Drilling Update

Drilling Update

ECR Minerals plc

ECR MINERALS plc
(“ECR Minerals”, “ECR” or the “Company”)

AIM: ECR
US OTC: MTGDY

DRILLING UPDATE

ECR Minerals plc is pleased to provide the following update on drilling at the El Abra prospect within the Company’s Sierra de las Minas gold project area in La Rioja Province, Argentina.

To date 8 drill holes have been completed and hole 9 is in progress. In total approximately 650m has been drilled. Core samples from 6 holes have been sent to the internationally accredited AcmeLabs laboratory in Mendoza, Argentina for assay. Assay results in respect of the samples submitted are expected within 2-3 weeks. The Company expects to submit further core samples for analysis in due course.

The current programme is planned to consist of 12 holes totaling 1,000m, however the Company has the option to retain the drill rig presently on site for a further 1,000m of drilling. A decision as to whether to retain the rig will be made once initial assay results from the current programme are available.

A picture of the drill rig in operation at El Abra has been added to the Company’s website and may be viewed at http://www.ecrminerals.com/images/stories/drill-rig-in-operation-at-el-abra-gold-prospect.png

About the Sierra de las Minas Project Area

ECR holds 100% of the exploration rights to the Sierra de las Minas project area and 100% of the exploitation rights to a number of prospects within it, including the El Abra prospect. Exploration rights for other prospects may be converted to exploitation rights by application to the government of La Rioja Province. The El Abra and Jazmin prospects are subject to a 2% net smelter return royalty from production. Commencement of mining activities is subject to receipt of the necessary environmental permissions from the provincial government.

The project area is located approximately 800km north west of Buenos Aires, the capital city of Argentina, and is the site of significant historical small scale gold mining. Access to the project area is possible via paved highways from the cities of Mendoza, San Juan and Cordoba. Local access is by paved and unpaved provincial routes.

About ECR Minerals plc

ECR is a mineral development company with interests in Argentina, the USA, Indonesia, Thailand and Australia.

For further information please contact:

ECR Minerals plc		Tel: [phone]
Patrick Harford, Executive Chairman
Stephen Clayson, Director & Chief Financial Officer
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.ecrminerals.com
Daniel Stewart & Company plc		Tel: [phone]
Paul Shackleton/Tessa Smith/David Hart
Old Park Lane Capital plc		Tel: [phone]
Michael Parnes
Blythe Weigh Communications		Tel: [phone]
Matthew Neal/Tim Blythe/Paul Weigh
Barry Kaplan Associates		Tel: [phone]
Larry Kaplan

The contents of this announcement have been reviewed by Trevor Neale B.App.Sc. (Geol.), MAIG, a geological adviser to the Company with more than 35 years of experience in the mining and exploration industry.

Glossary

m: metre