October 24, 2002

BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe - The first ConSep ACACIA Reactor installation in Africa has successfully completed 100 consecutive days of operation at Independence Gold Mining (Pvt) Ltd's How Mine. The model CS500 reactor was commissioned on July 3rd 2002 and has maintained an average recovery in excess of 99%.

Despite political uncertainty in Zimbabwe, companies such as Independence Gold Mining (Pvt) Ltd's How Mine continue to strive to increase metallurgical efficiency and economic viability by investing in new technology such as the ConSep ACACIA Reactor.

The result has been an increase in overall recovery of 3% - from 88% to 91%, which has resulted in a system payback period of less than 30 days. The increase in overall recovery is largely attributed to leaching of middling gold carriers in the gravity concentrate under intensive leaching conditions.

How Mine's ACACIA Reactor's moving average results since commissioning (first 100 days):

Average Recovery:	99.2%
Average Leach Residue:	9.9 g/t Au
Average Leach Head: (Gravity Concentrate)	1240 g/t Au
Recovery Benefit:	0.13 g/t Au (Ore Feed to Mill Basis)
Cyanide Usage:	40.6 kg/t concentrate
Leachaid Usage:	2.6 kg/t concentrate
Leachaid Usage:	2.1 kg/kg Au
Total Leach Time:	20 hrs.
Leach Time to 50% Recovery:	0.75 hrs.
Leach Time to 95% Recovery:	12 hrs.
Leach Time to 99% Recovery:	18 hrs.
Leach Solids per Batch:	615 kg
Payback time of <1 month achieved. Performance has been maintained or improved since.

How Mine is Independence Group's largest single producer with a reputation for high efficiency through applied technology. They have demonstrated their confidence in the long-term future of the mining industry by investing in the latest mineral processing technology, ConSep ACACIA Reactor, to boost local production.

The ConS e p ACACIA Reactor is a patented, high efficiency leaching system, exclusively designed to handle the high-grade concentrates produced by Knelson Concentrators. The system is designed to maximize gold recovery from gravity concentrates and provide numerous process advantages over a conventional gold room.

The ACACIA Reactor is marketed and supported in Zimbabwe by Knelson agent Peacocke, Simpson & Associates of Harare and throughout the rest of the world by joint-venture partners Knelson and ConSep Pty. of Australia.

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