8755332  E334888   El 673
  dip -58
  degrees    348.15   349.68   2.32     1.53    1.4   Satellite   430
             462.48   484.48   1.68    22.00   20.0   Main-FW     510
     incl.   462.48   473.25   3.17    10.77    9.8   Main        505

MCZ-80     N8755397  E334.869  El 689
  dip -48
  degrees    371.35   374.42   2.86     3.07    3.0   Main        410
             389.04   402.97   1.33    13.93   13.8   FW          420
             427.86   443.09   2.13    15.23   15.1   Basal       450

MCZ-81     N8755332  E334888   El 673
  dip -42
  degrees    357.89   362.22   2.70     4.33    4.2   Main        310
             415.05   438.91   2.21    23.86   23.1   Basal       393
     incl.   424.65   438.91   2.84    14.26   13.8   Basal       396

MCZ-83     N8755290  E334882   El 664
  dip -48
  degrees    415.43   428.69   4.94    13.26   12.6   Main        400
---------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) all holes are NQ diamond drill core size and have been drilled
    perpendicular to the north-south strike of the zones.

(b) depth calculated based on midpoint of intersection

Assaying for the program was carried out by Lakefield Geosol, an ISO 9001, 2000 laboratory based in Brazil, using fire assay on 50 gram pulps. Check assaying is routinely carried out, by ALS Chemex in Vancouver, on 10% of sample pulps and 5% of sample rejects. Independent standard reference samples are also inserted at regular intervals into each batch of analyses. Security is maintained at the core logging and sampling facility. Dr. Bill Pearson, P.Geo. is the Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101 responsible for the scientific and technical work on the program.

Statements in this release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Readers are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual developments or results may vary materially from those in these "forward-looking statements".

Desert Sun Mining is a Canadian gold exploration and development company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the American Stock Exchange. (www.desertsunmining.com).

NOTE: There are two Maps available on CCNMatthews' website at:

http://www2.cdn-news.com/database/fax/2000/map1.doc

http://www2.cdn-news.com/database/fax/2000/map2.doc

Desert Sun Mining Corp. (TSX:DSM) (AMEX:DEZ)