AZTEC RESOURCES LIMITED 2003-06-17 ASX-SIGNAL-GHOMEX - Perth...

AZTEC RESOURCES LIMITED 2003-06-17 ASX-SIGNAL-G

HOMEX - Perth

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Aztec Resources Limited (ASX: AZR) has appointed senior mining
industry figure and former Hamersley Iron Managing Director and most
recently Portman Limited Managing Director, Mr Ian Burston AM, as
non-executive Chairman as the Company moves towards a development
decision on its Koolan Island iron ore project in Western Australia's
Kimberley region.

The Perth-based resources company announced today (Tuesday) that Mr
Burston would take up the appointment with immediate effect.

Mr Burston is one of the Australian mining industry's best known and
respected senior executives with a career spanning more than 40
years. In addition to his contribution to Portman Limited, first as a
non-executive director and later as Managing Director, his experience
includes seven years as Managing Director of Aurora Gold Limited
where he was pivotal in developing the Company's gold mining
operations in Indonesia. He also served as Chief Executive Officer of
Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines Pty Ltd for four years where he
was responsible for the operations of Australia's largest gold mine.

Between 1982 and 1986, Mr Burston was Managing Director of Hamersley
Iron Pty Ltd and before that held a range of senior positions with
the Hamersley group at its Pilbara operations - including General
Manager Operations based in Dampier and manager of the Tom Price
mine. He was awarded the Western Australian Citizen of the Year
(Category of Industry & Commerce) in 1992; the Order of Australia
(General Division) in 1993 and an Honorary Doctor of Science (Curtin
University) in 1995.

Aztec's Managing Director, Mr Brett Matich said Mr Burston's
experience and capabilities in the mining industry, particularly his
expertise in the mining and marketing of iron ore, would be
invaluable to Aztec in its next phase of growth.

Aztec is currently assessing the viability of reopening the iron ore
mine on Koolan Island which was operated by BHP from 1965 until 1993,
when a decision was made to close the operation rather than commit to
the relocation of mine infrastructure. During its operation,
approximately 68 million tonnes of high grade hematite ore was
extracted from five pits on Koolan Island for export to markets in
Asia.

Mr Burston said he looked forward to contributing to the Aztec board
as the Company moved towards a decision on development at Koolan
Island which had historically been one of Western Australias richest
and purest iron ore deposits.

Koolan Island is one of over 800 islands in the Buccaneer Archipelago
located in Yampi Sound on the west coast of Western Australia's
Kimberley region. The island is 130 kilometres north of Derby and is
accessible by air charter and by sea.