News Release: February 20th, 2002 Details of Almaden Minerals Ltd. Amalgamation As previously reported Almaden Resources Corporation and Fairfield Minerals Ltd. have amalgamated to form Almaden Minerals Ltd. The predecessor companies have amalgamated under terms whereby one share of the former Almaden Resources Corporation equates to 0.77 shares of Almaden Minerals Ltd. and one share of the former Fairfield Minerals Ltd. is equivalent to one share of Almaden Minerals Ltd.. Almaden Resources Corporation had a 16.6% interest in the issued capital of Fairfield Minerals Ltd. and this share holding was cancelled as part of the amalgamation process. The net effect of the amalgamation is that Almaden Minerals Ltd. has 17.123 million shares issued and roughly C$2 Million in working capital with no debt. Almaden Minerals Ltd. will continue to focus on identifying and acquiring projects with potential for world-class ore deposits, demonstrating that potential with the company's technical expertise and finding joint venture partners to carry the exploration risk and expose the company to the wealth of discovery. As reported, Almaden Minerals Ltd. has an exciting portfolio of exploration projects in North America, five of which are joint-ventured to other companies. Results are pending from a drill project has recently been completed on the company's Tropico Project in Mexico by joint venture partners Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. Ltd. and Santoy Resources Ltd. and Almaden has been informed by joint-venture partner Noranda Inc. that drilling will commence on the Caballo Blanco project, Mexico in March. Almaden Minerals Ltd. has a 30% interest in and is operator of the ATW diamond project, North West Territories, Canada where a drilling project to test geophysical anomalies associated with a significant indicator mineral train will commence in March. For additional information, please contact Morgan J. Poliquin, Director; ph. (604) 689-7644 email rockman@almadenminerals.com.   ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Morgan Poliquin The Toronto Stock Exchange has not reviewed nor accepted responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the contents of this news release which has been prepared by management. Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are forward looking statements as that term is defined in the private securities litigation reform act of 1995. Such forward -looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from estimated results. Such risks and uncertainties are detailed in the Company's filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.