Star mine period extended

Star mine period extended

SYDNEY (Reuter): Lone Star Exploration NL said yesterday it
now had until at least October 2000 to build a mine at its Awak
Mas gold project after receiving a two-year work extension from
the Indonesian government.

Lone Star had previously been given until October 1998 to
build a mine after an initial feasibility study period expired in
April last year.

Spokesman Bill Crossley said the Indonesian government had
agreed to extend the study period until October 1998 and had
pushed the date for construction of a mine back to October 2000.

"We are very pleased with the outcome and grateful to the
Indonesian government," Crossley said.

Lone Star said last Friday it had significant gold and base
metal results from its Tarra prospect north of Awak Mas, on the
island of Sulawesi. It has four other target sites in the area.

Awak Mas has an estimated resource of 35 million tons of ore
grading 1.7 grams of gold per ton for 1.95 million contained
ounces.