Vancouver, British Columbia – January 26, 2012 - Astral Mining Corporation (AA.TSXV) (“Astral” or the “Company”) announces that it has arranged a $151,000 private placement of convertible notes. The private placement will have insider participation, being Manfred Kurschner and Nick DeMare, both directors of Astral. The independent directors of Astral were consulted prior to the announcement of the proposed private placement, which is subject to regulatory approval.

The private placement will consist of convertible notes, structured as an unsecured, interest-bearing loan of $151,000, which has been advanced to the Company. The term of the loan will be for two years, following receipt of all required regulatory approvals. The lenders may convert at any time all or a portion of the principal amount outstanding under the loan into common shares of Astral at a conversion price of $0.105 per common share. The lenders will also have the right to convert all or any portion of the accrued interest on the loan into common shares of Astral at the market price of Astral’s common shares at the time of conversion. Astral may, at its option, repay all or any of part of the principal amount outstanding under the loan, without bonus or penalty, subject to the requirement that Astral give notice to the lenders that the lenders may elect within 10 business days to convert all or any portion of the loan into common shares. The loan agreement will contain provisions related to default by Astral and remedies available to the lenders. Astral will pay interest to the lenders at the rate charged by the lenders bank or the Company’s financial institution, plus 400 basis points. The loan will accrue interest to the date of repayment and will be calculated monthly on the last day of the month.

In consideration of the loan, the Company has agreed to issue to the lenders share purchase warrants entitling them to purchase up to a total 1,438,095 common shares of the Company exercisable for two years from the date of the convertible note at a price of $0.105 per common share. The share purchase warrants will be detachable from the convertible note.

The convertible notes and issuance of the share purchase warrants are subject to the acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange.

The loan funds are for exploration of Astral’s Los Crestones property and for general working capital.

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 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 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.

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