North Wash Update

Vane Minerals PLC
15 January 2007

15 January 2007



                          VANE Minerals Plc (AIM: VML)



        Commencement of Drilling at North Wash Uranium/Vanadium Project





VANE Minerals Plc ('VANE' or 'the Company') is pleased to announce that drilling
at the North Wash project in Utah commenced on 7th January 2007. The purpose of
the drilling programme, undertaken by the Company's uranium subsidiary, VANE
Minerals (US) LLC, is to reassess the vanadium grade of the deposit, which was
not logged accurately at the time of previous drilling, as well as to confirm
the uranium grades that were previously reported.



Initially, five existing holes will be twinned by rotary drilling at the top of
the mineralised zone and then cored through the zone. Historic drilling,
undertaken by Cotter Corporation between 1977 and 1979, outlined approximately
150,000 lbs of uranium oxide ('U3O8'), as previously announced.  The resulting
data indicated an average grade of 0.22% eU3O8 (radiometric equivalent U3O8
measured with a suitable calibrated instrument) over a thickness of 4.5 feet
(0.17% eU3O8 over 5.5 feet after dilution) and also suggested a 5:1 or better
vanadium to uranium ratio which, if confirmed would add significant value to the
project.



The mineralisation remains open in several directions and, should favourable
vanadium data be obtained, the project will be considered for continued drilling
to expand the deposit as well as moving towards mine feasibility.



VANE geologists believe the North Wash project holds the potential for up to 1
million pounds of U3O8 and 5 million pounds of vanadium oxide ('V2O5') (using
bottom end historic indicated grades of V2O5).



The Company previously announced that drilling was anticipated to commence on
its breccia pipe targets in northern Arizona. Mobilisation of the equipment to
the Miller pipe is underway and drilling is expected to commence soon.



Matthew Idiens, Director of Corporate Development, commented, 'We are entering
exciting times for VANE, with this drilling commencing at our uranium assets.
This gives the Company a fantastic opportunity to create substantial value for
shareholders in this buoyant uranium market.'



Kristopher K. Hefton, Chief Operating Officer VANE Minerals (US) LLC, BSc
Geology, who meets the criteria of a qualified person under the AIM rule
guidance for mining, oil and gas companies, has reviewed and approved the
technical information contained within this announcement.





Enquiries:


VANE Minerals Plc                                Ambrian Partners Limited
Matthew Idiens                                   Richard Brown
[phone]                             [phone]


Parkgreen Communications                         Daniel Stewart & Co
Cathy Malins/Annabel Leather                     Katie Shelton
[phone]                             [phone]



About VANE Minerals:



VANE Minerals was founded by the former international exploration team of
Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., one of the world's largest producers of
copper and gold. The Company has assembled a highly qualified and experienced
management team with a proven track record in exploration and development, who
have spent their entire careers searching for and defining large scale mineral
deposits.



The Company is using the silver/gold production at the Diablito mine in Mexico
to help fund exploration work across its attractive portfolio.



Since December 2004, VANE has built up a substantial uranium portfolio of
properties in the US, initially targeting the Arizona strip which holds the
highest grade deposits in the US, contained in breccia pipes.



For further information, please review: www.vaneminerals.com.






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