NPM Neptune Min

RNS Number:4534X
Neptune Minerals Plc
31 May 2007



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                               31 May, 2007


                              NEPTUNE MINERALS PLC
                          ("Neptune" or the "Company")


           NEPTUNE COMMENCES OFFSHORE NEW ZEALAND EXPLORATION PROGRAM


Neptune Minerals Plc (NPM.L), the AIM listed explorer and developer of Seafloor
Massive Sulphide ("SMS") deposits, announces that it has commenced operations on
its second New Zealand exploration program - Kermadec 2007. The specialised
deepwater geotechnical survey vessel SV Geosounder, equipped with a Remotely
Operated Vehicle ("ROV") rated to 3,000m water depth, mobilised from the New
Zealand port of Tauranga on 30th May 2007.

The vessel and ROV are owned and operated by Geo Subsea Pty Ltd, part of the Geo
ASA Group based in Bergen, Norway (www.geoasa.no). Geo ASA is a worldwide marine
specialist with offshore survey, maintenance, construction and deepwater subsea
engineering operations.

The month-long program will comprise extensive, high resolution acoustic and
geophysical mapping of multiple SMS targets within Neptune's 3,800 km2
Prospecting Licence 39-195. SMS mineralisation will be systematically sampled by
the ROV using various recovery techniques and will include the collection of
bulk samples of SMS sediment of up to several hundred kilograms per sample.
Preliminary results are expected in August 2007.

Marine biologists from New Zealand's National Institute of Water and Atmospheric
Research (NIWA) (www.niwa.co.nz) will monitor the sampling operations and
provide an independent baseline environmental impact assessment.

Neptune has three New Zealand prospecting licences totalling more than 63,000
km2. The licences are regulated and administered by the Crown Minerals
Department (www.crownminerals.govt.nz/minerals) of the New Zealand Government.

Neptune's Chief Executive Officer, Dr Simon McDonald, said:

"Kermadec '07 is the second of two exploration programs that Neptune undertook
to perform with funds raised at IPO in October 2005.  Planning this program and
obtaining a suitable vessel has taken longer than anticipated, due to continued
low ship availability resulting from high activity in the oil sector. Completion
of Kermadec '07 will be a significant milestone in defining the SMS
mineralisation model and maturing Neptune's New Zealand SMS acreage.  One
objective of Kermadec '07 is the assessment of SMS deposits to a level that will
permit Mining Licence applications to be lodged, a major step in adding
significant value to the Company."


                                      END



For further information please contact:

Simon McDonald (Neptune MD and CEO):                            info@nepmins.com
Olly Cairns (Blue Oar Securities Plc, Nomad and Broker): T: +44 (0) 20 7448 4400
Sofia Rehman (Cardew Group, PR):                         T: +44 (0) 20 7930 0777

The Neptune Minerals Website is www.neptuneminerals.com



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