African Aura Mining Inc. - Airborne geophysical survey of Cameroon iron ore
projects

/NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISSEMINATION TO US NEWS WIRE SERVICES/

TSX-V: AUR

AIM: AAAM

TORONTO, Feb. 25 /CNW/ - African Aura Mining Inc. ("African Aura" or the "Company") the TSX-V (AUR) and AIM (AAAM) listed exploration to production company focused on gold and iron ore in sub-Saharan Africa announces the commissioning of an airborne geophysical survey across the Company's Nkout, Ngoa and Akon iron ore projects in southern Cameroon.

    
    Highlights:

    -   Airborne geophysical survey to define priority targets across three
        iron ore projects and selected gold projects
    -   Projects strategically well located within a major emerging iron ore
        province
    -   Projects situated close to:
        -  2.5 billion tonne Mbalam iron ore deposit (located 150km to the
           south east)
        -  Proposed rail route and port to service Mbalam deposit
    -   Previous reconnaissance sampling returned encouraging iron ore
        grades:
        -  Nkout project: up to 68% Fe and averaging 55% Fe
        -  Ngoa project: up to 69% Fe averaging 62% Fe
        -  Akon project: up to 65% Fe averaging 54% Fe
    

African Aura has signed a contract with New Resolution Geophysics of South Africa to undertake a 14,000 line km airborne geophysical survey (electromagnetic and gravity) in Southern Cameroon. The survey is expected to commence on 26 February 2010 and will cover the Company's three iron ore projects (as well as gold projects at Ntem and Batouri), with lines typically being flown at 100m spacing.

Luis da Silva, President & CEO of African Aura commented:

"With the advantage of being an early entrant into Cameroon, African Aura has assembled an excellent portfolio of iron ore projects in a globally significant emerging iron ore province. The projects are strategically well located situated close to the proposed rail route between the 2.5 Bt Mbalam iron ore deposit, being developed by ASX-listed Sundance Resources to the east, and the proposed deep water port at Kribi on the Atlantic coast. During 2008 and 2009, African Aura undertook first pass reconnaissance sampling and mapping across its iron ore projects, which yielded encouraging iron ore grades at surface. The newly commissioned airborne geophysical survey will prioritise the targets for a drill programme planned to commence later in 2010 following interpretation of the survey data."

African Aura's Iron Ore Portfolio in Cameroon:

African Aura has three principal early stage iron ore projects in Cameroon, namely Nkout, the adjacent Ngoa and Akon Hills. The Company considers that when taken individually their dimensions represent potentially significant iron ore targets. The sub-region of southern Cameroon, Gabon and the Republic of Congo hosts a number of substantial iron deposits, which are currently under exploration and development including the 2.5 Bt Mbalam deposit, located approximately 150km southeast of Nkout, which is under development by Sundance Resources Limited. Further information on African Aura's iron projects in Cameroon is summarised below and is available at www.african-aura.com/s/Nkout.asp.

Nkout Iron Ore Project, Southern Cameroon

The Nkout iron ore project is located on the 489 km(2) Djoum licence which is held by the Company's 100% owned subsidiary Caminex SARL. The project was identified through interpretation of historic airborne magnetic and remote sensing data. Mapping undertaken to date has shown that Nkout comprises a 12km long, iron rich (Itabirite / BIF) discontinuous ridge hosted in Archaean age rocks in the Congo Craton. Reconnaissance sampling at Nkout has returned assays with a maximum grade of 68% Fe and an average of 57% Fe from 55 samples.

