go to Tropico + News Release:March 8th, 2002 First Phase Results for Tropico Project and Strategic Concession Acquired at Tropico extends anomaly to 3.0 kilometres Almaden Minerals Ltd. ("Almaden" or the "Company") announces results from the first phase of exploration under the joint venture ("JV") with Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. Ltd. ("Sumitomo") on the Company's 40% owned Tropico Project (the "Project") in Sinaloa State, Mexico. The remaining 60% of the Project is owned by Santoy Resources Ltd. ("Santoy") of Vancouver, B.C. Under the terms of the JV, Sumitomo can earn a 51% interest in the Project by expending US$3.0 million over three years and complete a pre-feasibility study. Sumitomo was committed to fund US$600,000 by March 31, 2002, and with the completion of the first phase of exploration, the commitment has been fulfilled. Almaden also announces that its Mexican subsidiary of Santoy, Minera Santoy S.A. de C.V., was successful in acquiring the San Pablo concession on behalf of Santoy and Almaden from the Mexican government in a public auction held in Mexico City on February 22, 2002. Minera Santoy paid a first installment of US$15,000 towards the purchase price of US$150,000. The remaining four yearly installments are optional and Minera Santoy is not obligated to make these if the concession is relinquished. The San Pablo concession is very strategic as it is encompassed by the existing land position of the Project and is immediately adjacent to the most promising part of the Project, the Maricela area. A review of the work completed by the Mexican government on San Pablo shows that the favourable geology and highly anomalous Cu/PGM values can be extended for another 1.5 km bringing the overall target to in excess of 3.0 km of strike length.   Exploration Results The results of the first phase are encouraging, especially on the Maricela concession where the diamond drilling has demonstrated that the large mafic complex is capable of developing very significant concentrations of copper and platinum group metals ("PGM"). Exploration included fifteen diamond drill holes totalling 2,845 metres and 17 trenches totalling 2,479 metres which tested four anomalies throughout the property (see attached map for drill hole and trench locations). The majority of the drilling was on the Maricela area which was trenched in May 2001. The following are the key results from the first phase. Diamond Drilling: please see map below for area locations Maricela Area Eight diamond drill holes totalling 1,632 metres were completed on the Maricela area and tested mineralization in trenches 1, 4, 7 and 11. Seven of the eight drill holes have tested under three of the trenches within a 600 x 300 metre portion of the anomalous trend. One drill hole is located a further 400 metres to the east. All of the drill holes on Maricela encountered feldspathic, massive pyroxenite, indicating that the pyroxenitic phases of the ultramafic complex are a minimum of 300 metres thick. The pyroxenite has been extensively altered to secondary tremolite. Sulphide mineralization encountered in these holes comprise variable amounts of chalcopyrite, cubanite, bornite, pyrrhotite, and minor pentlandite. The significant intervals of copper (Cu)/PGM are summarized below. So far, neither of the potentially favourable contacts with the pyroxenite have been tested. A thick, cumulate phase anorthositic gabbro is interpreted to form the hanging wall unit to the pyroxenite, and a number of surface Cu-PGM occurrences within this unit near the contact remain untested. The lower (footwall) contact is not exposed on surface, and may be partially covered by overlying younger Tertiary volcanics. The lower contact is of particular interest for its potential to develop contact style Cu/PGE mineralization, similar to that being actively explored in Ontario at River Valley and East Bull Lake. Please see map below for Maricela Area drill locations. Santa Fe Area The Santa Fe area is located 7.0 kilometres east of Maricela. A total of four diamond drill holes totalling 728 metres tested two separate strongly anomalous soil and rock geochemical areas outlined by previous programs. The two areas were each tested with two holes spaced 100 metres apart. El Capule Area Three diamond drill holes totalling 485 metres tested under the recently completed trenching in this area, located 10.5 km east of Maricela. No significant intervals were encountered in any of these holes.   Trenching Excavator trenching was carried out over four separate target areas to test coincident favourable geology and anomalous rock and soil geochemical responses. Three of the targets were located within the eastern portion of the mafic complex, and were up to 13.0 km east of the Maricela area. A further four trenches were also completed within the Maricela area, bringing the total number of trenches in this area to sixteen. Maricela Area El Capule Area Las Palmitas Area Las Delicias Area   For further information please contact: Morgan J. Poliquin, M. Sc., P. Eng., Director, Almaden Minerals Ltd. 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.