23.06.2005 – 15:00

Romarco Minerals Inc., Western Goldfields, Inc. and U.S. Gold Corporation

Romarco, Western Goldfields and U.S. Gold to Merge, Building Critical Mass in the Gold Industry

Vancouver (ots/PRNewswire)

ROMARCO MINERALS INC. ("TSXV: R"),
WESTERN GOLDFIELDS, INC.  ("OTCBB: WGDF"), and U.S. GOLD CORPORATION
("OTCBB: USGL") are pleased to  announce that they have entered into
a binding agreement to combine the  companies and create an emerging,
intermediate gold producer with a strong  pipeline of exploration
projects. The agreements are subject to approval of a  definitive
merger agreement, receipt of satisfactory "fairness opinions," and
shareholder and regulatory approvals.

Under the terms of the agreement, the resulting company will be
owned 20% by Romarco shareholders, 42% by Western Goldfields
shareholders and 38% by U.S. Gold shareholders. The combination will
be effected through a share exchange merger whereby Romarco will
issue its shares for shares of Western Goldfields and U.S. Gold
Corporation. Details of the share structure will be finalized in the
definitive merger agreement. Upon completion of the transaction,
Diane Garrett (Romarco Pres. & CEO) will become Chief Executive
Officer of the combined company and Thomas (Toby) Mancuso (Western
Goldfields Pres. & CEO) will become President.

    Highlights of the combined company would include:
    -   Intermediate Producer: Planned near-term production from two mines
        within 12-18 months of at least 150,000 ounces per year and then
        increasing to 200,000 plus ounces. The Mesquite Mine currently
        produces approximately 25,000 ounces per year from residual leaching
        of 138 million tonnes of ore on leach pads.
    -   Leadership: Experienced corporate and technical management team led
        by Garrett and Mancuso.
    -   Resources
        -  Mesquite Mine: Gold is currently being recovered at Mesquite by
           residual production from the existing heap leach pads, which
           contain approximately 138 million tonnes of material. In addition,
           fully permitted extensions to the existing pits are estimated to
           host 38.3 million tonnes grading 0.62 grams per tonne gold as
           defined by Mine Development Associates in their NI 43-101 report
           dated December 22, 2004 amended June 9, 2005.
        -  Tonkin Springs: measured and indicated mineral resource of
           approximately 26.5 million tonnes averaging 1.2 grams per tonne as
           defined by Micon International Limited in their NI 43-101 report
           dated June 3, 2004.
    -   Balance Sheet: A term sheet has been executed in respect of a
        US$6 million standby credit facility between Romarco and Quest
        Capital Corp. to facilitate the proposed transaction (see press
        release dated May 31, 2005). Subject to the satisfaction of the
        conditions precedent contained in the definitive loan documents,
        those funds would be made available to the company.
    -   Exploration: Extensive exploration portfolio in Nevada, Idaho,
        California and Peru - six drill programs planned for the remainder of
        2005 on projects in Nevada and Peru.

The proposed transaction combines the wholly-owned Mesquite Mine
from Western Goldfields, the wholly-owned Tonkin Springs Mine from
U.S. Gold and a strong portfolio of advanced stage exploration
projects in North and South America from Romarco and Western
Goldfields. Mesquite is currently producing gold from ore on the
existing pads. Both Mesquite and Tonkin Springs have existing
infrastructure and process facilities in place and it is anticipated
that, subject to receipt of regulatory permits, start-up operations
could commence at both mines within six to nine months of completion
of final feasibility studies, themselves scheduled for completion
within nine months. In addition, Romarco is currently embarking on
comprehensive drill programs  at its Buckskin-National Gold Project
(100% owned), Roberts Mountains Gold Project (100% owned), Pine Grove
Gold Project (60% owned), and Cori Puncho JV in Peru (50% owned).

The combined companies plan further drilling at Mesquite, a
property-wide exploration program at Tonkin Springs and at the
Cahuila property in California held under exclusive option.

Mesquite Mine

The Mesquite Mine is a fully permitted, gold producing property
located in southern California. The Mesquite Mine was purchased from
a subsidiary of Newmont Mining Corp. (NYSE: NEM) by Western
Goldfields in 2003. The property is currently producing gold from
residual leaching of the heaps. A  feasibility study will be
initiated immediately to determine the viability of  starting up full
scale mining operations. Other details include:

-   Past production of 200,000 ounces per year @ approximately US$200
        average cash costs
    -   More than 4 million ounces mined, 3 million ounces recovered
    -   Fully permitted
    -   Preliminary mine plan of 38.3 million tonnes @ 0.62 g/t
    -   Currently producing approximately 25,000 ounces per year
    -   High grade mineralization near surface and at depth
        -  MR-3052 -24m averaging 23 g/t gold including 9m @ 58 g/t, the
           highest grade intercept being 1.5m @ 210 g/t
        -  SM-1404 -15m @ 33 g/t gold including 3m @ 151 g/t
        -  SM-1970 -3m @ 133 g/t gold including 1.5m @ 257 g/t
        -  MR-2793 -15m @ 12 g/t gold including 3m @ 60 g/t
    -   High grade gold mineralization also encountered in many other areas
        throughout the permitted mine site
    -   Significant deep high grade targets have been identified through
        detailed evaluation of the vast geologic database

