(Source: MARKETWIRE)ANDINA Minerals Inc. (TSX VENTURE: ADM) ("Andina") today announced the start of the October 2009 to May 2010 field season at Andina's Volcan Gold Project, which includes a strategic exploration program on the property acquired from Barrick Gold Corporation ("Barrick") earlier this year. Activities started on October 16th with the mobilization of heavy equipment in preparation for the arrival of two diamond drill rigs and two reverse circulation ("RC") rigs. The Company plans approximately 9,760 metres of diamond drilling and 27,700 metres of RC drilling for a total of 37,460 metres in the 2009/2010 season. The budget for the 2009/2010 field season is approximately US$14.7 million and includes exploration and development activities and studies, as well as camp and other support costs. Andina also reported that the NI 43-101 compliant Technical Report for the 2009 mineral resource update prepared by Micon International Limited has been filed on SEDAR and is available at www.andinaminerals.com.

"The new field season is aimed at gathering the data necessary for Volcan development as we press on to our targeted release date of early 2010 for the Conceptual Development Study and Preliminary Economic Assessment. We already have one of the largest independently held resources in a safe jurisdiction so the strategic exploration program is aimed at sweetening the pot," said George Bee, President & CEO.

The strategic exploration program will be completed over the next three to four months with the objective of expanding the current mineral resource in ways that can meaningfully enhance the initial project development at Volcan. The program is expected to include geological mapping followed by a 4,000 metre drill program on selected anomalies. In order to assess the gold potential of the Ojo de Agua East target on the acquired Barrick property, trenching has already started on a one square kilometre grid, which will be covered in the coming weeks by detailed mapping, geochemistry and ground geophysical surveys. In addition to Ojo de Agua East, the program will also target the Ojo de Agua Andrea Extension and Ojo de Agua Florencia Extension. Of the many gold targets on the Volcan property, these three combine the advantages of being in close proximity to the Dorado development deposits and showing strong potential for higher grade mineralization (see exploration map in this press release).

The field activities supporting development include approximately 2,500 metres of geotechnical drilling, 10,000 metres of condemnation drilling and 20,960 metres of infill drilling on the Dorado deposits.

About Andina Minerals Inc.

Andina's primary focus is mining exploration and development in Chile.