Eritrea Resource play (ERP)

[Ed Monton]

Nevsun Resources Ltd.: High Grade Base Metals Within
Massive Sulphides Zone Confirmed to Vertical Depths of
300 Meters at Bisha Project, Eritrea

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(CCNMatthews - Mar 22, 2004) -
Nevsun Resources Ltd. (NSU/TSX) is pleased to announce the assay
results from an additional 9 diamond drill holes as part of the
30,000 meter 2004 program. The results continue to reflect a
continuity of mineralization both along strike and to depth and
demonstrate significant potential for a long term mine life from
the primary sulphides of the Bisha Project. Plans to drill to
vertical depths of 400 meters on one section in the heart of the
primary massive sulphide zone are being finalized.

HIGHLIGHTS: High-grade mineralization extends depth to 300
vertical meters.

Some of the high grade intercepts include Hole B-164 with 74.65
meters true width grading 9.7% Zn, 1.15% Cu, 72 g/t Ag and 0.77
g/t Au, Hole B-163 with 25 meters grading 9.76% Zn, 0.92% Cu,
88.76 g/t Ag and 0.71 g/t Au, Hole B-162 with 41.75 meters
grading 9.60% Zn, 1.49% Cu, 85.35 g/t Ag and 0.98 g/t Au, Hole
B-161 with 26 meters grading 10.71%Zn, 0.72% Cu, 52.21 g/t Ag and
0.70 g/t Au and Hole B-160 with 25.50 meters grading 13.20% Zn,
1.36% Cu, 109.44 g/t Ag and 0.83 g/t Au.

To date, in 2004, 52 diamond drill holes have been drilled in the
southern part of the Bisha Main zone. Some of these holes have
been drilled to vertical depths of 300 meters in an effort to
determine the depth extent of the deposit. The zone remains
strong at these depths with true widths of massive sulphides in
the order of 60-75 meters being attained. The gold bearing oxide
zone was not targeted in this stage of the program.

Assay results from the 9 diamond drill holes at the Bisha Main
Zone are listed below by mineral zones: O-Oxide, S-Supergene
sulphides, Str-Stringers, P-Primary sulphides.

 
  
 Hole #   From    To  Length    Au    Ag     Cu %  Pb %  Zn % Zone 
                        (m)     g/t   g/t 
                                                               Section 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------- 
  
 Oxide Cu 
 B-164    3.00   9.00   6.00   0.00   0.50   2.03  0.01  0.43  O 
                                                               1715500 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 Supergene 
 B-166   64.00  84.30  20.30   0.32  24.23   3.41  0.06  0.04 S  
                                                               1715575 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 Primary 
 B-160  217.50 243.00  25.50   0.83 109.44   1.36  0.59 13.20 P 
                                                               1715600 
  and   243.00 249.00   6.00   1.11  86.50   2.95  0.04  0.96 P 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 B-161   67.70 130.75  63.05   0.67  17.15   0.34  0.09  1.14 S/P 
                                                               1715475 
  and   187.0  213.00  26.00   0.70  52.21   0.72  0.48 10.71 P 
  and   213.00 240.65  27.65   0.74  37.78   1.75  0.01  0.25 P 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 B-162  226.25 268.00  41.75   0.98  85.35   1.49  0.40  9.60 P 
                                                               1715525 
  and   268.00 322.00  54.00   0.66  34.13   1.15  0.04  1.11 P 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 B-163  247.50 272.50  25.00   0.71  88.76   0.92  0.47  9.76 P 
                                                               1715600 
  and   272.50 327.80  55.30   0.63  30.08   1.09  0.11  2.28 P 
                                                               1715600 
  and   319.00 327.80   8.80   1.14  70.91   1.85  0.58 10.46 P 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 B-164  280.35 355.00  74.65   0.77  72.04   1.15  0.39  9.70 P 
                                                               1715500 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 B-165   47.50  76.30  28.80   0.94  71.99   2.34  0.41  7.34 S/P 
                                                               1715575 
  incl.  61.00  74.50  13.50   1.44 115.41   1.99  0.65 15.54 P 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 B-165   97.00 136.50  39.50   0.81  62.61   1.59  0.20  5.40 P 
  Incl. 100.70 120.00  19.30   0.94  90.27   1.81  0.41 10.09 P 
  incl. 120.00 132.00  12.00   0.90  50.75   2.01  0.01  0.90 P 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 B-166   88.00 122.50  34.50   0.88  24.48   0.36  0.11  1.76 P 
                                                               1715575 
  and   151.60 183.50  31.90   0.80  62.76   1.49  0.29  5.80 P 
  Incl. 151.60 166.50  14.90   0.87  82.12   1.24  0.59 11.71 P 
  Incl. 166.50 178.75  12.25   0.86  57.31   2.12  0.03  0.82 P 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 B-167  246.60 295.00  48.40   0.67  38.43   1.00  0.16  5.30 P 
                                                               1715475 
  incl. 249.80 258.55   8.75   0.75  75.87   1.05  0.55 12.31 P 
  incl. 263.75 283.00  19.25   0.69  33.09   0.80  0.12  7.03 P 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 B-168  166.60 210.00  43.40   0.95  66.38   1.56  0.22  6.50 P 
  incl. 166.60 189.00  22.40   0.93  86.37   1.60  0.40 12.28 P 
  incl. 189.00 199.50  10.50   1.13  65.29   2.48  0.02  0.57 P 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------- 
  
 

.........................



Assays on additional holes drilled will be released as available.


The reverse circulation drill has arrived in the country and is
being mobilized to the project site for immediate start up on
defining the oxide and supergene zones especially in the northern
part of the Main Zone. The Company is on schedule to have a third
party calculate a resource statement at the end of the second
quarter of this year.

Bill Nielsen, Vice-President of Exploration for Nevsun, a
qualified person under National Instrument 43-101, supervised and
directed all work associated with the drilling program.

Nevsun implemented a QA/QC program, consisting of certified
standards, for the drill program. The analytical methods used for
gold and silver are fire assay with atomic absorption or
gravimetric finish. Induced Coupled Plasma (ICP) is used for
silver trace level values. The analytical methods used for the
base metals are aqua-regia digestion and atomic absorption finish
or ICP for trace level values. Sample preparation and analysis
were conducted at ALS Chemex of Vancouver, Canada.

Forward Looking Statements: The above contains forward looking
statements that are subject to a number of known and unknown
risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual
results to differ materially from those anticipated in our
forward looking statements. Factors that could cause such
differences include: changes in world gold markets, equity
markets, costs and supply of materials relevant to the mining
industry, change in government and changes to regulations
affecting the mining industry. Although we believe the
expectations reflected in our forward looking statements are
reasonable, results may vary, and we cannot guarantee future
results, levels of activity, performance or achievements.

NEVSUN RESOURCES LTD.

Dr. John A. Clarke, President & Chief Executive Officer

-30-

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Nevsun Resources Ltd.
Don Halliday
Manager, Investor Relations
[phone] or 1-888-600-2200
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.nevsun.com