To: Stephen O who wrote (5226 ) 12/5/2001 8:57:59 AM From: Al Collard Respond to of 11802 BHK-t...in the news:Silver Standard releases Manantial Espejo drill results Tue 4 Dec 2001 News Release See Silver Standard Resources Inc (SSO) News Release Mr. Robert Quartermain of Silver Standard reports Silver Standard Resources has released final assays for the first phase of a continuing program of infill, extension and exploration diamond drilling now under way at the Manantial Espejo silver-gold project in Argentina. A total of 2,868.4 metres were drilled on Veta Maria and the 15 holes reported here comprise 1,034.4 metres of a 5,000-metre campaign that will be completed in early December. The best results from this set of assays were in holes T-255 and T-257 that are located at opposite ends of Veta Maria. T-255, drilled at the southeastern end of the presently defined mineralization, intersected 9.5 feet of 32.9 ounces of silver per ton and 0.04 ounce of gold per ton (2.9 metres of 1,127 grams of silver per tonne and 1.3 grams of gold per tonne). Within this intersection is a 2.6-foot interval that assayed 102.6 ounces of silver per ton and 0.06 ounce of gold per ton (or 0.8 metre of 3,517 grams of silver per tonne and 2.1 grams of gold per tonne). The success of hole T-255 illustrates the potential for extending Veta Maria beyond its present strike length. T-257, located 2,460 feet (750 metres) to the northwest of T-255, had unusually strong gold values. This near-surface hole intersected 10.8 feet of 12.3 ounces of silver per ton and 2.3 ounces of gold per ton (3.3 metres of 421 grams of silver per tonne and 80.5 grams of gold per tonne). Within this intersection is a 2.3-foot interval that assayed 7.9 ounces of silver per ton and 11.2 ounces of gold per ton (or 0.7 metre of 272 grams of silver per tonne and 382.8 grams of gold per tonne). The very high grades for silver and gold in holes T-255 and T-257 will help to improve the economics of open pit mining of Veta Maria when a production decision is made. Following the drilling at Veta Maria, a further 2,000 metres is planned for extension and exploration drilling of other veins and new targets. Drilling is currently focused on Veta Karina/Union. Silver Standard holds a 10-per-cent direct interest in the Manantial Espejo project and an option to earn a further 40-per-cent interest from Black Hawk Mining Inc. which currently holds a 90-per-cent interest.