WALS' Client Esmeralda Exploration Options 11.4 Acres of Emerald Producing Property

Business Wire, Feb 13, 2002

Business Editors

LIGHTHOUSE POINT, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 13, 2002

Lighthouse Point, Florida. Wallstreet-Review, Inc. (OTCBB:WALS), a Florida corporation, today announced that its client, Esmeralda Exploration International, Inc. (Esmeralda) has optioned to purchase an additional 11.46 acres of the Rist Mine in Hiddenite, North Carolina.

The "Wooten/Rutledge" portion of the Rist Mine historically has produced various sizes of emeralds ranging up to 1,200 carats, including the famous 13.4-carat "Carolina Emerald" worth approximately $500,000. Esmeralda, a mineral exploration company, is seeking to become the premier emerald producer in North America. It is being brought public through reverse merger by WALS, which will retain a 40 percent equity position in the company. Up to 80 percent of WALS' equity in Esmeralda will be distributed to WALS' shareholders.

The property is approximately one-quarter mile from the portion of the Rist Mine where discoveries of more than 3,000 carats of emeralds have made world headlines since 1998. Esmeralda owns and is currently excavating 2.46 acres adjacent to this property that is within approximately 50 feet of the discovery zone where last month two other large emeralds totaling over 140 carats were discovered. Renowned gemologist Antoinette Matlins has described this latest emerald discovery as "unquestionably the most important gemological discovery in the country, and maybe the most important in the entire world."

Gilbert Wooten, one of the 11.46 acre mine's partners, said nearly 1,000 emeralds have been discovered at his site since he and Jack Rutledge began mining the property in 1994. The largest emeralds discovered by Wooten/Rutledge were 175 and 93 carats. Wooten said approximately 90 percent of the property remains to be explored.

"We really haven't dug that much - just one hole nearly an acre in size down to about 70 feet where we found 40 emerald veins that produced about one thousand emeralds," Wooten said, noting that 12 exploratory test trenches have also been dug at the site. "There are real promising areas on the property revealing the proper geology for emeralds."

Ron Stewart, Esmeralda president, said he is "very excited and fortunate" to have optioned the property.

"The Wooten/Rutledge property is a known and famous mineral locality in the scientific community that has produced very fine emeralds in the past," he said, noting the temperate winter has allowed Esmeralda to resume exploration at its 2.46-acre site sooner than anticipated.

"We are very encouraged with what we are finding in terms of vein structures that need to be explored," he said. "This is a very hands-on type of operation. There are no shortcuts."

Emeralds are among the rarest and most expensive of the colored stones which can bring up to $63,000 per carat, dependant on their quality, size, color and clarity.

Wallstreet-Review, Inc. (WALS) is a corporate financial services company that assists emerging companies in moving from the private sector to the public markets. WALS has declared two shareholder dividends within the past nine months.

For more information on Esmeralda, visit its website at: http://www.esmeraldaex.com

Statements in this news release that are not descriptions of historical facts are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Words such as "expect," "intends," "believes," "plans," "anticipates" and "likely" also identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based on current facts and analysis. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors including, but not limited to history of operating losses, anticipated future losses, competition, future capital needs, the need for market acceptance, dependence upon third parties, disruption of vital infrastructure and intellectual property rights. All forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Additional information on factors that may affect the business and financial results of the Company can be found in filings of the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

For further information contact: Jeff Daly at: 954-786-2020; Facsimile: 954-786-2080; or e-mail: jeff@wallstreet-review.com Additional information is available at the Company's website: http://www.wallstreet-review.com