Solitaire commences work on Union Mine Gold/Silver Property

Wednesday, June 23, 2004

June 23, 2004: Solitaire Minerals Corp. (the Company) is pleased to announce the commencement of work on the Company's 100% optioned Union Mine Property near Grand Forks, British Columbia.

This first phase work program will encompass ground based magnetic survey work, as well as surface sampling, in order to more accurately identify and assess several strong anomalies indicated in a previous Aeromag survey. In 2001, a low-altitude helicopter Aeromag survey, completed by Fugro Airborne Surveys outlined several identifiable anomalies in the vicinity of the Union Mine and provides the Company with initial high-definition targets for exploration. These targets include one, in an area of overburden and cover rock west of the Union Mine, which may represent the faulted off extension of the Union vein. Upon successful completion of this first phase of exploration, it is anticipated that the Company will be commencing a drilling program to further test the anomalies. The "Qualified Person" on this project will be Linda Caron, M.Sc., P.Eng., consulting geologist.

The Union Mine Property
The Union Mine Property consists of approximately 1,500 acres located in the Franklin Mining Camp, roughly 60 kms north of Grand Forks. The regional area of this part of the province is locally referred to as the Boundary District and encompasses the Rossland Camp on the east (produced over 3,500,000 oz of silver and over 2,700,000 oz of gold), the Republic area on the south, Buckhorn Mountain on the west and the Union Mine to the north. The Boundary District has a number of historical production areas and several current unmined reserves, including Buckhorn Mountain and Emanuel Creek (in production since December 2003). The Union Mine property is accessible via good quality all-weather road, and contains extensive underground workings. Historical production from a series of ore bearing veins was carried out between 1913 and 1989, with the majority of production occurring prior to 1942. Although the property has not been the subject of a recent NI43-101 report, the following data has been extracted from the British Columbia Ministry of Energy & Mines database, which the Company deems reliable, but cannot independently verify. The Company intends to have a NI43-101 report prepared as soon as practical. Included in the Government "MINFILE" data is the following production information, which summarizes historic production between 1913 and 1989:

Details of the Provincial Government Ministry of Mines and Energy report can be viewed at http://www.em.gov.bc.ca/cf/minfile/search/search.cfm?mode=prodinfo&minfilno=082ENE003 for details on past production, and details on historic work on the property can be viewed at http://www.em.gov.bc.ca/cf/minfile/search/search.cfm?mode=capbib&minfilno=082ENE003.

About Solitaire Minerals Corp.
Solitaire Minerals Corp. is a Canadian mineral exploration company with a specific focus on gold properties in North America. The Company has assembled a portfolio of precious metal exploration prospects in Ontario and British Columbia. Solitaire's Ontario properties in the Red Lake/Birch-Uchi Greenstone Belt include the Baird, Golden Pickle, Heyson and Chukuni River Prospects, in which the Company has agreements to earn 100% in, but has not yet vested its interest. In addition, the Company has entered into an option agreement with another company, whereby that company may earn up to a 50% interest in the Baird Property. In British Columbia, the Company has an agreement to earn 100% interest in the Union Mine Property, but has not yet vested its interest.

For additional information you can contact Solitaire Minerals Corp. or visit www.solitaireminerals.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors
SOLITAIRE MINERALS CORP.
"Charles Desjardins"

Charles Desjardins
President and Director

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