Ashton to Process Samples From Kimberlites K-14 and K-11.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 28, 1998-- Ashton Mining (TSE:ACA.) (ME:ACA.) John S. Auston, President and CEO of Ashton Mining of Canada Inc., is pleased to announce plans for the testing of two samples from kimberlites in the Buffalo Hills Project in north-central Alberta.

A sample of approximately 450 tonnes was taken from kimberlite K-14 last winter by reverse circulation drilling. This sample now is being moved to a contract facility for processing by dense media separation (DMS). The test of K-14 will commence in approximately two weeks, and will be overseen by Ashton personnel.

Work is underway to acquire a mini-bulk sample from kimberlite K-11, 30 kilometres east of K-14. One vertical reverse circulation hole was drilled last winter on this large anomaly. As reported on May 28, 1998, an initial count of 106 microdiamonds and 14 macrodiamonds was obtained from four samples weighing 189.5 kilograms, with the largest stone having a maximum dimension of 1.7 millimetres. Core drilling to outline the kimberlite has begun and reverse circulation drilling will be employed to collect a mini-bulk sample of 20 to 25 tonnes. The sample will be processed in Ashton's DMS plant in North Vancouver.

Extensive ground geophysical surveys during the summer have defined a number of anomalies which may be indicators of kimberlites. A drill program to test new anomalies on the Birch Mountain and Loon Lake properties will commence during the fourth quarter of this year.

Construction of a DMS plant in the field has been deferred until next Spring to avoid the inherent difficulties of construction and commissioning during the winter.

The joint venturers on the central Buffalo Hills Project, including the Birch Mountain and Loon Lake properties, are Ashton Mining of Canada Inc. ((TSE/ME:ACA.), 42.5 percent)), Alberta Energy Company Ltd. ((TSE:AEC.) and (NYSE:AOG.), 42.5 percent)) and Pure Gold Minerals Inc. ((TSE:PUG.), 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 61.2 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.