03/21/2005- Fortress Minerals Update

[Franko10 ™]

IUC Reports Fortress Minerals Update (ccnm)

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(CCNMatthews - March 21, 2005) -

International Uranium Corporation ("IUC") (TSX:IUC) owns approximately 58% of the outstanding shares of Fortress Minerals Corp. ("Fortress"). Fortress recently announced an agreement to acquire a Russian gold project from Phelps Dodge Exploration Corporation and a strategic alliance with Phelps Dodge Exploration Corporation in Mongolia as follows:

Fortress Minerals Corp. ("Fortress") has agreed to terms with Phelps Dodge Exploration Corporation ("PDEC") to acquire an option to earn an 80% interest in PDEC subsidiary PD Russia, Inc. ("PDRI"). PDRI holds a 100% indirect interest in an exploration license over the Svetloye gold project in the Khabarovsk Region of eastern Russia. The Svetloye project has high grade gold mineralization outcropping at surface and an aggressive drill program is scheduled for 2005 by Fortress.

In addition, Fortress also announces that it has reached an agreement with PDEC on a separate Mongolian alliance in which PDEC can earn up to a 70% interest in Fortress's copper, gold, silver and molybdenum projects in Mongolia, subject to certain investments by PDEC in Fortress, and the funding of certain exploration and development programs on the properties.

The Svetloye business initiative is subject to the entering into of definitive agreements and both are subject to regulatory body approvals (the Mongolia definitive agreements have been completed).

Steve Swatton commented: "The Svetloye gold opportunity and the Phelps Dodge alliance in Mongolia will give Fortress an exciting platform to grow and take advantage of the buoyant metals market and demand for good exploration opportunities. The Company's aggressive exploration approach with programs at different stages of development has positioned the Company well for success in 2005."

Svetloye, Russia

The Svetloye gold project is located approximately 750km west of Magadan, close to the port of Okhotsk and is accessed by winter road or by helicopter.

A Russian wholly owned PDRI subsidiary has been active at Svetloye for 2 field seasons (2003 and 2004) and has identified a 7 km2 zone of epithermal gold mineralization. Twenty eight diamond drill holes (3,687m) and approximately 550m of trenching have identified an oxidised gold zone outcropping at surface over seven zones: Elena, Larissa, Tamara, Gorki, Ludmilla, Bill and Amy. Elena, the most intensely drilled and best understood zone, will be evaluated as a potential open pit operation and all work by Fortress will be undertaken to establish the resource to National Instrument Policy 43-101 requirements. Results to date are sourced from PDRI data but have not been verified by a Qualified Person and are therefore not conformable to the standards of National Instrument 43-101.

Highlights of the trenching and drilling at Svetloye are as follows:

--------------------------------------------------------------
From To Interval Grade (grams
(m) (m) (m) per tonne gold)
--------------------------------------------------------------
Trench Elena 0 250 250m 5.25
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Trench Elena 0 31.8 31.8m 10.87
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DDH-1 Elena 2.0 38.2 36.2 1.63
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DDH-2 Larissa 89.1 94.0 4.9 3.3
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DDH-4 Larissa 8.0 12.0 4.0 1.15
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DDH-5 Elena 10.3 48.5 38.2 9.02
--------------------------------------------------------------
DDH-6 Elena 0 64.8 64.8 1.97
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DDH-8 Elena 48 113.9 65.9 1.36
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DDH-10 Elena 5.5 39.9 34.4 0.78
--------------------------------------------------------------
DDH-13 Elena 13 24.5 11.5 5.66
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DDH-14 Elena 0 39.0 39.0 2.81
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DDH-19 Tamara 0 30.3 30.3 0.67
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DDH-20 Tamara 1.5 15.8 14.3 2.37
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DDH-026 Amy 0 46.1 46.1 2.38
--------------------------------------------------------------
DDH-027 Amy 15.8 27 11.2 0.71
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Based upon these preliminary results there appear to be two potential geological gold target types at Svetloye; a large, low-grade disseminated resource and narrower high grade structurally related resource. There are extensive zones of vuggy silica, alunite and late stage veining. This style of mineralization is common to Pierina and other 'high sulphidation' epithermal deposits. The rocks are oxidised to a depth of approximately 80m -150m based on the drilling to date.

[Franko10 ™]

Fortress geologists and logistics personnel are currently undertaking a site review of Svetloye. Fortress is planning to drill in 2005, and discussions are currently on-going to determine the size of the program. Elena is one of seven targets which will be worked up in 2005, but in addition to the known surface targets, Fortress will conduct a regional exploration program over other parts of this relatively under explored project area.

