Ashton Finds More Diamonds in Alberta.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 11, 1997-- Ashton Mining of Can(TSE, ME:ACA.) John S. Auston, President and CEO of Ashton Mining of Canada Inc. is pleased to announce results of further microdiamond analyses from kimberlite pipes on the Company's Buffalo Hills project in north-central Alberta.

The results are from pipes K-1A, K1B and K19 in the southwest cluster and pipes K14B and K14C adjacent to pipe K14 drilled last winter.

In summary the results are: -0-

Kimberlite               Interval   Sample   Number of Stones
& Hole No.   Laboratory  (metres)   Weight    less   greater
                                     (kg)     than    than
                                            0.5 mm    0.5 mm

K1A-1           AML     39.8- 46.9   44.8      0       0
K1A-2           AML    131.4-137.7   43.8      0       0
K1B-1           AML     32.4- 40.8   46.7      1       0
K1B-2           AML     31.6- 39.3   45.0      0       2
K14B            AML    surface pit   42.0     16       0
K14C-1          AMC     10.0- 30.0   43.4    328      93
K19-1           AML     90.0- 98.7   51.3      0       0

Microdiamonds are stones with a maximum dimension of less
than 0.5 mm and greater than 0.1 mm.

AMC - Ashton Mining of Canada Inc. - North Vancouver, B.C.,
      Canada
AML - Ashton Mining Limited - Perth, Australia

Pipe K14C is represented by a magnetic anomaly 300 metres northeast of the centre of pipe K14 and 250 metres east of pipe K14B. Further drilling will be required to determine the spatial relationships of these kimberlites.

Pipe K14C was found by a vertical rotary percussion drill hole reported earlier which penetrated 10 metres of glacial overburden and was abandoned at 30 metres because of water inflows. Most of the macrodiamonds in the sample are broken stones probably resulting from fracturing of larger diamonds during the drilling process. The largest two stones have maximum dimensions of 2.60 and 2.55 millimetres and weigh 0.0615 and 0.0405 carats respectively. The broken stones are generally clear whereas the two largest stones have inclusions and are slightly off-colour.

This first result from pipe K14C is very encouraging and will lead to further investigation. Larger samples will be required to evaluate the quality of stones, the grade and any resulting commercial potential.

Ashton Mining of Canada Inc. and Pure Gold Resources Inc. have an option agreement with Alberta Energy Company Ltd. of Calgary whereby Pure Gold and Ashton have the right to earn interests of 15 percent and 42.5 percent respectively in the Buffalo Hills Property. Total landholdings, including option and joint venture lands, comprise 28.3 million acres in north central Alberta. Ashton is operator of the related exploration programs.

Ashton is a diamond exploration company with interests in a wide range of properties in Canada and the United States. It is 62 percent-owned by Ashton Mining Limited of Australia, a leading explorer, producer and marketer of diamonds which holds an interest of 40 percent in the Argyle diamond mine in northwestern Australia.

CONTACT: Ashton Mining of Canada Inc.

John S. Auston, 604/983-7750

Wayne D. Hillier, 604/983-7750