December 23, 2009,
VANCOUVER, B.C.



– ASHBURTON VENTURES INC.


(ABR-TSX:V)
(“Ashburton” or the “Company”)

is pleased to announce it has acquired the Deep Creek Property in
northern Nevada.  The Deep Creek claims are located approximately 112
kilometers north of Elko, Nevada, and 56 kilometers northeast of the
Newmont-owned Midas mine, in the Independence segment of the prolific Carlin
gold trend.

Gold at Deep Creek was first
discovered by Franco-Nevada in the mid 1980’s, when two large geochemical
anomalies were found to contain visible gold in grab samples.  One of a dozen
holes drilled intersected 14 grams per tonne gold (0.42 opt Au) over a ten
meter interval, but true thickness was not determined at the time. On the
surface, mineralization appears to be associated with highly silicified
breccias and sinters along a prominent range front structure in Paleozoic
carbonate rocks. Over 70 surface rock chip samples were collected mostly along the
range front structure, with assays from below detection up to 68 grams per
tonne gold (2.0 opt Au).  The surface geology suggests that a large epithermal
system may exist at depth in the Paleozoic carbonate rocks. 

To date, roughly
324 hectares (800 acres) of contiguous claims have been staked, with additional
staking presently underway. A geochemical sampling program with plans for
drilling will be implemented by the company in early 2010. President and CEO of
Ashburton Mike England states, “We are pleased to acquire the Deep Creek
project and believe that its potential to host a high-grade gold deposit has
been largely untested.  Some of the mineralization exhibits a Carlin-type
chemistry that could indicate the potential for a large scale gold deposit similar
to Jerritt Canyon or Midas at the Deep Creek area.”

To earn 100% of
Deep Creek Ashburton will make cash payments totaling $155,000 USD, issue
500,000 common shares and spend $135,000 USD over the 4 year term. A 2.5% NSR
applies with 1.5% purchasable by the Company for $2,000,000 USD.

Tom E.
McCandless, Ph.D, P.Geo, a director of Ashburton and Qualified Person as
defined by N.I. 43-101, has approved the information in this press release. The
Deep Creek property has not been the subject of a National Instrument 43-101
report and Dr. McCandless has not verified the technical data disclosed in this
release.

Ashburton
Ventures is a junior exploration company actively seeking mineral and energy
opportunities for the benefit of all its stakeholders.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

 


“Michael England”

___________________________

Michael England, President


For further information
contact:
For For further information contact:
Telephone: (604) 683-3995
Facsimile: (604) 683-3988
Email: [email protected]

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.