(CALEDONIA MINING CORPORATION LOGO)
CALEDONIA MINING CORPORATION
NEWS RELEASE
2003 FINANCIAL RESULTS, QUARTER 1 2004 RESULTS AND GENERAL UPDATE
19TH MAY 2004, IMMEDIATE
Caledonia Mining Corporation ("Caledonia") of Toronto (TSX: CAL and
NASDAQ-OTCBB: CALVF) is pleased to announce its key financial results for the
fiscal year ended 31 December 2003 and the first quarter of its 2004 fiscal
year, together with a general update of its properties. The results are reported
in Canadian dollars except where stated otherwise.
The results for the 2003 fiscal year and for the first quarter of the 2004
fiscal year have been filed with SEDAR and are available on Caledonia's website
at http://www.caledoniamining.com.
PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS:
Caledonia continues to remain largely debt free and continues to focus its
efforts on advancing its assets and adding shareholder value. It has made
significant enhancements to its South African gold operations and management
team, and has undertaken, either alone or with its joint venture partners,
exploration initiatives in South Africa, Canada and Zambia.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS - $ THOUSANDS
FISCAL YEAR FISCAL YEAR
2003 2002
----------- -----------
Net Income (Loss) - before Write-Downs (4,835) (1,754)
Net Income (Loss) - after Write-Downs (14,556) (4,331)
Assets 19,335 24,767
Current Liabilities 790 1,336
Long Term Liabilities 1,363 1,280
Shareholders' Equity 17,182 22,151
SHARE INFORMATION
Shares Outstanding (Thousands) 252,274 211,795
Earnings (Loss) per Share (0.06) (0.02)
OPERATING RESULTS
Gold Production (Ounces) 1,187 52
Year End Gold Resource (Thousand Ounces) 2,478 2,489
QUARTERLY UNAUDITED FINANCIAL RESULTS - $ THOUSANDS
Q1-2004 Q1-2003
-------- --------
REVENUE AND OPERATING COSTS
Revenue from sales $140 $53
Operating costs 1,315 80
GROSS PROFIT (LOSS) (1,175) (27)
COSTS AND EXPENSES 563 189
(LOSS) BEFORE NON-CONTROLLING INTEREST (1,738) (216)
Non-controlling interest (13) -
NET (LOSS) FOR THE PERIOD ($1,725) ($216)
NET (LOSS) PER SHARE
Basic and fully diluted ($0.007) ($0.001)
In March and April 2004, Caledonia raised about $15 million gross from a private
placement financing and from the exercise of warrants. The funds will be used
for advancing the Rooipoort, Roodepoort and Goedgevonden exploration projects
and for metallurgical and mining developments at its Barbrook gold mine.
Caledonia has strengthened its management team in southern Africa by the
recruitment of a number of senior staff.
OPERATIONAL REVIEW AND GENERAL UPDATE
BARBROOK MINES LIMITED
Mining operations recommenced in early 2003 with commercial scale mining
operations being achieved during the third quarter 2003. Although the ore mined
underground had a higher gold content than was anticipated, gold recoveries from
this material did not meet expectations. The gold recovery achieved in the
Barbrook plant in January 2004 did not show any improvement over the results of
the previous quarter. A number of metallurgical studies and tests were conducted
which have resulted in changes and additions to the metallurgical plant circuit.
In February it was decided to temporarily stop metallurgical operations to make
further plant circuit changes that should result in increased gold recoveries.
During this stoppage, mining was refocused on underground development with
encouraging results. Metallurgical operations on the modified plant were resumed
in May 2004.Testing is continuing on a number of fronts including the initial
engineering studies for a full Biox(R) plant at Barbrook and ultra fine milling
of its flotation concentrate.
EXPLORATION ACTIVITIES
PLATINUM GROUP METALS
In the fourth quarter of 2003 Caledonia undertook a stratigraphic diamond drill
program on Eersteling's wholly owned Rooipoort property east of Potgietersrus in
South Africa that is highly prospective for platinum group minerals ("PGM"). The
second-phase drill program was started in January 2004. Five drill holes were
completed in the first quarter of 2004 with two in progress and a further two
planned to complete this phase of the exploration program. Drilling for resource
determination is scheduled to commence in mid 2004.
