March 10 , 2005

SECOND PHASE DRILLING AT KAARESSELKÄ EXTENDS HIGHER GRADE GOLD MINERALISATION AT DEPTH

• Best Intersection Of 20.1g/t Gold Over 1.75m Within 8.25m Section Of 4.9g/t
• Gold mineralization Considered To Be Open Laterally And In Depth
• Drilling In Progress At Pitkäjärvi , Geophysics Completed At Notträsk

Tertiary Minerals plc (“Tertiary” or “the Company”) is pleased to report the results of a second phase of drilling at its Kaaresselkä gold project in Northern Finland.

The program, carried out between November 2004 and January 2005, was designed to test the depth extent of high-grade gold mineralisation in the Vanha lode, the south-eastern extension of the Tienvarsi lode and high-grade near-surface mineralisation at Lampi. Five holes were drilled for a total of 750m and a small programme of trenching was carried out at Lampi.

Vanha

Previous drilling at Vanha intersected gold mineralisation at relatively shallow depths (e.g. 4.9m grading 11.0 g/t gold in hole 04KD007B and 8.2m grading 6.1 g/t gold in hole R412)

Four additional holes (04KD011, 04KD012, 04KD013 and 05KD002) were completed at an average 50m spacing to test for mineralisation at a vertical depth of 100-150m. All holes intersected gold mineralization and significant intersections are summarised in the accompanying table .

The higher-grade mineralization is narrow, but the results confirm that the mineralization at Vanha is continuing, and remains open at depth over a strike-length of at least 200m. It is open both to the east and west. A longitudinal projection illustrating drill intersections will shortly be available on the Company’s website.

For a detail view of the Kaaresselkä project please click the image below



The structure hosting the mineralisation at Vanha is at least 600m long and up to 60m wide.

Tienvarsi

One hole, 05KD001, was drilled to test the eastern extension of the Tienvarsi zone, some 165m from its known limits. A narrow interval of gold mineralization was found in a weathered breccia on the south side of the Tienvarsi magnetic lineament.

KAARESELKÄ DRILL SUMMARY – MARCH 2005

N.B. True widths estimated at approximately 50% of reported intersected widths.

Lampi

Trenching at Lampi targeted mineralisation in hole 04KD010 (10.3m grading 3.88g/t gold from bedrock surface beneath the glacial till). Gold mineralisation was found to be associated with a localised breccia with no significant strike length. Consequently, no follow-up drilling was carried out at Lampi.

The variability in grade and thickness at Kaaresselkä is typical of structurally hosted gold mineralization where an understanding of the controls of mineralization is critical to the success of exploration. Further evaluation of the results is now in progress. The Company is, however, encouraged by the results obtained to-date, and by the widespread distribution of gold over an area of 1.1km by 0.6km at Kaaresselkä.

Elsewhere in Finland, Tertiary is currently drilling at its Pitkäjärvi gold prospect in central Finland trying to discover the source of surface boulders containing gold and copper-cobalt mineralization. The programme will be completed in two weeks time and results are expected by mid April.

The Company has, this week, also completed an extensive programme of ground geophysics at its Notträsk project in Sweden to identify drill targets for nickel-copper and platinum group metals. Results are being interpreted, and will be announced shortly.

Further info: Patrick Cheetham, Executive Chairman, Tertiary Minerals plc.
Tel: 01625-626203

John Greenhalgh/Ron Marshman, City of London PR Ltd.
Tel: 0207-628 5518