Ashton's Exploration Update.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 24, 1996-- David M. Hurburgh, President and CEO of Ashton Mining of Canada Inc., addressed the shareholders at the Company's Annual General Meeting and provided an update on the current exploration programs and announced new initiatives.

A total of 1.3 tonnes of kimberlite was recovered from the Orion target on the Cross property and is now at the Company's laboratory in North Vancouver. Micro-diamond testing will be initiated through laboratories in Australia and North America, with the remainder of the core to be tested for +0.5mm diamonds through Ashton's Dense Media Separation (DMS) plant in North Vancouver.

Ashton's Spring drilling program in the Slave region has now moved to the Noront No. 1 property where four targets have been identified with magnetic signatures and associated indicator minerals.

Drilling equipment has also been mobilized to the Roundrock property where a high priority target delineated by an intense indicator mineral dispersion fan will be drill tested. Two diamonds were recovered from till samples collected down-ice from this projected target.

In the Northwest Territories, the Company is extending its relationship with Echo Bay Mines Ltd. Ashton and Echo Bay have reached an agreement in principle which will allow Ashton to undertake joint diamond exploration on Echo Bay's 100 percent owned leases in the area of the Lupin gold mine. The Lupin mine leases are located within the "Corridor of Hope" and only 20 km southeast of the Jericho pipe held by Lytton Minerals Ltd.

Elsewhere, Ashton maintains its exploration presence in the James Bay area in Northern Ontario through a 25 percent claw-back interest in this joint venture. Under the Lake Superior Joint Venture, operations have been scaled back while still retaining leases over the more prospective areas of this project in the United States.

Also announced at the Annual General Meeting was David Hurburgh's return to Australia in the next several months to head up the Business Development Group of Ashton Mining Limited. The recruitment process for his successor as President of the Company is well advanced and an announcement will be made as soon as the appointment is finalized.

1996 first quarter results show a loss of $126,000 or $0.01 per share and exploration expenditures of $656,000. Cash and term deposits were $12,768,000 at March 31, 1996 and generated investment income of $203,000 for the quarter.

Ashton Mining of Canada Inc. is a diamond exploration company with interests in a wide range of exploration properties in Canada and the United States. The Company is 62 percent owned by Ashton Mining Limited of Australia, a leading international diamond exploration, mining and marketing company.

CONTACT: Ashton Mining of Canada Inc.

David M. Hurburgh, 604/983-7750