March 16, 2010, VANCOUVER,
B.C.



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

has
received positive results for its first phase of geologic mapping and sampling
at the Deep Creek property, which encompasses 324 hectares (800 acres) 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 identified. As described in a previous news release, mineralization is
believed to be associated with highly silicified breccias and sinters along a
prominent range front structure (Ashburton News Release December 23, 2009).

In the present program, rock
samples were collected along the range-front structure from hydrothermal veins,
breccias, and sinters, and from the older sedimentary rocks that host them. A
total of 46 float and outcrop samples were collected along a strike length of
roughly 2.4 kilometers (1.5 miles), with the objective of sampling the
lithologic variations observed along the range front structure. Gold was
assayed for all samples at ALS Chemex (North
Vancouver) using the AA-24 method, with a detection
limit of 0.005 ppm Au. Gold contents range from 0.01-8.58 ppm for breccias (10
samples), 0.01-4.24 ppm for stockwork/veins (15 samples), and 0.02-3.07 ppm for
sinters (5 samples). Sedimentary rocks collected up to 350 meters from the
range front structure include argillite, quartzite, limestone, and shale (17
samples), with gold from below detection up to 1.44 ppm Au.

The results are encouraging as
they demonstrate that gold is enhanced in both the hydrothermal features along
the range front structure, and in the sedimentary rocks hosting the structure.

The technical contents of this
release were approved by Ashburton director and qualified person as defined by
National Instrument 43-101, Dr. Tom McCandless, P.Geo.

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

.

 

ON BEHALF OF THE
BOARD

Michael England,
President


For
further information contact:

Telephone: (604) 683-3995



Forward-Looking
Statement:
Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information that
involves inherent risk and uncertainty affecting the business of Ashburton
Ventures Inc. Actual results may differ materially from those currently
anticipated in such statements. Neither the 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.