GOLD
Eersteling has also identified a near-surface gold exploration prospect
("Roodepoort"). This will be tested during 2004. Results from the 2003/4
sampling program have been received and are being evaluated. During the quarter,
336 soil grid samples were collected, as were 155 chip samples from outcrops of
favorable host rock within the targeted area and a number of old workings and
adits were sampled. The samples have been sent for assaying and results are
awaited. The open pit potential for Roodepoort for a large low-grade operation
has never previously been evaluated. Drilling is planned in mid-2004 on targets
generated from the results of this sampling program and previous data of
Roodepoort.
DIAMONDS
KIKERK LAKE - CANADA. During 2003, Ashton Mining of Canada Inc
("Ashton") carried out follow-up work in six separate areas using detailed
sample grids and fences. The samples were shipped to Ashton's laboratory and are
awaiting processing. Ashton is finalising the field program for 2004 and
anticipate that work will focus on generating new targets by collecting
approximately 250 heavy mineral samples.
KASHIJI PLAIN - ZAMBIA. Field work completed during 2003 by Motapa
Diamonds Inc. (the joint venture partner) consisted of ground geophysical and
mineral indicator sampling work focussed on locating the Chundra Falls diamond
and indicator-mineral anomaly and wide spaced indicator-mineral sampling on the
recently acquired adjacent Lukulu licence area. This work was carried out to
provide closure of the diamond and ilmenite anomalies and better define the
airborne magnetic survey block that will be contract surveyed in 2004.
MULONGA PLAIN - ZAMBIA. The eastern portion of the Mulonga Plain
anomaly has been identified as having a higher probability for an initial
kimberlite discovery in the Mulonga Plain project area. It is intended to expand
airborne geophysical coverage in this eastern area with the objective of
conducting drill testing in 2004 or 2005.
GOEDGEVONDEN - SOUTH AFRICA. In the third quarter it is planned to
conduct a limited washing operation from the old pits and dumps to collect an
approximately 100ct parcel of stones to give a wider appreciation of possible
coloured stones in the kimberlite. Depending on the results from the washing
program further bulk sampling may be planned.
BASE METALS
NAMA AND KADOLA PROPERTIES - ZAMBIA. Caledonia's wholly-owned
subsidiary Caledonia Nama Limited holds five contiguous exploration licences in
northern Zambia which host open-pittable near-surface low grade cobalt /copper
mineralization. The Kadola property in Zambia consists of three contiguous
licence areas and is prospective for copper and cobalt. With the recent
increases in the price of base metals, noticeably copper, Caledonia will search
for joint venture partners for the exploration of the potential deeper
sulphide-ore zones on both of its properties. In the second quarter of 2004, a
mini bulk sample will be excavated at Nama and will then undergo screening tests
and heavy media/gravity separation tests in South Africa. Subject to
satisfactory results, a larger tonnage sample will be screened and processed on
site to produce a suitable cobalt concentrate for testing through a Zambian
smelter. If the test is successful and satisfactory economic terms are obtained,
a long-term supply contract for the Nama cobalt/copper concentrate may be
negotiated with the Zambian smelter.
The Kadola property also includes the Eureka gold/copper/pyrite anomaly. With
the significant increase in the price of gold and copper, this project area will
be re-evaluated for either joint venture or for further work by Caledonia.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT CALEDONIA MINING CORPORATION:
S. E. HAYDEN JAMES JOHNSTONE CHRIS HARVEY
Chairman, President and CEO V-P Operations and COO Technical Director
South Africa Canada Canada
Tel: (011-27-11) 447-2499 Tel: (1-905) 607-7543 Tel: (1-905) 607-7543
Fax: (011-27-11) 447-2554 Fax: (1-905) 607-9806 Fax: (1-905) 607-9806
Further information regarding Caledonia's exploration activities and operations
along with its latest financials may be found on the Corporation's website
http://www.caledoniamining.com