Mr. Nicol was appointed Acting Chief Financial Officer of Placer Dome in February 2006. Preceding this appointment, he served as Vice-President and Controller of Placer Dome since 1996. Mr. Nicol joined Placer Dome in 1991, as Manager of Corporate Accounting and was promoted to Controller of Placer Dome Canada Limited in 1994. Prior to his employment with Placer Dome, he had careers with PWA Corporation/Canadian Airlines as well as Price Waterhouse. Mr. Nicol obtained his Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of British Columbia and is a member of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants. In his role as Chief Financial Officer of Augusta, Mr. Nicol will be responsible for finance, corporate and operational accounting and treasury.

Mr. Gil Clausen, President, Chief Executive Officer reports “Bruce Nicol has outstanding credentials and we look forward to his wisdom and insight as Chief Financial Officer for Augusta. Bruce’s appointment comes at a period of time when Augusta will benefit most from his considerable experience, knowledge and guidance. The management of the Company, as well as its Board of Directors, are pleased to have found such a senior and well qualified individual to fill this important role for us.”

Mr. Nicol will replace Donald B. Clark, who has been Chief Financial Officer of Augusta since June 2002 and will continue as a director of Augusta, an appointment he has held since February 1996. On behalf of the management and board of Augusta, we welcome Mr. Nicol and thank Mr. Clark for his service as Chief Financial Officer.

ABOUT AUGUSTA RESOURCE CORPORATION - Augusta Resource Corp. is a mineral exploration and development company responsibly advancing copper and other base metal assets in the U.S. southwest. The Company’s Rosemont Property is located in Pima County, approximately 50 km southeast of Tucson, Arizona, and contains three known potentially open-pit copper/molybdenum (“Cu/Mo”) deposits. The Rosemont deposit contain 6.4 billion lbs of Cu equivalent (442,000,000 tons at 0.73% Cu equivalent) in measured and indicated resources and 1.9 billion lbs of Cu equivalent (145,000,000 tons at 0.67% Cu equivalent) in inferred resources. Please refer to the Company’s news release dated January 24, 2006 for further details. Augusta has additional

exploration properties in Nevada. The Company is traded on the Canadian TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol ARS.

For additional information please visit www.augustaresource.com or contact:

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

“Gil Clausen”

_________________________

Gil Clausen

President and CEO

SPECIAL NOTICE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain of the statements made and information contained herein and in the documents incorporated by reference may contain “forward-looking statements” including statements concerning the Company’s plans at its Rosemont Property, and other mineral properties, which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results and the estimation of mineral resources and reserves, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits, the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company’s expectations, metal recoveries, accidents, equipment breakdowns, title matters, labor disputes or other unanticipated difficulties with or interruptions in production, the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies, the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses, commodity price fluctuations, currency fluctuations, failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and other risks and uncertainties, including those described under Risk Factors Relating to the Company’s Business in the Annual Information Form and the management’s discussion and analysis. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward- looking statements include statements regarding the expectations and beliefs of management, the assumed long-term price of copper and exchange rates, the estimation of mineral reserves and resources, the realization of mineral reserve estimates in future expected production, anticipated future capital and operating costs, and the potential of the Company’s properties and expectations of growth. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.