Trend Mining Acquires New Platinum-Palladium Project in Saskatchewan.

Business Editors

COEUR D' ALENE, Idaho--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 17, 2000

Trend Mining Company (OTCBB:TRDM) is pleased to announce it has acquired its first major land holding in Canada, the Reindeer Lake Claims covering 27,033 hectares (over 104 square miles) on the Peter Lake Intrusive Complex in Northern Saskatchewan.

The Peter Lake Complex, with a length of 180 km (112 mi.) and a width of 30 km (19 mi.), is one of the largest Layered Complexes in the world. Its size, age (Archaean), and the presence of known platinum and palladium occurrences, make it also one of the most prospective Platinum Group Element (PGE) targets in North America.

Prospecting at the Peter Lake Complex was carried out by Lacana Mining Corp. in 1985 and 1986. During that period, Lacana found the lower gabbroic sequence contained platinum-palladium-copper-nickel occurrences are spread over 130 km (81 mi.) of strike. Values of over 4 grams per tonne combined platinum-palladium have been recorded, and grab samples of up to 10 grams per tonne platinum-palladium have been reported. Many known copper occurrences in the gabbros have not been assayed for Platinum Group Elements (PGE's) or nickel, and numerous occurrences of finely disseminated sulphide mineralization from the lower gabbro could also contain platinum-palladium values, similar to those in the Bushveld and Stillwater Complexes.

Dr. Larry Hulbert of the Geological Survey of Canada, wrote of the Peter Lake Complex that "Apart from the Duluth Complex, the Peter Lake Complex is the largest mafic intrusive complex in North America and falls in the "Super Giant" category of mafic intrusions along with the Bushveld Complex and the Great Dyke." And he concludes: "Its immense size and the presence of significant Platinum Group Element mineralization together suggest that the Peter Lake Complex has tremendous Platinum Group Element potential." (Economic Minerals of Saskatchewan 1986)

Kurt Hoffman, President of Trend Mining, states "We are very excited about the acquisition of the Reindeer Lake Claims, and the excellent entry point into Canada that they represent. Peter Lake is a natural and high quality complement to our many PGE holding throughout the western United States and reaffirms Trend's strategy of developing the premier PGE exploration company in North America".

Throughout this press release there are forward looking statements and assumptions made by management within the meaning of Section27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are subject to the safe harbor created by those sections. Factors that could cause results to differ materially from those projected are, but not limited to, adverse price fluctuations of underlying metals, the company's ability to acquire and develop properties, competition from larger more established companies, the ability to finance future acquisitions and projects, and governmental regulation. Trend Mining Company believes that the projects it has entered into and those it will enter into show promise, but there can be no guarantee of that. This press release is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as and offer to solicit, buy, or sell any security.