FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Toronto Stock Exchange: WRM

October 15, 2002

Wheaton River Minerals has signed an agreement with Placer Dome CLA Ltd. on the El Oro project, 150 kilometres northwest of Mexico City, in Mexico. The agreement calls for Placer to conduct exploration on the project, with staged expenditures of $4-million (U.S.) by Dec. 1, 2006, to earn a 75-per-cent interest. Placer can earn a further 10-per-cent interest by completing a bankable feasibility study. Upon completion of the feasibility study, Wheaton will also have the right to purchase back 10 per cent, effectively maintaining its position at 25 per cent.

The El Oro project was acquired by Wheaton as one of the more than 40 exploration projects throughout Mexico included in the Minas Luismin, S.A. de C.V. acquisition, completed on June 19, 2002. El Oro is well known as one of the best examples of a world-class bonanza-style epithermal gold-silver vein system, with historic production totalling over eight million ounces of gold and 110 million ounces of silver. The last significant production from the El Oro camp was in the 1920s, and modern exploration methods have yet to be tested in the area. Placer intends to employ proprietary exploration methods in the search for parallel vein systems.

Wheaton continues to entertain joint venture partners interested in advancing other projects in its Mexican exploration portfolio.

For further information please contact Wheaton River Minerals at 1-800-567-6223 or e-mail: info@wheatonriver.com.