Fourth Quarter Results Release — February 16th before market open
Conference Call and Webcast — February 16th 9:30 am ET

North American callers dial: 800-742-6164
International callers dial: 212-231-2901

A live webcast of the Conference Call will be accessible on Barrick's website at www.barrick.com.

The Conference Call will be available for replay until March 1st, 2012 by calling 800-558-5253 for North American callers and 416-626-4100 for International callers, Reservation #21574166.

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Mountain-West Resources Inc. ("MWR"), a Vancouver-based company trading on the Canadian National Stock Exchange, has recently issued a series of false and misleading press releases in which MWR falsely claims that Barrick's Pascua property in Chile is not owned by Barrick Gold Corporation (NYSE: ABX) (TSX: ABX) (“Barrick” or “the Company”), but is instead owned by Jorge Lopehandia, that MWR has acquired an option to acquire 50% of Barrick's Pascua property from Mr. Lopehandia, and that Barrick has engaged in "fraudulent market activity" in its public disclosure regarding its interest in the Pascua property. 

These statements are demonstrably false and misleading and undermine the integrity of the capital markets.  These statements appear to have been made to improperly advance the business interests of MWR, improperly "inflate" the market price of MWR's stock, slander Barrick's title to the Pascua property and defame Barrick.  These statements are particularly egregious given the fact that Barrick advised MWR in March 2011 that they were false.

Neither Jorge Lopehandia nor MWR have a registered ownership interest in the Amarillos 1-3000 concessions or the Tesoro Uno 1-30 to Tesoro Doce 1-5 concessions. Furthermore, these concessions are not necessary for mining the Pascua-Lama deposit.  Barrick holds all the necessary rights for mining the Pascua-Lama deposit.

Barrick has filed a formal complaint referring these matters to both the Ontario and British Columbia Securities Commissions.  Barrick has also contacted the RCMP Integrated Market Enforcement Team (IMET) regarding these matters. 

It should be noted that Mr. Lopehandia, who appears to be the source of the “information” forming the basis of MWR's false and misleading statements, has a long history of asserting false claims against Barrick in connection with the Pascua property.  In 2002, Barrick commenced a defamation action against Mr. Lopehandia in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.  Mr. Lopehandia took no steps to defend the action and in 2003 Barrick obtained a damages award against Mr. Lopehandia.  In June 2004, the Ontario Court of Appeal issued a judgment against Mr. Lopehandia awarding Barrick increased general damages, punitive damages and a permanent injunction restraining Mr. Lopehandia from disseminating, posting on the Internet or publishing further defamatory statements concerning Barrick or its officers, directors or employees.

All figures in Canadian dollars

Barrick Gold Corporation (NYSE:ABX)(TSX:ABX) announced today that, pursuant to the terms of Cadence Energy 4.75% Convertible Unsecured Subordinated Debentures due 2012 (the "Debentures") (CDS.DB), upon compliance with the terms and conditions of the Debentures, in connection with the previously announced payment of regular dividends on the common shares of Barrick Gold Corporation (the "Barrick Shares"), the Debentures are convertible from and after December 16, 2011 into Barrick Shares at a rate of 19.52 Barrick Shares for each $1,000 principal amount of Debentures (subject to further adjustment in accordance with the indenture governing the terms of the Debentures).

Barrick's vision is to be the world's best gold company by finding, acquiring, developing and producing quality reserves in a safe, profitable and socially responsible manner.

TORONTO — The Mining Association of Canada (MAC) is presenting a special Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) Leadership Award to Barrick Gold’s Hemlo operation, recognizing its excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The award is being presented today in Ottawa during MAC’s annual Mining Day on the Hill.

Hemlo is located east of Marathon, Ontario and consists of the Williams and David Bell mines. The operation met or exceeded an “A” ranking across four TSM performance categories:

• Tailings Management
• Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions
• External Outreach
• Crisis Management Planning

“Barrick is only the second company to win a Leadership Award since the TSM Awards were inaugurated in 2006,” said Pierre Gratton, President and CEO of The Mining Association of Canada. “The management and staff at Barrick’s Hemlo facility are to be congratulated on operating a facility that Canada’s mining industry can hold up as an example of sustainable mining excellence.”

“Whether in Canada or abroad, Barrick strives to meet high standards for corporate social responsibility,” said Kelvin Dushnisky, Executive Vice President of Corporate and Legal Affairs at Barrick. “By meeting these standards and proactively engaging with local communities and stakeholders, we are able to maintain strong support for our operations.

“We are very proud to see our Hemlo operation recognized as a leader in responsible mining by Canada’s mining industry, and congratulate everyone involved in this great achievement.”

While Hemlo’s scores reflect leadership across all TSM categories, external outreach is a critical part of the operation’s — and Barrick’s — ongoing commitment to responsible mining. Hemlo works with a wide range of communities of interest, including two First Nations, three municipalities and a national park.

The operation regularly engages in meaningful and transparent dialogue with stakeholders, and holds site update meetings at least three times annually. Hemlo partners with local organizations and institutions on programs to benefit the region and organizes Student Mining Days, which bring mining information and technology to area schools.

The mine has developed constructive relationships with the Pic River and Pic Mobert communities and has established Socio-Economic Agreements to bring opportunities associated with the operation to its First Nations neighbours. The Agreements provide for skills training for present and future mining opportunities, through a partnership with Confederation College, as well as support for the development of First Nations-led businesses and involvement in environmental monitoring and stewardship.

Today, about 10 per cent of Hemlo’s workforce comes from local Aboriginal communities.

“We are honoured to be receiving this special award,” said Roger Souckey, Superintendent of Employee Relations at Hemlo. “We place great value on our relationships with First Nations, local communities and on environmental stewardship.”

TSM was developed by MAC in 2004 to improve the Canadian mining industry’s performance by helping companies to manage their corporate responsibilities for social and environmental sustainability. The industry has adopted a common set of measurable sustainability guidelines and performance indicators that provide a way for the sector to find common ground with communities of interest in order to build a better mining industry in Canada, today and in the future.

TORONTO — Barrick Gold Corporation (NYSE:ABX)(TSX:ABX) today announced changes to the leadership of its senior management teams in two regional business units, with Gary Halverson, currently regional President for the Australia Pacific region, appointed President of the North America Business Unit and Mike Feehan, currently Senior Vice President Operations Support, assuming the role of Regional President in Australia Pacific.

Halverson succeeds Greg Lang, President of Barrick's North America Business Unit since 2003, who will become President and CEO of NovaGold Resources Inc.

"Greg has been an important member of Barrick's senior management team and his leadership has been a great asset to the Company," said Aaron Regent, President and CEO. "We thank Greg for his substantial achievements and contributions and wish him success in his future endeavors."

Gary Halverson has led the Australia Pacific unit since 2008, with overall responsibility for sites in Australia and Papua New Guinea, as well as the recent integration of Equinox assets into Barrick. He has 30 years of international mining and management experience, including extensive experience in North America. He was the former General Manager of the Cortez mine in Nevada, and he has managed a number of mines across Canada with major companies.

Mike Feehan has more than 30 years of experience in the mining industry. He was previously Director of Operations for North America from 2006-2011, where he was responsible for nine mining operations and was also a former General Manager of the Goldstrike mine.

Barrick's vision is to be the world's best gold company by finding, acquiring, developing and producing quality reserves in a safe, profitable and socially responsible manner.