ASHBURTON
RECEIVES ENCOURAGING RESULTS ON TEELS LITHIUM PROSPECT IN NEVADA

 



January 11, 2010, VANCOUVER, B.C.



– ASHBURTON VENTURES
INC. (ABR-TSX:V) (“Ashburton” or the “Company”)

is
pleased to announce results from its initial ground program on the
Teels Marsh lithium prospect claims (see PR dated November 9, 2009), located
approximately 50 miles northwest of Chemetall Foote’s Clayton Valley lithium
brine operation in western Nevada.   

Water sampling
along the northwest margin of the Teels Marsh playa confirmed lithium anomalies
detected in previous work in surveys conducted in the 1970s.  Three follow-up samples from areas of
anomalous 1970s sampling contained 530, 540 and >1000 micrograms per liter
(ppb) Li.  Geochemical analyses were
performed by ALS-Chemex Laboratories of Reno, Nevada, and North Vancouver, BC.

The samples were
collected from springs near the edge of the playa and are interpreted to
reflect Li input into the playa from the hills to the northwest.  The hills are largely underlain by Tertiary
volcanic rocks and Cretaceous granodiorite, either of which could be source
rocks for lithium-bearing brines at depth in the playa.  

The Teels Marsh
claims cover approximately 2640 acres (1070 hectares) in the western two-thirds
of the Teels Marsh playa, a closed, desert basin. 

Teels Marsh was first worked in the 1860’s for salt needed in
chlorination production plants at Aurora, Comstock, and Candelaria.  In approximately 1872 borax was discovered
and was produced steadily until 1892 by U.S. Borax, which still holds the
private ground to the east. Operations ceased when other borax resources were
found in Death Valley.  The Clayton
Valley, North America’s largest lithium producer, has a similar history of salt
and borax production in the 1800s.

The Company has discussed test drilling of the Teels Marsh brines with
hydrologic consultants and prospective drill contractors and is assessing its
options on the next phase of work.

David Hedderly-Smith,
Ph.D., P.Geo. is an advisor to Ashburton, a Qualified Person as defined by N.I.
43-101, and has approved the technical information in this press release.

Ashburton Ventures is a junior exploration
company actively seeking mineral and energy opportunities for the benefit of
all its stakeholders. For more information please visit the Company’s website
located at www.ashburtonventures.com.

David Hedderly-Smith, Ph.D, P.Geo is an
advisor to Ashburton, a Qualified Person as defined by N.I. 43-101, and has
approved the information in this press release.

ON BEHALF OF THE
BOARD

Michael England,
President


For further information contact:

Telephone:
(604) 683-3995



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of this release.