Vancouver, BC – Astral Mining Corporation (TSX-V AA, AA.WT) (“Astral” or “the Company”) is pleased to report the third and final batch of results from drilling at the Los Crestones property, Sinaloa state, Mexico. Highlights from Phase One drilling include previously announced 5m averaging 39.1 g/t gold, 93.3 g/t silver and 2.13% copper from drillhole 11 (see December 12th 2011 news release). Intervals stated represent core length, true widths are not stated as mineralization geometry is not clear at this time.

Results from Phase I drilling successfully highlight the potential of the low-sulphidation epithermal system in which drilling tested mineralized exposures over a strike length of 300m. Three sub-parallel zones “Corona”, “Bohemia” and “Indio” trend north-south and have been mapped on surface for up to 930m (for drill plan see Astral’s current map page here). The zones consist of silicified breccias and quartz stockwork veins which exploit brittle fractures within multi-phase felsic intrusives and intermediate volcanics. Additional structures parallel to Corona, Bohemia and Indio have been identified. Astral is planning comprehensive follow-up programs including detailed geophysical and expanded geochemical surveys to assist targeting of Phase II drilling. Planned work aims to assess the extent and controls of the mineralizing system responsible for emplacement of the highly anomalous intervals reported from Phase I.

Holes reported in this release include 13-18 of the 18 hole program. Hole 13 was abandoned due to poor drilling conditions and did not reach target depth. Holes 14 and 15 targeted the Bohemia vein south along strike from previously reported intervals. Holes 16-18 were drilled from a single pad and targeted the Indio vein in what was the southernmost drilling conducted during Phase I.

Significant Drill Intersections From Holes 13 to 18 of Phase I Drill Program at the Los Crestones Project

 ——————————————————————-

 |Hole     |Target |From |To (m)   |Core  |Au   |Ag   |Cu (%)|Au EQ|

 |         |       |(m)  |         |Length|(g/t)|(g/t)|      |(g/t)|

 |         |       |     |         |(m)   |     |     |      |     |

 |—————————————————————–|

 |11LD013  |       |Hole |Abandoned|      |     |     |      |     |

 |—————————————————————–|

 |11LD014  |Bohemia|60.00|61.00    |1     |2.65 |1.7  |0.05  |2.75 |

 |—————————————————————–|

 |11LD015  |Bohemia|72.58|73.51    |0.93  |1.26 |36.7 |2.01  |4.75 |

 |—————————————————————–|

 |including|Bohemia|72.58|73.10    |0.52  |0.32 |64.2 |3.57  |6.50 |

 |—————————————————————–|

 |including|Bohemia|73.10|73.51    |0.41  |2.46 |1.8  |0.03  |2.53 |

 |—————————————————————–|

 |11LD016  |Indio  |19.65|21.60    |1.95  |0.07 |103.7|0.75  |3.16 |

 |—————————————————————–|

 |11LD016  |Indio  |19.65|20.60    |0.95  |0.06 |170  |0.88  |4.67 |

 |—————————————————————–|

 |11LD016  |Indio  |20.60|21.60    |1.00  |0.08 |32.2 |0.57  |1.50 |

 |—————————————————————–|

 |11LD017  |Indio  |22.70|23.55    |0.85  |0.76 |34.2 |1.15  |3.02 |

 |—————————————————————–|

 |11LD018  |Indio  |30   |30.6     |0.6   |0.27 |21.9 |0.70  |1.66 |

 ——————————————————————-

Table Notes

1.Intervals are reported as core length. Astral cannot accurately estimate true width as the vein geometry is not clearly understood at this time. 2.No top cut has been applied. 3.Gold equivalent assumes 100% metallurgical recovery, Au at $1500/oz, Ag at $30/oz, Cu at $3/lb, 1 troy oz = 31.10348g, 1lb = 453.593g 4.Drilling tabulated above is HQ sized drill core sampled at one metre intervals where lithological contacts reasonably allowed. 5.Samples were halved using diamond core saw. Half-core is stored on site while the other half was sent to the laboratory. 6.Samples were sent to ALS Chemex in Hermosillo, Sonora for standard preparation and shipped to the Vancouver laboratory for analysis. 7.Samples were analysed for a standard multi-element suite by aqua regia digestion with ICP-AES finish on 0.5g sample charge (ALS code ME-ICP41) Overlimit analyses for silver, copper, lead and zinc were re-run using an Ore Grade aqua regia digestion with ICP-AES finish on an 0.4g sample (ALS code MEOG-46). 8.Samples were analysed for gold by routine fire assay and AAS finish on a 30g nominal sample weight (ALS code Au-AA23), Samples retuning over 10g/t gold were re-assayed by fire assay fusion, gravimetric finish on a 30g charge (ALS code Au-GRA21). 9.Astral incorporates blanks, certified standards and duplicate assays as part of industry standard QA/QC checks.

Due to high gold and silver values returned from batches in Phase I, Astral plans to conduct confirmation analyses including metallic screens for gold on stored coarse reject material. Duplicates on stored sample pulps are also planned.

Technical details contained in this news release have been reviewed by Dale Brittliffe, P.Geo., a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 and Astral’s V.P. Exploration.

About Astral

Astral Mining Corporation is a Canadian company engaged in the exploration and development of precious metal properties in the Americas. By focusing on exploration in mining-friendly districts, the Company minimizes the political and social risks encountered in many other parts of the world. With a new gold discovery at the Company’s Jumping Josephine Gold Project in Southern British Columbia, the promising early stage Los Crestones gold-silver project in Sinaloa state, Mexico, an experienced technical team and seasoned management, Astral is poised to leverage this expertise into early exploration success. Further details on Astral Mining Corporation and its high-quality portfolio of exploration projects can be found at www.astralmining.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Manfred Kurschner”

Mr. Manfred Kurschner, President & CEO

Astral Mining Corporation

For further information on Astral please contact Manfred Kurschner, President & CEO, at (604) 569-0800, or by email [email protected] This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or visit the Company’s web site at http://www.astralmining.com

The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or the accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note to US Investors: This news release may contain information about adjacent properties on which we have no right to explore or mine. We advise U.S. investors that the SEC’s mining guidelines strictly prohibit information of this type in documents filed with the SEC. U.S. investors are cautioned that mineral deposits on adjacent properties are not indicative of mineral deposits on our properties. This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, potential mineral recovery processes, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.