Update on Progress

Aurum Mining PLC
16 March 2005


For immediate release                                         16 March 2005


                                AURUM MINING PLC
                           ('Aurum' or 'the Company')

           Update on progress at the Andash gold and copper property


Aurum Mining plc (AIM: AUR), the company formed to acquire gold and other
mineral extraction projects in the Former Soviet Union,  is pleased to announce
to shareholders an update on progress at its Andash gold and copper exploration
project in the Kyrgyz Republic. Aurum secured its exploration licence to the
Andash property through the acquisition, in January 2005, of Kaldora Company
Ltd.


This update includes the results of four new drill holes at the property, which
show significant mineralisation, and preliminary results of independent
metallurgical analysis. In addition it outlines planned steps in the further
development of the property.


Key points


•   A programme of technical works carried out at the Andash project since
    June 2004 has included diamond core drilling and various geophysical 
    techniques. Selected samples of core have been sent to the Wardell Armstrong 
    International (WAI) testing laboratories in the UK for independent 
    metallurgical testing.

•   The latest results have given a much greater understanding of the
    genesis of the deposit and will allow Aurum to analyse core samples obtained 
    for mineralogy, metallurgy, rock strength and grade distribution of gold and 
    copper throughout the economic ore zones in orebody No.1.

•   Four diamond drill holes have been successfully completed to target
    depth for a total of 624m of which 560m contained significant mineralisation,
    the results of which are summarised below. All the holes showed 
    mineralisation from surface to the base of orebody No.1. Mineralised 
    thickness of this orebody varied from 111m to 175m of continuous gold/copper 
    mineralisation.


Drill hole       From - To       Au g/t       Cu %
TX 1             0 - 111m        0.937        0.466
TX 2             0 - 150m        1.95         0.66
TX 3             0 - 175m        1.52         0.475
TX 4             0 - 124m        0.956        0.465



•   The results show correlation between gold and copper through the
    mineralised zones, but the drilling has also identified much higher grade 
    gold and copper occurrences within the surrounding disseminated zones.

•   These data have also shown correlation between high grade gold-copper
    mineralisation and massive magnetite mineralisation, which is important for
    targeting orebody extensions as the geophysical surveys have shown numerous
    magnetic and other geophysical anomalies both close to the main ore zone and
    elsewhere on the licence area of some 50km2.

•   An additional three diamond core drill holes are presently being
    drilled at the site targeting samples for rock strength testing for optimum 
    pit slope design and to confirm the boundary of orebody No.1.

•   The electronic drill assay database for orebodies 1, 2 and 3 has been
    sent to WAI who will carry out independent orebody modelling, ore resource
    calculations and preliminary open pit designs for economic assessment of the
    project and to determine additional in-fill drilling requirements for all 
    three deposits by mid 2005.

•   WAI has also been commissioned to carry out preliminary metallurgical
    tests on oxide and sulphide ores from orebody No.1 and results to date show 
    more than 85% recovery of gold to direct cyanidation followed by flotation 
    to recover the copper mineralisation. This testing will lead to the taking 
    of larger samples from the remaining drill core being shipped to WAI to 
    develop the optimum processing path for the Andash ores by mid 2005.

•   Andash Mining Company, Aurum's Kyrgyz subsidiary, will be filing
    shortly with the Kyrgyz authorities to obtain a mining licence 
    categorisation for Andash orebody No.1.

•   A preliminary feasibility study for mining and processing of orebody
    No.1 has been initiated by Aurum using both in-house staff and independent
    engineering contractors experienced with project development in the Kyrgyz
    Republic. This exercise will allow Aurum to collect and develop the 
    technical and economic database for handing over to independent consultants 
    to allow a full feasibility study to be carried out by late 2005.



Commenting, John Webster, Aurum Mining's Managing Director, said: 'I am
delighted by progress at the Andash property and particularly by the consistency
and level of mineralisation revealed by the drill holes. We look forward to
further advancing the project and to identifying the optimum method for
producing gold and copper at Andash.'



For further information please contact:


Aurum Mining
John Webster, Managing Director                          Tel: [phone]
Haresh Kanabar, Business Development Director            Tel: [phone]

WH Ireland
Tim Cofman                                               Tel: [phone]

Buchanan Communications                                  Tel: [phone]
Mark Court/Charlie Howard






                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange