Vancouver, BC - Astral Mining Corporation (TSX-V AA, AA.WT) ("Astral" or "the Company") is pleased to announce that it has commenced its 2010 summer exploration program on the Jumping Josephine Gold Project, located in southern British Columbia, 20km northwest of the Rossland Mining Camp where historically, 3,000,000 ounces of gold were produced. The program is designed to expand on Astral's previous work which delineated a mineralized zone over a strike length of 900m to a depth of 240m returning assays grading up to 12.44g/t gold over 8m (November 29th 2007 news release - estimated true width 5.5m). The summer program will consist of diamond drilling on six targets, 1600 metres of trenching, channel sampling and infill soil sampling on geophysical and geochemical anomalies.

The 2010 Jumping Josephine exploration work program will include;

• The 2,500m diamond drill program, scheduled to commence in early July is designed to test several high priority targets including:




• additional mineralized zones along the prolific JJ Main mineralized trend;

  
  

• a mineralized stockwork 400m southeast of JJ Main that was discovered by Astral's 2008 drilling program; and

  
  

• first-pass drilling at the Bonanza, Highway, Hillside and Big Sheep prospects.




• Approximately 1.6km of backhoe trenching currently underway over six prospective gold showings, including Hillside, Highway and Big Sheep. Trenching and rock saw channel sampling is ongoing and the first sample shipment has been submitted for analysis.

  
  

• Infill and extension soil sampling to extend or delineate anomalies identified during the 2009 surface geochemistry program is underway and approximately 1000 soil samples are planned on 50x50m or 100x100m spaced grids.

Additionally, Astral has received final data from a 2,941 line kilometre AeroTEM II aeromagnetic and EM survey conducted by Aeroquest International during the past winter. Data from the new survey has been integrated with that from two previously flown surveys to produce a single data set covering approximately 386km². These images will provide an excellent tool for structural and geological interpretations that will help focus ongoing exploration work.

Work conducted since 2006 on the project has delineated a gold-bearing quartz stockwork zone 900m long to a depth of 240m with drill intercepts including 7.01 g/t Au over 19m, estimated true width 12.6m, from hole 07JD013 and 12.44 g/t Au over 8m, estimated true width 5.5m, from hole 08JD048 (see July 12th 2007 and Nov 29th 2007 news releases). The JJ Main Zone occurs along a regional-scale structure that extends for over 3km and the current exploration program will test for further mineralized zones along this trend in addition to assessing numerous other gold targets on the 400km² property through surface geochemistry, trenching and diamond drilling

The Jumping Josephine Gold Project is owned 60% by Astral Mining and 40% Kootenay Gold Incorporated (TSX.V KTN). Astral has entered into an agreement whereby it can earn 100% of the project (see news release dated January 22, 2010).

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 Exploration Manager.

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.

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 604-641-1315, 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 athttp://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.