Atlas Mining Company Begins Exploration Drilling Job at Sunshine Mine.

OSBURN, Idaho -- Atlas Mining Company (OTCBB: ALMI) announced today that its contracting entity, Atlas Fausett Contracting (AFC), has expanded the scope of its services beyond the ongoing development contract at the Sunshine Mine in north Idaho. Sterling Mining (OTCBB: SRLM), the operator of the Sunshine Mine has awarded AFC additional work, which includes 53,000 feet of underground exploration core drilling. The job calls for exploration drilling from underground drill stations that are being excavated during the course of the decline adit currently being driven by AFC. According to William Jacobson, President and CEO of Atlas Mining Company, "We are really excited about the future of this project. The Sunshine Mine has always been a major silver producer, and we are very fortunate to be part of its resurrection."

Sterling Chief Engineer, Michael McClean, stated, "Atlas Fausett is our contractor of choice, and we are very happy to have them take on this additional work for us. We work well together, and are looking forward to some great results."

About Atlas Mining Company: Atlas Mining Company is a diversified natural resource company with focus on the development of the Dragon Mine in Juab County, Utah, the only known commercial source of halloysite clay outside of New Zealand. The unique purity and quality of the Dragon Mine halloysite is unmatched anywhere in the world and has spawned considerable research in the nanotechnology fields and has created exciting new applications for this product. Atlas also holds mining and timber interests in Northern Idaho, and operates an underground mining contracting business, and holds interests in copper and gold properties in Newfoundland. Atlas stock trades on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol "ALMI". More information about Atlas Mining Company can be found at http://www.atlasmining.com.

About Sterling Mining: Sterling Mining controls the historically significant Sunshine Mine and related exploration lands in the Silver Valley of North Idaho. The Company also holds several silver properties in Mexico, including the producing Baroness Tailings Project in the Zacatecas silver district. Sterling Mining trades on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol "SRLM" and also on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, trading symbol "SMX." For further information, visit the Company's website at www.SterlingMining.com

Safe Harbor Statement: Except for the historical statements made herein, the statements made in this release are forward-looking statements. Risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, general business conditions, managing growth, and political and other business risks. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this Safe Harbor Statement and the risks and other factors detailed in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Atlas Mining Company undertakes no duty to update these forward-looking statements.