Subsurface Sampling Results

RNS Number:3329A
Adastra Minerals Inc
24 March 2006




NEWS RELEASE


                  Initial Subsurface Sampling at Kolwezi Yields
                                Encouraging Results

Trading: TSX and AIM: AAA


London, UK (March 24, 2006) Adastra Minerals Inc. ("Adastra" or the "Company")
reports widespread copper and cobalt mineralisation from initial reconnaissance
sampling on its subsurface licence area at Kolwezi in the Democratic Republic of
Congo ("DRC").


This initial stage of the programme, undertaken by consultants ACA Howe
International Limited ("ACA Howe"), was designed to conduct a preliminary
assessment of the subsurface mineralisation in order to plan a suitable drilling
programme.


Thirty two 1 metre channel samples were collected from the artisanal pits at
Kananga West area, which extend over a 350m east-west strike length; all
returned anomalous copper and cobalt values.  Weighted averaged assay intervals
returned from the sampling included:

*          17 metres averaging 0.7% Co and 0.19% Cu, including 1 metre @ 6.35%
           Co and 0.41% Cu;

*          7 metres @ 0.27% Co and 0.08% Cu; and

*          8 metres @ 0.31% Co and 0.11% Cu.


Due to pit geometry and safety considerations, these samples were taken down dip
and are not representative of true thickness, although they indicate lateral
continuity of mineralisation both across and along strike.


Channel sampling at the Kananga Quarry also produced encouraging results, with
the majority of the twenty-five 2 metre samples taken from the 50 metre long
quarry face being anomalous to weakly anomalous.  From the samples taken across
strike, perpendicular to the mineralisation, a length-weighted averaged assay
interval of 50 metres @ 0.32% Co and 0.1% Cu with a maximum of 2 metres internal
dilution was returned; this included 12 metres @ 0.94% Co and 0.2% Cu.


An additional five 1 metre channel samples were collected from the West
Kingamyambo pits situated some 2 km west of Kananga West.  Four of these
returned weakly anomalous cobalt values ranging from 0.08% to 0.42%; one sample
returned 0.29% copper.


Five contiguous chip-channel samples were collected from the GH pits, situated
some 2 km south of Kananga West, where artisanal miners are extracting
stratabound malachite.  The samples were perpendicular to mineralisation and
represent a true sampled width of 5 metres.  While only weak cobalt results were
returned over the sampled interval, ranging from 0.09 to 0.25% Co and averaging
0.16% Co, copper values were elevated over the interval and ranged from 0.36 to
1.37%, averaging 0.77% Cu.


All samples were submitted to Mintek in South Africa for assay analysis of
copper and cobalt.


Tim Read, President and CEO of Adastra said: "We are very encouraged by these
initial results at the Kananga area of our subsurface licence.  Although further
work will be required to provide a resource estimate, the results add weight to
our belief that extensive copper and cobalt mineralisation remains within the
area."


Subvertical, east-west striking mineralisation was observed to a depth of 60
metres below surface in the deepest workings.  ACA Howe has recommended that
Adastra undertake a programme of exploration drilling to test the ground between
the Kananga Quarry and the Kananga West pits, which has approximate dimensions
of 1,400 metres strike length over a width of 50 metres. With this area now
identified as a primary target, additional work will be undertaken to delineate
the mineralisation further.


Adastra's licence for subsurface exploration covers an area of 6,200 hectares,
with coordinates identical to the Kolwezi Tailings Licence owned by Adastra's
subsidiary Kingamyambo Musonoi Tailings sarl.  The renewable licence, which was
granted to Roan Prospecting and Mining Sprl, a wholly-owned Congolese subsidiary
of Adastra, has a validity of five years.  It was issued by the Mining Cadastre
and endorsed by a Ministerial Decree (ndegrees455/cab min/01/2005 of the 24
August 2005) and signed by the Minister of Mines for the DRC.  The subsurface
rights cover areas of past mining activity, including the Kingamyambo, Kananga
West, Kananga East and Clippe Nord deposits.


Dr D. Patrick of ACA Howe, a "qualified person" within the definition of that
term in Canadian Securities Administrators' NI 43-101, has verified the data
disclosed herein.


About Adastra

Adastra is an international mining company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange
and on AIM, in London, under the symbol "AAA".  It is currently developing
mineral assets in Central Africa, including the Kolwezi tailings project, and
the possible rehabilitation of the Kipushi zinc mine, in the DRC.  Adastra's
growth strategy emphasizes the creation of shareholder value through the
development of world-class resources in stable or stabilising political
environments.


Contact us:


London


Adastra

Tim Read, President and Chief Executive Officer

Tel.: +44 (0)20 7257 2040



Parkgreen Communications

Justine Howarth / Cathy Malins

Tel.: +44 (0)20 7493 3713



Toronto


Equicom

Martti Kangas

Tel.: +1 (416) 815 0700


This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and
forward-looking information within the meaning of the Securities Act (Ontario)
(together, "forward-looking statements"). Such forward-looking statements,
include but are not limited to the Company's plans for its Kolwezi Project in
the Democratic Republic of Congo ("DRC"), the Kolwezi Project's net present
value, its overall economic potential, the availability of project financing,
the likelihood of completion of a transaction with Mitsubishi transaction and
involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause
the actual results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements to be materially different. Such factors include,
among others, risks and uncertainties relating to political risks involving the
Company's operations in the DRC and the policies of other nations and
organizations towards companies doing business in such jurisdictions, the
inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for
unexpected costs and expenses, fluctuations in the price of copper and cobalt,
conclusions of economic evaluations, changes in project parameters as plans
continue to be refined, the inability or failure to obtain adequate financing or
complete the proposed transaction with Mitsubishi Corporation on a timely basis
and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in the Company's
Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended October 31, 2005 and reports on
Form 6-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Canadian
Securities Administrators and available at www.sec.com and www.sedar.com.




                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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