News Release: September 17th, 2003 Two New Gold Projects acquired in Mexico Almaden Minerals Ltd. (Almaden) is pleased to announce that it has acquired two new gold projects in Mexico. The properties are located very close to one another in Puebla State. The properties, called the Santa Maria and Zapotec were recognised during a helicopter reconnaissance program for copper porphyry systems that is a partnership with BHP Billiton. A 100% interest was acquired in both the Santa Maria and Zapotec properties by staking. The Santa Maria and Zapotec projects have been offered to BHP Billiton under terms of the joint venture agreement. The Santa Maria project covers an area of intensely altered rocks roughly 5 by 5 kilometers in size. Within this area a field program carried out by Almaden identified both a porphyry copper and an epithermal gold target. The copper porphyry target occurs within K-silicate altered intrusive rocks that intrude deformed limestone which is overlain by intensely altered volcanic rocks. Calc-silicate altered limestone occurs in proximity to the intrusive contacts and is associated with skarn-type copper mineralization. Multiple phases make up the intrusive body which has been altered and veined. Stockwork quartz pyrite veining dominates the alteration and is associated with minor copper mineralization. This alteration is observed to overprint earlier potassic alteration. An induced polarisation geophysical survey was carried out on one line over the exposed stockwork veined intrusive. This survey indicated that the exposed mineralization represents a portion of a larger intrusive hosted system. The volcanic rocks, which are exposed roughly one kilometre to the south of the outcropping intrusive are also extensively altered. The alteration is indicative of the upper parts of an epithermal system and includes replacement silicification and sinter, the precipitate or sediment that was deposited from a hot spring. Quartz-calcite veins with textural evidence of boiling have been identified outcropping in limestone roughly 100 meters beneath the exposed sinter. Initial sampling of these veins and from float boulders of breccia containing quartz vein fragments have returned anomalous values in gold and silver as high as 600 g/t Ag and 1.5 g/t Au. The sinter and the overlying altered volcanic rocks are highly anomalous in Hg, As and Sb. Almaden feels that the Santa Maria project has the potential for both a porphyry copper gold system and an epithermal gold silver vein system. Such mineralising environments are commonly closely associated with one another, particularly in the geologic environment identified at Santa Maria. Epithermal gold deposits that are spatially associated with copper porphyry mineralization include the world class Porgera and Lihir deposits, both in Papua New Guinea. The Zapotec project is located roughly 80 kilometers from Santa Maria and is hosted by similar volcanic rocks as those at Santa Maria. The Zapotec property covers a greater than 5 by 5 kilometer area of acid sulphate alteration, replacement silicification and sinters that are anomalous in Hg, As and Sb. In several areas breccias have been identified that contain fragments of altered volcanic and vein material. To date no significant Au and Ag values have been returned from a very preliminary sampling program, however this work indicates that the exposed alteration represents the upper part of an unexplored epithermal system. Morgan Poliquin, M.Sc., P.Eng., a director of the company, is the qualified person on the projects under the meaning of National Instrument 43-101. Almaden currently has 10 active joint ventures on 12 projects, including 6 in which other companies are carrying all costs and making significant exploration expenditures to earn an interest in the projects. Almaden's joint venture with BHP Billiton to explore regionally for copper-gold deposits in Mexico is ongoing with the evaluation of many projects identified in a preliminary program. Almaden will continue with its successful business model of identifying exciting new projects through early stage grass roots exploration and managing risk by forming joint ventures in which partner companies explore and develop our projects in return for the right to earn an interest in them.   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.