50NT Hsbc Bk. 25

RNS Number:4734H
Gold Fields Ld
17 March 2000


Gold Fields Limited (GOLD) and Outokumpu Oyj
form platinum group metals partnership
in Finland

Johannesburg and Espoo. Friday, March 17, 2000. Gold Fields Limited ("Gold
Fields") and Outokumpu Oyj ("Outokumpu") are pleased to announce the
conclusion of a partnership agreement between wholly owned subsidiaries of the
parent companies. The partnership has been established with the objective of
exploring and developing a 14,000 hectare (50 square mile) land package in
Finland for platinum group metals. The land package includes areas from the
municipalities of Keminmaa, Rovaniemen maalaiskunta, Ranua, Simo, Tervola and
Posio.

Gold Fields will have the right to earn a 30% interest in the partnership
through funding US $5,000,000 of exploration expenditure prior to December 31,
2002. Gold Fields can increase its interest to 49% by continuing to fund a
further US$6,000,000 of exploration expenditure prior to December 31, 2004.
Gold Fields will have the right to earn an additional 2% interest for a total
of 51% by completing a bankable feasibility study for the development of a
mining operation or funding additional exploration over the next year. Gold
Fields has committed an amount of US$1,500,000 to exploration funding for the
year ending December 31, 2000.

Gold Fields will be the operator during the earn-in period and will manage the
exploration phase using staff seconded from Outokumpu. A 7,650 metre (25,100
ft) initial diamond drilling program on the project has commenced. The
objective of this program is to drill test exploration concepts on four of six
resource definition projects known on the properties. Metallurgical testing of
the four projects will be completed in addition to the drill program, as well
as detailed analysis of the two other resource projects.

The project area contains two major layered intrusive complexes, Penikat and
Portimo. Outokumpu has explored this ground since the 1960's as logical
extensions of its chrome operations at Kemi. In the 1980's Outokumpu conducted
specific exploration toward Platinum Group Elements (PGE) and have amassed a
database of over 600 drill holes. At Penikat, the SJ Reef has been defined
over a strike length of 23 km. Past drilling has yielded average grades of 8.0
g/t 3PGE+Au (Pt, Pd, Rh, Au) over widths of 1 metre, with some northern
sections increasing to 2.4m in average width and grading greater than 15.0 g/t
3PGE+Au. This style of mineralization is comparable to reef structures at the
Bushveld or Stillwater layered complexes in South Africa and Montana. Four
resource definition targets have been defined by Outokumpu in the Portimo
complex. Two occur as broad zones of Cu, Ni - PGE mineralization in marginal
series rocks, similar to Platreef mineralization in the Bushveld complex, the
third as conformable reef-type mineralization in the layered succession, and
another as high grade lode structures offset from the base of the layered
complex.

Craig Nelsen, Senior Vice President Exploration for Gold Fields said: "We are
pleased to have Outokumpu as a partner in this venture. Their superior skills
in underground mining, mineral beneficiation, concentrate marketing and
geologic experience in this district make them an ideal co-venturer. This
partnership represents an exciting opportunity to potentially develop Europe's
first PGM mine".

Markku Isohanni, Senior Vice President Exploration for Outokumpu said:
"Outokumpu is pleased to have Gold Fields, the second largest gold producer
with experience in platinum mining in South Africa, as a partner in this
venture. Together Gold Fields and Outokumpu are in an excellent position to
explore and develop these promising platinum group metals targets in Southern
Lapland". 

Gold Fields is one of the world's largest gold producers, with resources of
152 million ounces, proven and probable reserves of 74 million ounces, and
annual production in excess of 4 million ounces. Gold Fields trades on NASDAQ
(GOLD) and on the Johannesburg (GFI), London, Paris, Brussels, and Swiss stock
exchanges.

Outokumpu is a metals and technology company. In addition to its strategic
focus - stainless steel - Outokumpu specialises in copper products, base
metals production and related technology. Outokumpu has mining operations in
Australia, Finland, Ireland and Norway and exploration in Australia, Canada,
Finland, Ireland, Morocco, Russia and Sweden. The parent company Outokumpu Oyj
is listed on the Helsinki Exchanges.


Further information:

Gold Fields
South Africa:
Willie Jacobsz, Corporate Affairs and Investor Relations Manager
tel. +27 11 644 2460
North America:
Cheryl A. Martin, Vice President, North American Investor Relations
tel. +1 303 796 8683

Outokumpu
Markku Isohanni, Senior Vice President - Exploration,
Outokumpu Mining Oy, tel. +358 50 550 7707
Eero Mustala, Vice President - Financial Communications,
Outokumpu Oyj, tel. +358 9 421 2435



END

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