DIAMOND EXPLORATION – Ashton enthuses over Renard results

QUEBEC - Vancouver-based ASHTON MINING OF CANADA is enthusiastic about the latest results from its Renard project in the north-central part of the province. Ashton and its 50:50 joint venture partner SOQUEM, estimate the total tonnage for the six kimberlitic bodies on the property to be 22.4 million tonnes.

The 2005 winter drilling program in the area was very successful and resulted in a 27% increase in tonnage over the initial estimates announced in February 2005. The additional tonnage is primarily due to increased tonnage for Renard 2 and 3, and to the 2.4 million tonnes of material now attributed to Renard 9.

A three-dimensional visual representation of the tonnage defined to date can be viewed on Ashton's website at www.ashton.ca/investor_presentation_renardflythrough.html.

Ashton and Soquem believe that a strong potential exists to further increase the tonnage of Renard 9 and the other bodies through additional drilling. Further drilling in 2005 is therefore under consideration. This work is expected to result in the collection of a mini-bulk sample from Renard 8.