FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   
July 09, 2004

Vancouver, British Columbia - Wheaton River Minerals Ltd. (“Wheaton”) today announced that it does not intend to enter into negotiations with Coeur d’Alene Mines Corporation (“Coeur”) at this time.

To date, Coeur has attempted to make a take-over bid for Wheaton River by way of press release. When a formal tender offer is made, Wheaton will respond in due course as required by applicable law.

"Over the last 30 months, Wheaton has increased its market capitalization from $20 million to $2.1 billion to become Canada's 6th largest and 2nd most profitable gold producer," said Ian Telfer, Chairman and CEO of Wheaton. "Wheaton's superb track record can be attributed to a strong growth strategy and we will continue to evaluate new opportunities" added Mr. Telfer.

“There is no support for a Coeur/Wheaton combination from Wheaton’s management, directors or shareholders”, added Mr. Telfer.  This sentiment is reinforced by comments from mining analysts.

• Pierre Vaillancourt - Orion Securities Inc.: “We believe Coeur’s existing bid for Wheaton River is insufficient.  The risk profile of Coeur’s assets combined with the future expenditures to develop new projects would result in excessive dilution to WRM shareholders”.
• Jim Taylor - Canaccord Capital Corporation: “We too believe that the combination of Wheaton and Coeur would not be in the long‑term interests of WRM shareholders ….Coeur’s premium rating as a silver company is unlikely to be sustainable for the merged group, as silver revenues would fall from 50% currently for Coeur to around the 20% level.”
• Tony Lesiak - UBS Investment Research: “…the CDE bid is dilutive to WRM on a cash flow, earning per share and net asset value basis, there are no synergies…”
• Geoff Stanley - BMO Nesbitt Burns Research: “We do not believe that Coeur’s offer is likely to succeed, nor do we view a merger as a desirable outcome for Wheaton shareholders.”

For further information please contact Wheaton River Minerals Ltd. Investor Relations at 1-800-567-6223 or email at ir@wheatonriver.com or visit www.wheatonriver.com.

Safe Harbor Statement under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:  Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information presented constitutes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to those with respect to the price of gold, silver and copper, the timing and amount of estimated future production, costs of production, reserve determination and reserve conversion rates involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievement of Wheaton River to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  Such factors include, among others, risks related to the integration of acquisitions, risks related to international operations, risks related to joint venture operations, the actual results of current exploration activities, actual results of current reclamation activities, conclusions of economic evaluations, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, future prices of gold, silver and copper, as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the Form 40-F as on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C.  Although Wheaton River has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended.  There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.  Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.