Evolving, Meridian finish initial Winnemucca drilling

Also News Release (C-MNG) Meridian Gold Inc

Mr. Lawrence Dick of Evolving Gold reports

INITIAL DRILLING COMPLETED AT EVOLVING GOLD CORPORATION’S WINNEMUCCA MOUNTAIN GOLD PROPERTY

Meridian Gold Inc. has completed an initial round of drilling totalling 2,278 metres (7,475 feet) in 12 holes using a reverse-circulation Schramm 685W drill at Evolving Gold Corp.’s Winnemucca Mountain gold property. Holes ranged in depth from 320 feet to 900 feet in which Meridian targeted the area around the historic high-grade Santa Fe intersection in hole 83 which returned five feet (1.52 metres) grading 2.02 ounces per ton gold (68.6 grams per tonne gold). The Meridian drilling program will continue when equipment becomes available in the new year.

Meridian has submitted samples to ALS Chemex for assay. Full results for this initial round of drilling are expected in January, 2007.

In compliance with National Instrument 43-101, Lawrence A. Dick, PhD, PGeo, is the qualified person responsible for the accuracy of this news release. An independent National Instrument 43-101-compliant technical report has been filed on SEDAR.