True North -- Alaska New Gold Zones Discovered, Engineering Studies Initiated.

VANCOUVER, B.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 17, 1997--La Teko Resources Ltd. ("La Teko") announces that Newmont Exploration Limited ("Newmont"), joint venture operator, has provided initial results from the Phase II exploration program on the True North Joint Venture project, Fairbanks Mining District, Alaska.

A promising new gold zone, named the Merlyn, has been intersected in three drill holes. Hole TN-648 intersected 30 feet grading 0.314 oz. Au/ton of sulphide mineralization at 180 feet depth and hole TN-661 intersected 25 feet grading 0.118 oz Au/ton of probable oxide mineralization at 65 feet depth. Assays are awaited for the third intercept. The Merlyn Zone is located west of the Shepard deposit. Newmont is continuing to test other new targets developed through geological, structural and alteration studies based on patterns identified from the known gold zones at True North. This work is part of Newmont's expanded US$3.7 million program for the True North Joint Venture in 1997.

In a new aspect of the program, Newmont has commenced initial engineering studies. A 2,000 foot, large diameter (PQ - 3 3/8 inch) core drilling program is in progress in the Hindenburg and Shepard deposits to extract mineralized material for metallurgical testing. Surface bulk sampling from the Hindenburg and Shepard for large diameter column leach testing is under consideration. Preliminary studies for the placement of leach pads and waste dumps, which will include drilling to examine soil and bedrock conditions, are also underway.

Newmont has also added two additional parcels of land which will become part of the True North Joint Venture. A 263 acre Exclusive Minerals Exploration Permit with the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority was assigned to Newmont from Placer Dome U.S. Inc. One of four holes drilled last year on this block intersected 62 feet grading 0.054 oz. Au/ton, starting from bedrock surface. The second block consists of 38 State of Alaska mining claims covering approximately 1,520 acres acquired from BSTC Corp. This brings the total area of the True North Joint Venture lands to approximately 10,794 acres, or 16.9 square miles, nearly four times the size of the property when it was originally optioned to Newmont in 1995.

Based on drilling to the end of 1996, Newmont calculated a mineral inventory of 18,208,000 tons at an average grade of 0.072 oz. Au/ton, for a total contained gold resource of 1,313,899 ounces of gold (see June 5, 1997 news release). La Teko believes the 1997 Phase I program has expanded this resource significantly. Project drilling statistics to date are as follows: -0-

                   Pre              Jan. - Aug.      Project Totals
                   1997                1997

               No.     Footage    No.     Footage    No.      Footage

RC Drill       444     116,836    93      32,650     537      149,486

Core Drill     109      39,888     -         -       109       39,888
Holes

Total Drill    553     156,724    93      32,650     656      189,374
Holes

La Teko is a gold exploration and development company concentrating its efforts in the prolific Fairbanks Mining District of Alaska. The Company has no debt and US$1.0 million in working capital.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Gerald G. Carlson, Ph.D., P.Eng. President & CEO

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NOTE TO EDITORS: A map of True North Project is available by calling 888/278-2288.

CONTACT: La Teko Resources

Gerald G. Carlson, 604/688-0833

www.lateko.com

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