NEWS RELEASE TRANSMITTED BY CANADIAN CORPORATE NEWS FOR: RIO AMARILLO MINING LTD. VSE SYMBOL: RIO JUNE 16, 1997 Rio Amarillo Joint Venture Agreement with RTZ Mining and Exploration Limited Sucursal Peru - Aija Property, Central Peru VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--RIO AMARILLO MINING LTD. ("RIO") is pleased to announce that RIO has signed a formal Joint Venture Agreement with RTZ Mining and Exploration Limited Sucursal Peru (RTZ- CRA) whereby RTZ-CRA can earn a 65 percent interest in RIO's Aija Property located in central Peru. The Letter of Intent announcing this Agreement, subject to various legal approvals, was included in RIO's News Release of February 3, 1997. Under the terms of the Joint Venture Agreement, RTZ-CRA can earn their interest for a cash expenditure of US$3.890 million by June 1999. The cash expenditures include US$1.500 million in work commitments and US$2.390 million in underlying option payments. These payments are at the option of RTZ- CRA and RTZ-CRA may elect to withdraw from the Agreement at any time. The Aija property is located 35 kilometres south of Barrick Gold's Pierina property. During the first nine months of 1996, RIO carried out a 20 hole drilling program on a series of tourmaline breccia bodies on the north side of the Aija River which has demonstrated the presence of gold, silver and copper mineralization. The south side of the Aija River exhibits lithologies and alteration that are similar to those associated with porphyry copper deposits and it is the area that is targeted for the initial phases of the proposed exploration program. RTZ-CRA has constructed drill pads on the south side of the Aija River and it is anticipated that drilling will commence during the month of June. RIO is a mineral exploration and development company engaged in locating, evaluating, acquiring, and, contingent upon obtaining satisfactory exploration program results, developing mineral properties in South America. The Company aggressively seeks value added opportunities on its own or with others in areas of its primary focus. On Behalf of the Board of Directors of RIO AMARILLO MINING LTD. James K. Wright, President |