Ashburton Ventures Inc. announced that it has completed the first phase of drilling at its Buckingham Graphite Project in southern Quebec which consisted of five (5) holes totaling approximately 1,033 metres. The five completed drill holes were aimed at testing targets generated by a combination of electromagnetic anomalies revealed by a TDEM (time-domain electromagnetic) survey and high-grade graphitic showings identified in trenches, which returned grades as high as 21.6% Cg (graphitic carbon) over 14.5 metres in channel samples. Holes BH15-04 and BH15-05, which were completed in late December, exhibit similar visual graphite mineralization as observed in the first three completed holes (BH15-01, -02, and -03).

Core samples have been shipped to SGS Canada Inc. in Lakefield, Ontario. The company expects the first round of assays to be completed shortly and will release results as they are received.