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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 T1SnnYV6pj74fPe6NtdgSiQWSPKFYlkGpabPq912sOZp9c3F3dCEop13H5Zb+Ec5
 x/tjDHTxnJhYO7xNkBLU5w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-04-001032.txt : 20040113
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-04-001032.hdr.sgml : 20040113
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040113095719
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-04-001032
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040109
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040113

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HIGSON SMITH BRUCE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001264813

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12284
		FILM NUMBER:		04521799

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10579 BRADFORD RD
		STREET 2:		STE 103
		CITY:			LITTLETON
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80127
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3038944621

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES LTD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000903571
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	GOLD & SILVER ORES [1040]
		IRS NUMBER:				980101955
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10579 BRADFORD ROAD
		STREET 2:		STE 103
		CITY:			LITTLETON
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80127
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3038309000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10579 BRADFORD ROAD
		STREET 2:		STE 103
		CITY:			LITTLETON
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80127
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2004-01-09</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000903571</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES LTD</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GSS</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001264813</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HIGSON SMITH BRUCE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>10579 BRADFORD ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 103</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LITTLETON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80127</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>VP Corporate Development</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Shares</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2004-01-09</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>17250</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>4.13</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>17250</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
<nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Shares</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2004-01-09</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5000</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>6.86</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>12250</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
<nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Shares</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2004-01-09</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5000</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>6.96</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"></footnoteId>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>7250</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
</nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Share Options</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>4.13</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate><value>2004-01-09</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>17250</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F3"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2013-09-18</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Shares</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>17250</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>182750</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeTransaction>
</derivativeTable>
<footnotes><footnote id="F1">The exercise price of the options was in CDN$; this is the US$ equivalent on the date of transaction (CDN$1.00=US$0.7867).</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">The sales price was in CDN$; this is the US$ equivalent on the date of transaction (CDN$1.00=US$0.7867).</footnote>
<footnote id="F3">225,000 options were initially granted; 1/4 vested immediately; 1/4 vest on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the grant date.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>Bruce Higson Smith</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2004-01-13</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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