Desert Sun Increases Jacobina Gold Mine Reserves To Nearly 1 Million Ounces.

TORONTO -- DESERT SUN MINING CORP. (TSX:DSM)(AMEX:DEZ) has completed a mineral reserve estimate for its Jacobina Mine - Joao Belo Zone - based on the latest Measured and Indicated mineral resource estimates released on December 15, 2004. Mineral reserves in the Joao Belo zone as estimated in the SNC Feasibility study of September 2003 were 7,471,000 tonnes at 2.10 g Au/t containing 504,000 ounces of gold.

E[acute accent]Proven and probable mineral reserves in the Joao Belo zone are now 11,102,000 tonnes grading 2.04 g Au/t containing 727,000 ounces, an increase of 44% in contained ounces. Total Proven and Probable mineral reserves in all zones at Jacobina, which previously were 10,746,000 tonnes at 2.20 g Au/t containing 758,000 ounces of gold, are now 14,378,000 tonnes at 2.12 g Au/t containing 980,000 ounces of gold as summarized in Table 1 below. The conversion rate of the new indicated resource to mineral reserve is about 75% which is comparable to the historical experience at the mine and to the conversion rate of the SNC Lavalin feasibility study.

E[acute accent]This new reserve is now being used in the Jacobina Mine development plan and increases mine life by over two years. The other major zones - Morro do Vento, Morro do Vento Extension (Basal/Main Reef), Canavieiras and Serra do Corrego - will have updated and/or new mineral reserves estimated as mine planning/feasibility studies for each area are completed. The total Measured and Indicated mineral resource at Jacobina for all zones is 24,800,000 tonnes grading 2.53 g Au/t containing 2,050,000 ounces of gold (see press release December 15, 2004).

E[acute accent]"The 44% increase to 727,000 ounces from the original estimate of 504,000 ounces in Proven and Probable reserves for the Jacobina Mine - Joao Belo Zone - allows us to extend the mine life of our primary ore zone," commented Peter Tagliamonte, Vice President, Operations and Chief Operating Officer. "Our expectations are that, as the Mine Project Team works through the other zones included in the Measured and Indicated resources, we will see further significant increases in reserves."

E[acute accent]The Measured and Indicated resource estimate upon which these new reserve estimates are based was reviewed and confirmed by Terry Hennessey, P.Geo. of Micon International. Mr. Hennessey, who is an independent qualified person as defined under National Instrument 43-101 as reported in the press release dated December 15, 2004. The resource estimation methodology and classification used is the same as outlined in the August 2003 report by Mr. Hennessey filed on SEDAR. The mineral reserve estimate was completed by the Desert Sun Mining group at Jacobina under the direction of Mr. Tagliamonte, P.Eng. who is a Qualified Person, as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

E[acute accent]Key parameters for the mineral reserve estimate as set out in Table 1 below are as follows:

E[acute accent]- Mineral resources and reserves were estimated using the polygonal method on vertical longitudinal sections

E[acute accent]- Dilution is 1 metre on the hanging wall and 1 metre on the footwall at grades indicated by diamond drilling

E[acute accent]- Mining recovery rate is 80%

E[acute accent]- High assay cutting factor is 30 grams gold per tonne

E[acute accent]- Specific gravity is 2.6 based on tests completed for the SNC Lavalin feasibility study

E[acute accent]- Block cut-off grade is 1.33 grams gold per tonne

E[acute accent]- Gold price is US$350 per ounce

E[acute accent]- Desert Sun has all operating permits in place for production

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           Table 1: Estimated mineral reserves as of March 1, 2005 +
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Area           Proven           Probable    Proven & Probable
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                                                              Ounces
                                                                Gold
                        g                g                 g    Con-
            Tonnes   Au/t     Tonnes  Au/t     Tonnes   Au/t  tained
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Joao
 Belo(a) 1,955,000   2.02  9,147,000  2.04 11,102,000   2.04 727,000
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Basal
 Reef(b)       Nil    Nil  2,304,000  2.51  2,304,000   2.51 186,000
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Serra do
 Corrego(b)    Nil    Nil    972,000  2.14    972,000   2.14  67,000
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Total    1,955,000   2.02 12,423,000  2.14 14,378,000   2.12 980,000
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+   Mineral reserves have been classified in accordance with CIM
    standards under NI 43-101
(a) Desert Sun Mining internal reserve estimation March 1, 2005
    following procedures outlined in SNC Lavalin feasibility study.
(b) As per original Dynatec mineral reserve estimation September 2003
    in the SNC Lavalin feasibility study

E[acute accent]Assaying for the drilling program, which defined the new Indicated mineral resources, 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 exploration program.

E[acute accent]Desert Sun Mining is a Canadian gold exploration and development company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the American Stock Exchange with 100% ownership of the Jacobina Mine and the 155 km long Bahia Gold Belt in the state of Bahia, in northeastern Brazil. The mine is scheduled to re-start operations in April of 2005 with proven and probable mineral reserves of 14,378,000 tonnes at 2.12 g Au/t containing 980,000 ounces of gold. As a result of the Desert Sun's exploration programs to date, Measured and Indicated resources total 24,800,000 tonnes at 2.53 g Au/t containing 2,050,000 ounces of gold, and Inferred Resources total 22,200,000 tonnes at 2.61 g Au/t containing 1,900,000 ounces of gold. The mineral reserves are included within the Measured and Indicated mineral resources. For additional information, please see Desert Sun's website at www.desertsunmining.com.

E[acute accent]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".

E[acute accent]DESERT SUN MINING CORP. (TSX:DSM) (AMEX:DEZ)