Coeur Acquires Silver Production and Reserves at Endeavor Mine in Australia From CBH Resources, Ltd. - Expected to add 1.3 million ounces annually to Company silver production - - Adds estimated $6.2m of annualized operating cash flow at current silver prices - - Increases Coeur's silver proven and probable mineral reserves by 12% - COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho, April 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Coeur d'Alene Mines Corporation (NYSE: CDE; TSX: CDM), the world's largest primary silver producer, announced today that it has agreed to acquire all of the silver production and reserves contained at the Endeavor Mine in Australia, which is owned and operated by CBH Resources Ltd (ASX:CBH), for US$38.5 million. The Endeavor Mine is located 720 km northwest of Sydney in New South Wales and has been in production since 1983. In addition to principal production of lead and zinc, Endeavor is expected to produce approximately 1.3 million ounces of silver annually from mineral reserves containing approximately 24.0 million silver ounces. In total, the Endeavor Mine reports measured and indicated mineral resources containing approximately 8.2 million ounces of silver, and inferred mineral resources containing approximately 0.5 million silver ounces. Under the terms of the agreement, CDE Australia, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Coeur, will pay CBH US$15.4 million of cash at the closing. In addition, CDE Australia will pay CBH US$23.1 million of cash upon the determination by Coeur that a recently installed paste backfill plant at the Endeavor Mine is operating successfully. This determination is expected to take place in the third quarter of 2005. In addition to these upfront payments, Coeur will pay CBH an operating cost contribution of US$1.00 for each ounce of payable silver plus a further increment when the silver price exceeds the twenty-year average price of US$5.23 per ounce. This further increment begins on the second anniversary of this agreement and is 50% of the amount by which the silver price exceeds US$5.23 per ounce. A cost contribution of US$0.25 per ounce is also payable in respect of new ounces of proven and probable silver reserves as they are discovered. In addition, under the terms of the agreement, Coeur is entitled to receive a maximum of 17.7 million payable silver ounces from the current contained resource at the Endeavor Mine. Based on these terms, Coeur is effectively paying US$3.26 per payable ounce of silver reserve, which equates to a total effective full cost of US$4.26 per ounce of payable silver production. "We expect this transaction will immediately increase Coeur's silver production by 1.3 million ounces annually and contribute significantly to Coeur's earnings and cash flow over an anticipated mine life of at least ten years," said Dennis E. Wheeler, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Coeur. "At current silver prices, we expect that this transaction will increase Coeur's annual estimated operating cash flow by approximately $6.2 million." "Coeur and CBH consider the exploration potential and the opportunity to expand silver production at the Endeavor Mine to be considerable. Coeur is enthusiastic about returning to Australia and seeking to grow its business in this important mining country. We also look forward to working with CBH Resources and its seasoned management team to maximize the benefits of this partnership for both parties," Mr. Wheeler added. Endeavor Mine Mineral Reserves and Resources Mineral Reserves Tons (mm) Silver Grade Contained Silver (oz/ton) Ounces (mm) Proven 6.1 2.01 12.2 Probable 6.1 1.98 12.0 Total 12.1(1) 2.00 24.2 Mineral Resources Measured 4.4 0.88 3.9 Indicated 0.7 6.10(2) 4.3 Total M & I 5.1 1.61 8.2 Inferred .22 2.1 0.5 (1) Difference in Total due to rounding (2) Includes high-grade remnant material in upper levels of mine Categories of Mineral reserves and resources per Australasian Code for Reporting of Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves and Canadian National Instrument 43-101. Mineral reserves and resources are effective June 30, 2004. Mineral reserves based on a cutoff of 7.6% zinc; Silver content of mineral reserves tabulated as a by-product. Mineral resources are additional to reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) generally does not permit mining companies, when filing with the SEC, to disclose mineral resources. Coeur d'Alene Mines Corporation is the world's largest primary silver producer, as well as a significant, low-cost producer of gold. The Company has mining interests in Nevada, Idaho, Alaska, Argentina, Australia, Chile and Bolivia. In addition to operating the Endeavor mine in New South Wales, CBH Resources Limited controls the central concessions of the prolific Broken Hill District in New South Wales which contain significant zinc, lead, and silver resources, and owns and operates a concentrate shiploading facility in New South Wales. For additional information on CBH Resources, please see the company's website at http://www.cbhresources.com.au/. Cautionary Statement This document contains numerous forward-looking statements within the meaning of securities legislation in the United States and Canada relating to the Company's silver and gold mining business. Such statements are subject to numerous assumptions and uncertainties, many of which are outside the Company's control. Operating, exploration and financial data, and other statements in this document are based on information the Company believes reasonable, but involve significant uncertainties as to future gold and silver prices, costs, ore grades, estimation of gold and silver reserves, mining and processing conditions, currency exchange rates, and the completion and/or updating of mining feasibility studies, changes that could result from the Company's future acquisition of new mining properties or businesses, the risks and hazards inherent in the mining business (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, weather or geologically related conditions), regulatory and permitting matters, risks inherent in the ownership and operation of, or investment in, mining properties or businesses in foreign countries, as well as other uncertainties and risk factors set out in the Company's filings from time to time with the SEC and the Ontario Securities Commission, including, without limitation, the Company's reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q. Actual results and timetables could vary significantly from the estimates presented. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Donald Earnest, PG, Independent Consultant to Coeur, is the qualified person responsible for the preparation of the scientific and technical information in this press release. Mr. Earnest has reviewed the available data and procedures and believes the calculation of reserves and resources was conducted in a professional and competent manner. In addition, Mr. Earnest is unaware of any environmental, permitting, legal, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues that could materially affect such calculations. CONTACT: Tony Ebersole Director of Investor Relations +800-523-1535 DATASOURCE: Coeur d'Alene Mines Corporation CONTACT: Tony Ebersole, Director of Investor Relations, +800-523-1535, for Coeur d'Alene Mines Corporation Web site: http://www.coeur.com/ Web site: http://www.cbhresources.com.au/

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