Under the terms of the PDEC-Fortress agreement, Fortress can earn up to an 80% interest in PDRI by making certain underlying work commitments by December, 2007, and by making payments to PDEC upon resource definition and further cash payments at production depending upon the size of the ore body.

Fortress has agreed to pay PDEC US$ 500,000 upon signing a formal agreement to earn 51% in PDRI, and the remaining 29% interest will be granted by PDRI upon the earlier to occur of (a) completion of drilling and trenching earn-in requirements and (b) conversion of the exploration license to a mining license.

In addition to the initial purchase of 51% of PDRI shares for US$ 500,000, these terms agreed with PDEC are:

- Payment to PDEC of US$2.5 million in cash and /or Fortress stock, upon completion of a prefeasibility study, provided that the cash portion will not be less than US$ 1.5 million.

- Payment to PDEC of US$1.00 per proven and probable ounce defined at positive feasibility.

- Payment to PDEC of a further $1.50 per ounce produced.

- If the proven and probable reserves are 5 million ounces or greater, a further payment to PDEC of $2.50 per ounce produced.

Mongolia

Fortress and PDEC have agreed to terms for an alliance which will permit PDEC to earn-in to Fortress's copper, gold, silver and or molybdenum properties in Mongolia. Under the terms of the agreement PDEC will invest US$3.0 million by way of private placement over two (2) years into Fortress (US$1.7 million in Year 1 and US$1.3 million in Year 2) at Cdn$0.80 per share in Year 1 and at market price plus 50% in Year 2, subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval. The proceeds from the PDEC investment will be used to advance Fortress's Mongolian properties.

PDEC has the right to earn 70% of any identified project areas selected by PDEC, after 2,000m of drilling completed by Fortress, by funding continued exploration and development on any identified project area through to the end of feasibility.

Fortress has been active in Mongolia for over 10 years through International Uranium Corp. who were the previous owners of many of the licenses. Fortress currently owns exploration rights to over approximately 4.6 million hectares of prospective ground and the Company is currently scheduled to complete a minimum of 2 drill programs in 2005: Teltiin Gol, a porphyry gold-copper project and Oyuut Uul, an epithermal gold target. Drilling at Teltiin Gol is currently underway (News Release 16 March 2005). In addition to the drilling program Fortress is exploring in the Huvsgul area of northern Mongolia where last year the Company identified a district which has the potential for mesothermal and shale hosted gold deposits. The Company is active in many different geological and geographical areas of Mongolia and has at least 3 other projects that it is considering bringing forward to the drill stage.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

FORTRESS MINERALS CORP.

Stephen Swatton, President and C.E.O.

Email: [e-mail]

"This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on assumptions and judgments of management regarding future events or results. Such statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to revise or update such statements."

IUC is engaged in uranium exploration and production. It holds significant uranium deposits in Mongolia and uranium and vanadium deposits in the U.S. and a fully permitted 2,000 ton per day uranium/vanadium mill near Blanding, Utah (one of only two operating mills in the U.S.), as well as uranium exploration properties in the Athabasca Basin of Saskatchewan. The company also processes and recycles uranium-bearing waste materials as an environmentally superior alternative to direct disposal. In addition, the Company owns approximately 58% of the outstanding shares of Fortress Minerals Corp., a public company engaged in precious and base metals exploration in Mongolia.

Statements contained in this news release which are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause such differences, without limiting the generality of the following, include: risks inherent in exploration activities; volatility and sensitivity to market prices for uranium and vanadium; the impact of the sales volume of uranium and vanadium; competition; reliance on income from processing uranium-bearing waste materials; the impact of change in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates; imprecision in resource and reserve estimates; environmental and safety risks including increased regulatory burdens; changes to reclamation requirements; unexpected geological or hydrological conditions; political risks arising from operating in certain developing countries; a possible deterioration in political support for nuclear energy; changes in government regulations and policies, including trade laws and policies; demand for nuclear power; replacement of production and failure to obtain necessary permits and approvals from government authorities; weather and other natural phenomena; ability to maintain and further improve positive labour relations; operating performance of the facilities; success of planned development projects; and other development and operating risks. Although IUC believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this release. IUC disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Ron F. Hochstein, President

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

International Uranium Corporation
Sophia Shane
Corporate Development
[phone]
[phone] (FAX)
www.intluranium.com
The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.