[LOGO] 7961 SHAFFER PARKWAY
SUITE 5
LITTLETON, COLORADO 80127
TELEPHONE (720) 981-1185
FAX (720) 981-1186
Trading Symbol: VGZ
Toronto and American Stock Exchanges
_______________________________________ NEWS _______________________________
VISTA GOLD CORP. ANNOUNCES 2000 RESULTS
LITTLETON, COLORADO, MARCH 29, 2001 - Vista Gold announced today its results
for 2000. The Corporation experienced a net loss of $13.2 million for the
year, including $10.9 million in write-downs, of mineral properties, mainly
in Bolivia. The net loss before write-downs was $2.3 million, compared to a
net loss before write-downs of $11.5 million in 1999.
SUMMARY RESULTS
(U.S. DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31
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2000 1999 1998
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Gold sales $ 3,757 $ 19,496 $37,083
Net loss before write-downs (2,283) (11,481) (1,640)
Net loss (13,209) (27,700) (1,640)
Net loss per share before write-downs (0.03) (0.13) (0.02)
Net loss per share (0.15) (0.31) (0.02)
CONSOLIDATED PRODUCTION
(OUNCES)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31
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2000 1999 1998
------ ------- -------
Gold 13,493 65,468 112,838
Silver 38,418 203,230 235,784
HYCROFT
In 2000, the Hycroft mine produced 13,493 ounces of gold and 38,418 ounces of
silver. Cash operating cost, for the year, was $183 per ounce of gold
produced. Cash operating cost per ounce is down from $277 per ounce in 1999
because of the significant decrease in operating activity. Mining was
suspended at the Hycroft mine in December 1998, with production in 1999 and
2000 coming from previously mined ore on the heap leach pads. Although all
the gold estimated to be recoverable from the leach pads had been recovered
by December 31, 2000, the leach pads continue to produce gold, with more than
3,000 ounces of gold production expected in 2001.
The Hycroft mine is fully permitted with infrastructure and key management in
place. Based on recent studies, restarting production from the Brimstone pit
would require $20 million including working capital. The Brimstone pit
contains over 600,000 ounces of gold in the proven, probable and mineral
resource categories, and would produce over 350,000 ounces of gold over a
five-year period. In addition, based on an extensive exploration review, the
Corporation believes that with a modest drilling and work program, an
estimated 400,000 to 450,000 ounces of additional oxide reserves could be
added, extending mine life by approximately two years. Also, Hycroft remains
one of the largest major mineralized systems in Nevada not yet explored for
high-grade epithermal deposits. The Corporation is actively investigating
various alternatives to raise the required capital from external sources in
order to re-start the mine.
AMAYAPAMPA
In light of the continued low gold prices, the Corporation re-evaluated the
carrying value of Amayapampa, and the investment has been written down to
$10.8 million, being the estimated recoverable value at a $300 per ounce
average gold price. Amayapampa remains an attractive gold project, at gold
prices at or above $325 per ounce. Proven and probable reserves at Amayapampa
contain 526,000 ounces of gold.
CORPORATE ACTIVITY
At the end of 2000, the Corporation had working capital of $106,000 and
$96,000 in cash. On February 1, 2001, the Corporation announced the sale of
four haul trucks from the Hycroft mine for $1.8 million, and the retirement
of the $0.7 million long-term equipment loan. In March, The Corporation sold
a hydraulic shovel from the Hycroft mine for net proceeds of $0.8 million.
With the sale of equipment at Hycroft management estimates that it will have
sufficient capital to continue its current level of activity through March
2002, including the retirement of its remaining $75,000 debt. The Corporation
continues to pursue all means available to generate and preserve capital and,
together with its financial adviser, continues to consider and examine
alternative corporate strategies and strategic alliances to maintain and
enhance shareholder value.
Vista Gold Corp. is an international gold mining, development and exploration
company based in Littleton, Colorado. Its holdings include the Hycroft mine
in Nevada, a development project in Bolivia, and exploration projects in
North and South America.
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The statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements
involving known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results to vary materially from the targeted results. Such risks and
uncertainties include those described in the Company's Form 10-K.
For further information, please contact Investor Relations at (720) 981-1185.