22 December 2003

ASX RELEASE

BIG PIT INITIATIVE COMPLETION ASSAY RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

SUMMARY

Westonia Mines Limited releases the final batch of assay data from its recently completed Big Pit Initiative drilling programme.

Best new results are:

WDD 108	166-188m	22m @ 12.6 g/t *
WDD 111	232-242m	10m @ 2.9 g/t
WDD 114	24-42m	18m @ 2.7 g/t **
WDD 123	174-186m	12 $m @ 2.7 g/t$
WDD 141	116-148m	32m @ 2.1 g/t
WDD 143	228-238m	10 $m @ 2.0 g/t$
WDD 143	256-276m	$20m$ $@$ 6.0 g/t

* Previously quoted as 10.8 g/t
** Supergene mineralisation
The drill data from this successful programme has been passed to independent consultants who will produce a new estimate of global resources and, from that an optimised pit design and new estimated mineable resource therein.

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BIG PIT INITIATIVE RATIONALE AND LOGISTICS

The recent acquisition of the Big Bell mill will enable a 2.5Mtpa treatment rate of Westonia ore. That accelerated rate brought forward the plan to undertake further drilling below the Base Case pit which the Company was using for completion of its bankable feasibility study ("BFS"), so as to determine potential for increased project longevity. At depth beyond that pit, the Company's drill database indicated a general continuity of mineralisation which has been used previously to estimate resources, but the drill density was insufficient for estimation of mineable resources.

The Initiative drilling comprised a 43 hole, 10,800 m programme using a combination of diamond and reverse circulation drilling techniques.

DRILL RESULTS

All gold assay results are presented in the accompanying Table. It presents data previously released on 12th and 24th November and 9th December and all new data subsequently received.

Figure 1 shows the hole numbers and the approximate positions of the middle intersection of the target Edna May Gneiss for each hole. Figures 2 to 4 are sections which present the more significant gold intersections in the drill holes. Note that there are now some minor discrepancies between the values shown in the Table and the previously drafted sections.

Notes:

a) All assays are preliminary. Assaying is by a partial extraction technique and a small upwards correction of around 5% will generally be applied in due course.
b) No cutting has been employed.
c) All holes are vertical or inclined towards grid southeast.
d) True widths will vary between 70% and 90% of downhole width.
e) Drill intersections denoted by an asterisks (*) are of supergene mineralisation within the otherwise normally barren Hangingwall Ultramafics. The supergene mineralisation appears to be significantly more widespread than had previously been identified and thus has the potential to add oxide ounces to the Company's mineable resource base. This area had previously reported as waste within the optimized pit designs.
f) NSA denotes no significant gold assay intersected in that hole.

RESOURCE & ESTIMATES

The drill data has been passed to independent resource estimate consultants, Hellman and Schofield Pty Ltd. They will estimate a new global resource at Westonia. That study will provide the basis for modeling of a production pit and contained mineable resource.

The Company cannot as yet give a quantative indication of the likely increase in resources. However, the general continuity of the mineralization which has been drilled to date allows confidence that there will be a significant increase in the estimate of the mineable resource. This implies improved project longevity and economics.

The studies are anticipated to be completed during January and the BFS finalized during February.

Previously Reported				Newly Reported
Hole No	From (m)	To $(m)$	Width (m)	Grade (g/t)	From $(m)$	$\overline{\text{To (m)}}$	Width $(m)$	Grade (g/t)
WDD 101	176	196	$\overline{20}$	1.2
	254	262	8	1.2
WDD 102	184	194	$\overline{10}$	1.7
	239	251	$\overline{12}$	1.3
WDD 103	192	206	14	1.2
WDD 104	224 150	240 220	$\overline{16}$ 70	1.5 3.2
WDD 105	314	318	4	5.1
WDD 106	306	312	$\overline{6}$	1.3
WDD 107					$\overline{6}$	18	12	$0.8*$
	168	174	6	1.3
	186	200	14	1.2
	268	284	$\overline{16}$	2.9
	306	308	$\overline{2}$	19.9
WDD 108	86	88	$\overline{2}$	4.6
	110	120	10	0.7
	166	188	$\overline{22}$	10.8	166	188	$\overline{22}$	12.6
	196 214	208 224	$\overline{12}$ 10	0.7 1.4
	236	240	4	3.2
WDD 109					48	66	18	$1.8*$
	158	168	$\overline{10}$	6.0
	182	242	60	2.9
WDD 110					132	140	$\overline{8}$	1.1
					148	168	$\overline{20}$	0.9
					196	204	$\overline{8}$	1.4
WDD 111					64	68	$\overline{4}$	$1.6*$
	136	146	10	1.4
	186	202	$\overline{16}$	6.4
WDD 112	230	234	$\overline{4}$	3.5	232	$\overline{242}$	10	2.9
WDD 113	150	162	$\overline{12}$	$\overline{1.2}$
	198	214	$\overline{16}$	4.0
WDD 114					24	42	18	$2.7*$
					249	261	12	1.1
WDD 115	124	132	$\overline{8}$	1.2
	180	188	$\overline{8}$	2.2
WDD 116					118	140	$\overline{22}$	0.8
					198	214	16	1.1
WDD 117	148	156	$\overline{\mathbf{8}}$	5.5
					196	214	$\overline{18}$	2.0
					248 278	260 286	$\overline{12}$ 8	0.9 0.9
					298	300	$\overline{2}$	3.5
WDD 118	215	243	28	$\overline{2.2}$
WDD 119	128	149.9	21.9	1.5
					194	202	$\overline{8}$	1.8
WDD 120	136	166	30	0.9
					186	200	14	0.9
WDD 121		NSA
WDD 122					96	102	6	1.3
					150	156	6	1.1

