Gold Exploration in West Africa

[FL]

Afcan drilling (non-gold) at Mt. Kakoulima, Guinea

AFCAN Mining Corporation AFK - TSX
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DRILLING TO START ON MT KAKOULIMA, GUINEA

Toronto: April 7, 2005: AFCAN is pleased to announce that a geological team was mobilized on March 20, 2005 to the Mt. Kakoulima project in Guinea, West Africa in preparation for a planned 5,000 metres drill programme to explore favourable Ni-Cu-PGE targets along the basal contact of the Kaloum Igneous Complex (KIC).

The Project is held by FNX Afcan Guinée S.A.R.L. (FNX Afcan), a Guinea company which is 100% owned by Afcan Mining Corporation. On February 4th, 2004, Afcan signed an Option Agreement with FNX Mining Company Inc. (FNX – TSX & AMEX) on the Mt. Kakoulima Ni-Cu-Co-PGE exploration project in Guinea, West Africa entitling FNX to earn a 100% interest in the project, subject to a 3% NSR to Afcan. To earn its interest, FNX is required to spend US$2.4 million on exploration over a five year period and produce a feasibility study or expend a further US$2.0 million on exploration. Maple Minerals Corp. (MPM - TSXV) in turn entered into an agreement with FNX to acquire 50% of FNX’s interest in the project by funding the initial US$2.4 million of exploration. To date, Maple has provided FNX with US$1.4 million in exploration funds. Reference is made to Maple’s press release of February 10, 2004 for a description of Maple’s option to earn a 50% interest in the Mt. Kakoulima project. The project area covers approximately 2 5.5 km2 and is located 30 km from Conakry, the capital of Guinea. FNX is the operator of the project.

The focus will be to follow up on the disseminated sulphides intersected during the autumn 2004, phase 2 drill program, further define the geometry of the KIC basal contact and locate possible massive Ni-Cu-PGE sulphide traps. Drilling is expected to commence on April 7, 2005 and will be conducted again by Boart-Longyear. A geophysicist from Crone Geophysics will be on site for the duration of the drill program to conduct downhole geophysical surveys as each borehole is completed. FNX plans, co-ordinates and supervises the exploration program.

The KIC is approximately 60 km long, of which the property licence covers 30 km of the contact on the north and south margins. Phases 1 and 2 of the exploration program were successful in defining and confirming the initial concept that the basal contact of the KIC dips into the centre of the intrusion with variable steepness. This is interpreted as a feature favourable for the concentration of sulphides. Other features consistent with productive Ni-Cu-PGE sulphide-bearing mafic-ultramafic intrusions are the local occurrence of disseminated sulphides hosted within basal breccias that contain evidence of wall-rock contamination of the intrusion.

Drilling in Phase 3 will begin on the south side of the KIC contact (South Grid) to further define in three dimensions a large, 5 km wide mapped embayment-like feature. Depending on results, the second half of the phase 3 program is planned for the north side of the KIC contact (North Grid) to explore favourable geometric targets along the basal contact and to follow-up on disseminated sulphides intersected during the Phase 2 drill campaign. North Grid diamond drill holes AF0007 to AF0012 intersected disseminated sulphide mineralization at the base of the intrusion over a 1.6 km strike length. Reference is made to Maple’s press release of February 14, 2005 for assay results for the first 11 drill holes.

Catharine Farrow, PhD, PGeo (Chief Geologist, FNX) is acting as the Qualified Person for the Mt. Kakoulima project.

AFCAN is an emerging gold producer in China and owns 85% of the TJS Project at Tanjianshan in Qinghai Province. A Bankable Feasibility Study has been completed on the TJS Project, detailed design has commenced with construction starting shortly. There are an additional 23 anomalies on the licence area of 341 km2 that are being explored. Afcan growth is focused on exploration and development of its advanced projects.

For further information please contact: David G Netherway, President-CEO Ph: [phone] or
Benoit La Salle, Chairman, Ph: [phone] or email: [e-mail]
Website : http://www.afcan-mining.com
THE TORONTO STOCK EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.