GOLDCORP COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF BERMEJAL GOLD DEPOSIT IN MEXICO
Vancouver, BC, March 31, 2005 – Goldcorp Inc. (TSX: G; NYSE: GG), and Wheaton River Minerals Ltd. (TSX: WRM; AMEX: WHT) (together “Goldcorp”), are pleased to announce that they have completed the acquisition by their Mexican operating arm, Luismin, of the 2.4 million ounce Bermejal Gold Deposit in Mexico for cash consideration of US$70 million from Minera El Bermejal, S. de R.L. de C.V., a joint venture of Industrias Peñoles S.A. de C.V. and Newmont Mining Corporation.
The Bermejal Gold Deposit is located 2 kilometres south of Goldcorp’s Los Filos Gold Deposit, where feasibility studies are nearing completion. The acquisition increases Goldcorp’s current measured and indicated mineral resources in the Guerrero Gold Belt district to nearly 6 million ounces of gold. The immediate proximity to Goldcorp’s Los Filos Gold Deposit will allow the use of a joint processing facility for ore from both deposits and should result in the Los Filos project becoming the largest gold mining operation in Mexico, with average annual production expected to exceed 300,000 ounces. For further details of the indicated mineral resource estimate for the Bermejal Gold Deposit, please see the press release of Goldcorp dated March 22, 2005.
In February 2005, Goldcorp announced that its offer for Wheaton River was successful and this merger is expected to be finalized in April 2005. The combined company, which continues as Goldcorp under the direction of Wheaton River management, creates the world’s lowest cost million ounce gold producer, with 2005 gold production expected to exceed 1.1 million ounces of gold at a cash cost of less than US$60 per ounce. By 2007, gold production is expected to grow to over 1.5 million ounces. The combined company has a strong balance sheet with approximately US$500 million in cash and gold bullion, and no debt.