Tonkin Springs Mine

The Tonkin Springs Mine is a previously producing gold mine
strategically located in the prolific Cortez Gold Trend of Nevada.
The property package encompasses 36 square miles and has existing
infrastructure including a 1,800 tonne-per-day mill on site. It is
anticipated that a feasibility study will  be conducted immediately
for start up operations. Other details include:

-   Strategically located on the Cortez Gold Trend south of the Placer
        Dome:Rio Tinto Cortez Joint Venture's Pipeline deposit and the
        recently discovered Cortez Hills deposit totaling more than
        20 million ounces of reserves and resources.
    -   In operation from 1985 to 1988 and again in 1990
    -   26.5 million tonnes of mineralized material grading 1.2 g/t
    -   Resources within pit plans of 3.75 million tonnes grading 2.7 g/t
    -   Existing mill and infrastructure (+US$30 million original cost)
    -   Significant exploration potential

Romarco Exploration Project Update:

At the Buckskin-National Gold Project in Nevada, drilling is
scheduled to commence within two weeks.

At the Cori Puncho gold project in Peru, Romarco's technical team
is currently assessing the property and identifying drill targets for
the 2005 drill season. Additional details will be forthcoming as work
programs become finalized.

Ground work including mapping and sampling is currently being
conducted on Romarco's Roberts Mountains Gold Project located in the
Battle Mountain Eureka Trend of Nevada and on the Pine Grove Gold
Project located in the Walker Lane district of Nevada.

Western Goldfields Exploration Project Update:

At the Sunny Slope Gold Project, a high-grade vein system located
near Yerington, Nevada, a formal Joint Venture has been completed
with 321-Gold. Currently, surface and underground mapping and
sampling are in progress to explore for additional gold-bearing veins
along the range front. Drill  permits have been acquired and seven
reverse circulation drill holes are  planned in late-2005.

A Joint Venture Letter of Intent has been signed with Coolcharm
Ltd on the Lincoln Hill Project whereby Coolcharm can earn up to 60%
of the project by spending US$4 million over five years. Data
compilation in conjunction  with field work at Lincoln Hill is
underway to define exploration drill hole locations within this
extensive, bulk mineable and underground target which  is
characterized by a quartz-pyrite, free gold-tourmaline stockwork
system.

Corporate Plans

As soon as it is eligible, Romarco intends to apply for listing or
trading on a senior U.S. market. The new Board of Directors will have
a majority of independent members and the company will comply with
the requirements under the Sarbanes Oxley Act and other appropriate
regulations.

Diane Garrett, President and CEO of Romarco stated, "It has been
Romarco's plan to acquire advanced stage projects and become a
mid-tier gold producer. This transaction will propel the combined
companies into the ranks of the plus-150,000 ounce-per-year domestic
US gold producers by early 2007. Following the recent corporate
activity amongst the mid-tier producers, there are few companies
remaining of this size. We are excited that our  shareholders have
the opportunity to participate in this merger."

Toby Mancuso, President and CEO of Western Goldfields added,
"During our negotiations, we have been impressed by Romarco's
standing in the financial community, its mine development experience,
and its exploration portfolio. It was always our plan to build on our
acquisition of Mesquite and this merger delivers on our promises to
our shareholders to become a mid-tier producer  and obtain a Canadian
listing for our shares."

William Reid, President and CEO of U.S. Gold concluded, "Since
regaining 100% control of Tonkin Springs earlier this year, we have
been seeking to combine with a growth-oriented company where the
potential at Tonkin Springs can be realized and equally where our
shareholders can benefit from a more diversified asset base and a
larger critical mass creating greater funding ability and market
interest. In addition, this agreement is conditioned upon providing
U.S. Gold with US$1.5 million in near-term financing, of which
US$200,000 has been received. This financing will allow us to fund
the US$1.1 million additional reclamation bond at Tonkin Springs. I
am excited  and pleased to be handing over the reins to Diane and
Toby with this positive transaction."

The proposed transaction is subject to board approval of the
definitive merger agreement, the satisfactory completion of final due
diligence,  opinions from each company's financial advisor that the
transaction is fair,  from a financial point of view, to each
company's respective shareholders,  and to shareholder approval.

    THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT
    RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS PRESS RELEASE, WHICH
    HAS BEEN PREPARED BY MANAGEMENT.

Contact:

For further information: Romarco Minerals Inc.: Diane Garrett, Pres.
& CEO, Romarco Minerals Inc., 1500-885 West Georgia St., Vancouver,
BC, Canada, V6C 3E8, Tel: +1-604-688-9271, Direct: +1-830-634-7489,
Fax: +1-604-688-9274, Email: info@romarco.com, www.romarco.com;
Western Goldfields Inc.: Toby Mancuso, Pres. & CEO, Western
Goldfields Inc., 961 Matley Lane, Suite 120, Reno, NV, 89502, Tel:
+1-775-337-9433, Fax: +1-775-337-9441, info@westerngoldfields.com,
www.westerngoldfields.com; U.S. Gold Corp., William Reid, Pres. &
CEO, U.S. Gold Corp., 2201 Kipling St., Suite 100, Lakewood, CO,
80215, Tel: +1-303-238-1438, Fax: +1-303-238-1724,
billr@usgoldmining.com, www.usgoldmining.com; Proteus Capital Corp:
Douglas Newby, President, Proteus Capital Corp., 120 Broadway, Suite
1010, New York, NY, 10271, Tel: +1-646-879-5970, Fax:
+1-646-365-3230, Email: djnewby@proteuscapital.com