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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