Barrick Gold Reports Q3 Operating Results 

TORONTO, ON - Barrick Gold Corporation reported Q3 adjusted net earnings increased 52% to $1.39 billion from $912 million in Q3 2010, reflecting higher gold and copper prices along with higher copper sales volumes, resulting in an annualized return on equity of approximately 25%.

Q3 gold production was 1.93 million ounces at total cash costs of $453 per ounce and net cash costs of $328 per ounce. The Company is on track to meet its full year operating guidance, with production expected to be 7.6-7.8 million ounces at total cash costs of $460-$475 per ounce, within original guidance ranges. Net cash costs for 2011 are anticipated to be $330-$350 per ounce, reflecting a lower copper price assumption than previously assumed. Copper production is expected to be 450-460 million pounds at total cash costs of $1.60-$1.70 per pound in 2011.

The Company reported another strong quarter of operational and financial results," said Aaron Regent, Barrick's President and CEO. "We remain on track to achieve our original full year operating targets including one of the lowest cash cost profiles amongst the senior gold producers. We are making good progress constructing our high return Pueblo Viejo and Pascua-Lama mines and are pleased with further positive exploration results at Goldrush and Red Hill, our new gold discoveries in Nevada."

The North America region continued to perform well in Q3, producing 0.84 million ounces at total cash costs of $415 per ounce. The Cortez property performed on plan with production of 0.35 million ounces at total cash costs of $230 per ounce in Q3. The Cortez Hills open pit continues to be in a higher waste stripping phase, which is expected to result in lower production in Q4 before it returns to a higher grade area in Q1 2012.

The Goldstrike operation produced 0.26 million ounces at total cash costs of $516 per ounce in Q3 as it transitioned to a higher stripping phase in the second half of 2011 as previously disclosed. Full year 2011 production guidance for the North America region is expected to be 3.30-3.40 million ounces, within the previous guidance range, at the previous total cash cost guidance of $425-$450 per ounce.

In Nevada, recent drilling continues to expand the mineralization at Red Hill and Goldrush. The Company's confidence in the potential and continuity of the mineralization has increased. In addition, infill drilling between both deposits is successfully finding new mineralization and there is the possibility that the two deposits will merge into a single deposit. Step out holes north of Red Hill have intersected mineralization a further 2,000 feet beyond the currently outlined resource as well as extended mineralization at least 1,000 feet to the southwest. Highlights of major step-out drilling include 120 feet at 0.17 ounces per ton (opt), 60 feet at 0.20 opt, 80 feet at 0.16 opt, and 30 feet at 0.25 opt. Step-out drilling south of Goldrush is now underway to test the southern extension of the mineralized zone. A total of 264,000 feet of drilling is planned at Red Hill and Goldrush in 2011 and the program is approximately 80% complete.

At the 75%-owned Turquoise Ridge operation in Humboldt County, Nevada, work is advancing on the potential to develop a large scale open pit in order to mine the lower grade halo around the high grade underground ore, which could significantly increase annual production. A prefeasibility study is expected to be completed by the end of 2012. Nine drill rigs are currently active on the property. The focus of open pit drilling is on upgrading resources and mineral inventory. Surface drilling has intersected significant new mineralization, particularly in the south area of the planned pit where the cover is shallower, which could positively impact economics. Underground drilling is also yielding strong results, intersecting higher grades than expected in some areas and zones are open up-dip and to the northwest.

The South American business unit performed ahead of plan with production of 0.48 million ounces at total cash costs of $358 per ounce in Q3. Lagunas Norte production of 0.22 million ounces at total cash costs of $260 per ounce was ahead of plan, primarily due to changes in mine sequencing, which resulted in higher production in Q3, which had previously been anticipated in Q4. Veladero contributed 0.22 million ounces at total cash costs of $380 per ounce in Q3. In 2011, the South America region is expected to produce 1.85-1.90 million ounces at total cash costs of $360-$380 per ounce, within the previous production and cost guidance ranges.

The Australia Pacific business unit produced 0.47 million ounces at total cash costs of $609 per ounce in Q3. The Porgera mine, which produced 0.13 million ounces at total cash costs of $545 per ounce, was impacted by lower underground production, primarily due to equipment availability issues and unplanned maintenance. The Australia Pacific region is expected to produce about 1.90 million ounces in 2011, within the previous guidance range, at the previous total cash cost guidance of $610-$635 per ounce.

Attributable production from African Barrick Gold plc in Q3 was 0.14 million ounces at total cash costs of $687 per ounce. Barrick's share of 2011 production is expected to be 0.515-0.560 million ounces at total cash costs of $675-$700 per ounce.

The company's address is 161 Bay Street, Suite 3700, Toronto M5J 2S1, 416-861-9911.