Astral Drills 5m Averaging 39 g/t Gold and 93 g/t Silver at Los Crestones Project, Sierra Madre Gold-Silver Belt, Mexico

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwire) -- 12/12/11 -- Astral Mining Corporation (TSX VENTURE: AA)(TSX VENTURE: AA.WT)(PINKSHEETS: AAMJF)(FRANKFURT: A7DA) ('Astral' or 'the Company') is pleased to report the second batch of results from drilling at the Los Crestones property, Sinaloa state, Mexico. Highlights from holes 7 to 12 of the recently-completed 18 hole 2,618.61m program include 5m averaging 39.1 g/t gold, 93.3 g/t silver and 2.13% copper. This interval from hole 11LD011 included 1m of 162.5 g/t gold, 270 g/t silver and 3.02% copper. Intervals stated are core length. True widths are not known as mineralization geometry is not completely understood at this time.

Holes 10, 11 and 12 on the Bohemia vein tested a high priority zone previously sampled on surface by Astral. Current interpretation of this section indicates up to three sub-vertical mineralized vein/breccia bodies exist within an envelope of approximately 25m. The mineralization remains open at depth and requires additional drill testing to confirm geometry and continuity.

Seventeen of eighteen holes were completed to programmed depth. Hole 11LD013 was abandoned due to poor ground conditions. Drilling targeted low-medium sulphidation epithermal style mineralization in three sub-parallel vein/breccia zones 'Corona', 'Bohemia' and 'Indio'. The zones trend north-south and have been mapped on surface for up to 930m (for drill plan see Astral's current map page at the following link: http://www.astralmining.com/los-crestones/losmaps). The mineralized zones consist of silicified breccias and quartz stockwork veins which exploit brittle fractures within multi-phase felsic intrusives and minor intermediate volcanics.

Significant Drill Intersections From Holes 7 to 12 of Phase I Drill Program
 at the Los Crestones Project
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                                          Core
                        From       To   Length     Au     Ag     Cu   Au EQ
Hole         Target       (m)      (m)      (m)  (g/t)  (g/t)    (%)   (g/t)
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11LD007      Indio    126.65   127.05     0.40   0.03   50.4   0.09    1.16
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11LD007      Indio    134.07   135.67     1.60   0.03   58.7   0.89    2.43
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11LD008      Indio     57.42    58.00     0.58   0.53   94.0   2.75    6.18
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
11LD008      Indio     62.00    63.00     1.00   1.71    1.0   0.06    1.80
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
11LD008      Indio     64.00    65.00     1.00   2.93    1.9   0.08    3.08
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
11LD008      Indio     71.06    71.41     0.35   0.03   50.6   1.67    3.33
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
11LD008      Indio     73.05    75.54     2.49   20.4   22.0   0.82   21.94
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Including              73.05    74.05     1.00   49.9   33.2   1.35   52.41
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
11LD009      Bohemia   20.20    20.90     0.70   0.56   11.7   0.43    1.38
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11LD010      Bohemia   50.00    54.00     4.00   9.13   41.8   0.55   10.72
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Including              50.00    51.00     1.00   30.0    150   1.06   34.45
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11LD010      Bohemia   56.00    61.00     5.00   1.32    4.0   0.22    1.71
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11LD011(i)   Bohemia   39.00    43.00  4.00(i)   30.0    259   3.06   39.39
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Including(i)           39.85    40.25  0.40(i)   22.8    347   5.28   36.95
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Including(i)           41.00    42.00  1.00(i)   93.4    657   6.33   115.2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
11LD011      Bohemia   46.30    47.00     0.70   41.6    256   5.24   53.91
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11LD011      Bohemia   55.00    60.00     5.00   39.1   93.3   2.13   43.93
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Including              55.00    56.00     1.00  13.20   87.9   2.77   18.76
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Including              58.00    59.00     1.00  13.85   61.0   3.06   19.27
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Including              59.00    60.00     1.00  162.5    270   3.02   172.0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
11LD012      Bohemia   57.00    60.60     3.60   2.41   30.0   0.02    3.04
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Including              57.00    58.00     1.00   4.47   33.6   0.19    5.40
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(i) 0.65m core loss between 40 to 42.7m in hole 11LD011

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 included HQ and NQ2 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 a 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 a 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 returning over 10
    g/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.

Astral is awaiting results from the remaining five holes in this round of drilling. Due to high gold and silver values returned from the latest results, confirmation analyses including metallic screens for gold will be conducted on stored coarse reject material.

Manfred Kurschner, CEO and President comments, 'The results from this first drilling program are extremely encouraging and have far exceeded our expectations. Furthermore, Astral's limited sampling programs along strike and adjacent to the discovery area have yielded a number of high priority exploration targets to focus on in 2012.'

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

Mr. Manfred Kurschner, President & CEO

Astral Mining Corporation

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.

2011 Number 22

Shares outstanding - 24,639,400

The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or the accuracy of this release.

Contacts:

Astral Mining Corporation

Manfred Kurschner

President & CEO

(604) 569-0800

info(at)astralmining.com
www.astralmining.com