ANDINA Commences Exploration Activities at Gitana Copper Gold Silver Project, Chile.

TORONTO -- Andina Minerals Inc. ("Andina") (TSX VENTURE:ADM) is pleased to announce the commencement of exploration activities at its' Gitana copper gold silver project located 60 kilometres southeast of Copiapo, Chile. The 386 hectare property encompasses the Gitana mine, which has been producing, on a small scale, high-grade copper oxide and sulphide ores from a series of pits and underground workings for the past thirty years. In spite of the long history of mining, the property has never been subject to a modern systematic exploration program.

An ongoing program of geological mapping has confirmed the presence of a number of hydrothermal breccias located along the margins of a granodiorite intrusion. Historically, the majority of ore mined from Gitana mine has been extracted from a single breccia  body and associated mantos located on the northeast side of the intrusion. An induced polarization survey has commenced to determine the potential for the newly identified hydrothermal breccias to host sulphide mineralization.

In conjunction with the geological and geophysical surveys, a program of underground sampling will begin immediately focusing on a mineralized breccia unit, up to 15 metres wide, which has recently been exposed on the deepest level of the mine, approximately 80 vertical metres below the surface workings.

It is anticipated that all geological mapping, sampling and geophysical surveys will be completed by mid-February 2005. A 1,000 metres reverse circulation drilling program is planned to commence in late February 2005 focusing on the down dip and strike extensions of the known mineralization and any new targets identified from Andina's exploration activities.

Andina has an option to purchase a 100% interest in the Gitana properties from a group of local owners by making a series of escalating option payments totaling US$3 million over a period of three years. The purchase option agreement was signed in April 2004. Further information on the property can be found within the Company's Technical Report, "Review of Gold and Copper Exploration Potential of Mineral Properties in Chile" filed on the Sedar website (www.sedar.com) on November 24, 2004.

Andina is an Americas focused exploration company with a portfolio of precious metals and copper projects in Chile. The Company is dedicated to maximizing the value of it exploration assets through a commitment to fiscally responsible exploration.

The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Andina Minerals Inc. (TSX VENTURE:ADM)