Virginia Gold Mines Inc.: Eleonore Project.

QUEBEC CITY, Quebec -- Virginia Gold Mines Inc. (TSX:VIA)

THE ROBERTO SYSTEM NOW CONFIRMED LATERALLY OVER MORE THAN 700 m

Virginia Gold Mines Inc. (Virginia) is pleased to announce new developments concerning the exploration program currently in progress on its Eleonore project (100% Virginia), located in the Opinaca Reservoir area of James Bay. Drilling on ice has now confirmed the continuity of the Roberto mineralized system over a true lateral distance of more than 700 m. In total, twelve (12) new holes have tested the Roberto mineralized system (ELE-05-74 to ELE-05-84 and ELR-05-32).

Southeast Extension

Holes that tested the extension of the mineralized system south of line 65+50E (see surface plan) confirmed the continuity of the Roberto and Roberto Est zones.The Roberto zone yielded many new high-grade intersections including 15.91 g/t Au / 7.35 m (ELE-05-76), 14.64 g/t Au / 6.0 m (ELE-05-82), 15.37 g/t Au / 3.0 m (ELE-05-78), 25.84 g/t Au / 1.65 m and 10.87 g/t Au /1.9 m (ELE-05-84) (see longitudinal).

Many complementary analysis results were also received on some holes previously announced.The Roberto zone, which was partially intersected in hole ELE-05-67 (previously announced), graded 17.37 g/t Au / 1.9 m.New data also allowed us to conclude that hole ELE-05-59 crosscuts the Roberto zone with an intersection grading 3.64 g/t Au / 2.10 m.The Roberto zone is not present in the underlying hole ELE-05-61 (pegmatite) nor in holes ELE-05-63, 74 and 81, located further east.

The continuity of the Roberto Est zone was confirmed up to line 65+50E by hole ELE-05-81, which crosscut an intersection grading 5.52 g/t Au / 20.8 m, including 7.94 g/t Au / 9.0 m as well as two other mineralized lenses in the immediate hanging wall of the main lens, which graded 8.29 g/t Au / 2.25 m and 9,67 g/t Au / 1.25 m.The zone remains completely open to the southeast and at depth.Two other holes intersected the Roberto Est zone and yielded 12.88 g/t Au / 2.2 m and 8.79 g/t Au / 3.4 m (ELE-04-74) and 8.45 g/t Au / 3.0 m (ELE-05-84).Holes ELE-05-78 and 82 were not positioned to test the Roberto Est zone.

In brief, the Roberto Est zone is better developed to the east of line 64+50E and appears to take over the Roberto zone as the main lens of the Roberto system.

North Extension

Some new holes tested the north extension of the Roberto and Roberto Est zones between lines 31+75N and 33+00N.These holes confirmed the continuity of the Roberto zone to a vertical depth of 240 m and yielded results including 16.25 g/t Au / 2.1 m (ELE-05-75), 7.76 g/t Au / 2.55 m (ELE-05-83) and 4.15 g/t Au / 0.5 m (ELR-05-32) (see longitudinal).Hole ELE-05-77 overshot the Roberto zone, its collar being too much to the west.

The Roberto Est zone was also confirmed to a vertical depth of 200 m with results including 11.09 g/t Au / 2.75 m (ELE-05-75), 14.69 g/t Au / 3.0 m (ELE-05-79) and 4.06 g/t Au / 1.55 m (ELE-05-83) (longitudinal).Furthermore, complementary results recently obtained also confirmed the presence in hole ELE-05-58 (low values previously announced) of the Roberto Est zone, which graded 7.56 g/t Au / 6.0 m.

The Roberto and Roberto Est zones remain totally open to the north and at depth.

Depth Extension

Hole ELE-05-80 also confirmed the continuity of the Roberto zone to a vertical depth of 370 m in section 30+00N, with an intersection grading 24.55 g/t Au / 3.25 m.Both the Roberto and Roberto Est zones remain totally open at depth.

New Zone

Hole ELE-05-80 also intersected another mineralized zone, which graded 4.15 g/t Au / 4.0 m.This zone could be linked to the new zone discovered by holes ELE-05-65 and 70, recently announced.The zone curves gradually to the southeast as is the case for the Roberto and Roberto Est zones.

These very significant results indicate that the auriferous Roberto system is now followed over a true length of more than 700 m and to a minimal depth of 400 m.The system remains open in all directions.

Virginia is extremely encouraged by these new developments and will very actively pursue its work, using three drills.

Work is carried out by the personnel of Services Techniques Geonordic Inc., under the supervision of Geological Engineer, Paul Archer. He is a qualified person (as defined by National Instrument 43-101) and has more than 20 years of experience in exploration.

In 2004 Virginia has set up an Analytical Quality Assurance Program to control and assure the analytical quality of assays in its gold exploration. This program includes the systematic addition of blank samples and certified standards to each batch samples sent for analysis at commercial laboratories. Blank samples are used to check for possible contamination in laboratories while certified standards determine the analytical accuracy and precision.

Samples are sent for assaying to Laboratoire Expert Inc. in Rouyn-Noranda. Samples are assayed by fire-assay followed by atomic absorption or gravimetry according to industry standards. For each significant mineralized intersection, 10% of the samples (1 to 2 per intersection) are quarter split and the core is sent to a second certified laboratory.Furthermore, each pulp from the quarter split is returned to the first laboratory for a second gold analysis in order to cross check the analytical reproducibility.

Virginia Gold Mines Inc. is among the most active mining exploration companies in Quebec with a working capital of over $31 million, debt free, and with approximately 43 million shares issued and outstanding. Virginia's shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol VIA. Virginia concentrates its activities on its numerous properties that are spread over the vast unexplored regions of northern Quebec.

Tables of drilling results are available on CCNMatthews' website at the following address:

http://www2.ccnmatthews.com/database/fax/2000/via330.pdf

Maps related to the Eleonore Project are available on CCNMatthews' website at the following addresses:

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