Previously Reported				Newly Reported
Hole No	From (m)	$\overline{\text{To}}$ (m)	Width (m)	Grade (g/t)	From (m)	$\overline{\text{To}}$ (m)	Width (m)	Grade (g/t)
	196	211	$\overline{15}$	1.5
WDD 123					114	122	$\overline{8}$	1.6
					140	144	$\overline{4}$	1.7
WDD 124					174 102	186 108	$\overline{12}$ 6	2.7
WDD 125	191	209	18	1.5				3.3
					145	149	4	1.4
WDD 126		NSA
WDD 127					42	48	$6\overline{6}$	$1.0*$
	204	210	$\overline{6}$	1.2
					$\overline{244}$	246	$\overline{2}$	3.7
WDD 128					36	42	$\overline{6}$	$1.8*$
					54	60	$\overline{6}$	$1.1*$
					176	178	$\overline{2}$	5.8
	202 266	212 270	$\overline{10}$ 4	1.0 2.5
	304	312	$\overline{\mathbf{8}}$	8.9
WDD 129					201	$\overline{203}$	$\overline{2}$	2.8
	221	231	10	1.1
WDD 130					78	90	$\overline{12}$	$\overline{1.2}$
					164	174	10	1.0
					$\overline{212}$	$\overline{214}$	$\overline{2}$	5.2
WDD 131					$\overline{18}$	24	$\overline{6}$	$1.5*$
					96	102	$\overline{6}$	3.1
					142	154	$\overline{12}$	1.0
	162	172	$\overline{10}$	7.4
	200	206	6	2.7
WDD 132	148	164	16	1.1
	174	210	$\overline{36}$	3.0
WDD 133					$\overline{24}$	36	$\overline{12}$	$1.4*$
					60	66	6	$1.1*$
	162	228	66	4.1
WDD 134		NSA
WDD 135	224	275	53	1.0
WDD 136	74	86	12	3.6
					96	106	10	1.1
	114	124	10	1.6
	142	156	$\overline{14}$	1.3
					172	174	$\overline{2}$	3.2
WDD 137	58	64	$\overline{6}$	$2.0*$	36	60	$\overline{24}$	$1.4*$
	76	80	4	2.4
	90	114	24	3.5
					142	150	8	0.9
					166	174	$\overline{8}$	0.9
WDD 138	34	48	14	$1.4*$
	207	221	14	2.9
	247	265	18	2.0
WDD 139		NSA
WDD 140	126	146	20	1.4
					176 194	188 206	12 $\overline{12}$	1.4 1.7

Previously Reported				Newly Reported
Hole No	From (m)	To(m)	Width (m)	Grade (g/t)	From (m)	To $(m)$	$W$ idth $(m)$	Grade (g/t)
WDD 141					84	88	4	1.6
					116	148	32	2.1

WDD 142		NSA
WDD 143					190	196	6	1.0
					214	220	6	1.1
					228	238	10	2.0
					256	276	20	6.0

Andrew Drummond Managing Director

Enquiries should be directed to the Managing Director and readers are encouraged to register on the Company's website (www.westoniamines.com.au) for automatic receipt of information.

Competent Person Declaration

The information on mineralisation in this report accurately reflects information prepared by competent persons (as defined by the Australasian Code of Reporting of Identified Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves). It is compiled by A.J. Drummond, an employee of the Company who is a Fellow of The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy with the requisite experience in the field of activity in which he is reporting.