Vancouver, BC - Astral Mining Corporation ("Astral") (TSX-V AA) is pleased to announce that the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSX-V") has granted conditional acceptance of the Option Agreement dated December 14th, 2009 (the "Option Agreement") under which Astral has the right to acquire a 100% interest in the Jumping Josephine Property, located in British Columbia, Canada (Astral currently holds a 60% undivided interest and Kootenay holds a 40% undivided interest). In exchange for the right to increase its interest to 100%, Astral will, subject to final TSX-V acceptance, issue to Kootenay a total of 4,000,000 shares of Astral and incur exploration expenditures totalling $2,000,000. Final acceptance by the TSX-V of the Option Agreement will be conditional upon Astral satisfying certain conditions, including:

• review of Astral's technical report entitled "Technical Report on 2008 Exploration at the Jumping Josephine Property, South-eastern British Columbia, Canada", prepared by Qualified Person, Andrew J. Turner, P. Geol., filed on SEDAR on July 27, 2009
• Astral having raised the $750,000 necessary to meet its first year work obligation under the Option Agreement
• Approval by Astral's shareholders prior to the issuance of any Astral shares to Kootenay that would result in Kootenay becoming a Control Person of Astral.

Astral Mining Corporation is a Canadian company engaged in the exploration and development of precious metal properties in North America. 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 and 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 atwww.astralmining.com.

For further information on Astral, please contact Manfred Kurschner, President & CEO, at 604-641-1315, or by email  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or visit the Company's web site atwww.astralmining.com


Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or 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.