Table 1. Previous assay results from reconnaissance samples taken from the Nkout project

    
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Number of samples        % Fe    Main component(s)       Rock type
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
           39               54-68        Fe(2)O(3)      Haematite/magnetite
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
           11               37-43    Fe(2)O(3) + SiO(2)         BIF
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         (less than)
            5                 10%          SiO(2)          Granite-gneiss
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    

Ngoa Iron Ore Project, Southern Cameroon

The Ngoa iron ore project is located 2km south of Nkout on the adjacent 991 km2 Essong licence which is held by the Company's 70% owned subsidiary Ridgeway Energy SARL. The project was identified through interpretation of historic airborne magnetic and remote sensing data which shows an intense magnetic dipole coincident with a hill that rises to 300m above the regional landscape, with flanks that are strewn with a high proportion of enriched Itabirite / BIF float. Mapping undertaken to date has shown that Ngoa comprises a 2km long, iron rich hill (Itabirite / Banded Iron Formation) hosted in Archaean age rocks. Reconnaissance sampling at Ngoa has returned assays with a maximum grade of 69% Fe and an average of 62% Fe from 23 samples.

Table 2. Previous assay results from reconnaissance samples taken from the Ngoa Hill project

    
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Number of samples        % Fe    Main component(s)       Rock type
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
           20               57-69        Fe(2)O(3)       Enriched Itabirite
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
            3               37-46    Fe(2)O(3) + SiO(2)   Itabirite / BIF
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    

Akon Iron Ore Project, Southern Cameroon

The Akon iron ore project is located 85km northwest of Nkout, next to the main Sangmelima - Djoum road, on the 489 km(2) Akonolinga licence which is held by the Company's 100% owned subsidiary Caminex SARL. The project was identified through interpretation of historic airborne magnetic and remote sensing data which shows a cluster of airborne geophysical dipoles coincident with areas of higher ground, along a discontinuous strike length of approximately 20km. Mapping undertaken to date has shown that Akon comprises three separate BIF occurrences, Nkol Mendoua, Mezesse and Mekomo, each approximately 1-2km strike length located within 4km of each other, with a combined strike length of approximately 4km. Reconnaissance sampling at Akon has returned assays with a maximum grade of 67% Fe and an average of 57% Fe from 7 samples.

Table 3. Previous assay results from reconnaissance samples taken from Akon Hills area

    
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Number of samples        % Fe    Main component(s)       Rock type
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
            6               51-67        Fe(2)O(3)       Enriched Itabirite
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
            1                  31    Fe(2)O(3) + SiO(2)    Itabirite / BIF
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    

Oversight

The exploration results and further planned work in Cameroon have been reviewed and approved by Mark Biddulph. He holds a BSc Hons in Geology, and GIS from Rhodes University, and a GDE in Mining Engineering (Mineral Economics) from the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa. Mark is a Professional Natural Scientist under the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP) and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101.

About African Aura Mining Inc.

African Aura is an established African exploration and development company listed on the TSX-V (AUR) and London's AIM (AAAM). African Aura is focused on the development of world-class gold and iron ore deposits in highly prospective, under explored countries of sub-Saharan Africa. The Company has a highly motivated and experienced team with a record of discovering mines and taking projects through development and into production in Africa.

African Aura's assets include the New Liberty gold deposit and the Putu iron ore project, both in Liberia. Putu is being explored and operated by the Company's Joint Venture partner, Severstal Resources (the mining division of OAO Severstal). The Company also has a 32% interest in diamond producer Stellar Diamonds plc (AIM: STEL).

A pioneer in Africa, African Aura has attracted some excellent strategic partners and shareholders always with the objective of preserving or enhancing shareholder value. For further information on the Company you are invited to visit its website at www.african-aura.com, or SEDAR's website at www.sedar.com, or contact one of the following:

Forward-looking Statements

This press release includes certain forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, including without limitation, statements regarding the future plans and objectives of African Aura, are forward-looking statements that involve various known and unknown risks and uncertainties as well as other factors. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations, including delays in obtaining or failure to obtain required regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof and, except as may be required by applicable law, African Aura disclaim any obligation to update or modify such forward-looking statements, either as a result of new information, future events or for any other reason.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For further information: ENQUIRIES: African Aura Mining Inc.: Luis da Silva, President & CEO, Tel: [phone]; Evolution Securities Limited: Simon Edwards, Chris Sim, Neil Elliot, Tel: [phone]; Pelham Bell Pottinger, Charles Vivian, James MacFarlane, Tel: [phone]