Ashton Reports Microdiamond Results from New Kimberlite Cluster in Alberta.

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 28, 1998-- Ashton Mining of Canada (TSE:ACA.) (ME:ACA.) John S. Auston, President and CEO of Ashton Mining of Canada Inc., is pleased to provide further results of microdiamond analyses of samples from kimberlites discovered by the winter program of reverse circulation drilling on the Buffalo Hills Project in north-central Alberta. -0-

Kimberlite  Laboratory   Sample       Number of Diamonds
                        Weight (kg) less than  greater than
                                      0.5 mm       0.5 mm

K11            AMC        50.7          55           7
               AMC        41.4          17           5
               AML        47.0          17           0
               AML        50.4          17           2
                         189.5         106          14 (1)

K92            AMC        38.9           2           1
               AML        51.0           0           0
                          89.9 2           1

K10            AMC        42.3           4           0
               AML        56.8           0           0
                          99.1           4           0

K95            AMC        34.2           0           0
               AMC        28.5           0           0
               AML        55.6           1           0
                         118.3           1           0

(1) Largest stones:
1.1 x 1.2 x 0.8 mm
1.7 x 1.5 x 1.0 mm
1.3 x 1.1 x 0.8

Laboratories:
AMC - Ashton Mining of Canada, North Vancouver
AML - Ashton Mining Ltd, Perth, Australia

Kimberlites K-11, K-92 and K-10 are in a cluster centred approximately 30 kilometres east of K-14. The recent analyses tabulated above indicate that all are diamondiferous, with K-11 returning a higher count of particular interest. K-11 is indicated by a magnetic anomaly measuring approximately 500 metres by 250 metres, and was discovered in a vertical reverse circulation hole which penetrated 13.4 metres of overburden. Further work will be planned to follow-up these encouraging results from this new diamondiferous cluster in the Buffalo Hills area.

The negative results from K-95 follow those reported on April 29, 1998 and confirm the apparent lesser prospectivity of this pipe in the southern cluster.

The joint venturers on the central Buffalo Hills Project are Ashton Mining of Canada Inc. (ACA.TSE/ME, 42.5 percent), Alberta Energy Company Ltd. (AEC.TSE and AOG.NYSE, 42.5 percent) and Pure Gold Minerals Inc. (PUG.TSE, 15 percent). Ashton is operator of the programs.

Ashton is a diamond exploration company with interests in a wide range of properties in Canada and the United States. It is 61.4 percent-owned by Ashton Mining Limited of Australia, a leading explorer, producer and marketer of diamonds which holds an interest of 40.1 percent in the Argyle diamond mine in northwestern Australia.

    CONTACT:  Ashton Mining of Canada Inc.
               John S. Auston, 604/983-7750
                    or
               Susan Morrison, 604/983-7750