N E W S   R E L E A S E

AMANTA RESOURCES LTD.

TSX Venture Exchange: AMH

1080 - 789 West Pender St., Vancouver, BC  V6C 1H2

Phone (604) 730-9505   Fax (604) 648-8096   info@amantaresources.com

January 9, 2008. Vancouver, Canada - Amanta Resources Ltd. TSX-V: AMH (Amanta) is pleased to report that it has now completed a reconnaissance drilling programme at the Company�s Mae Lama tungsten property. 18 core drill holes were completed, for a total drilled depth of 2,958 metres.

Mae Lama is the site of a significant former tungsten mine, which produced a tungsten concentrate from a high grade wolframite deposit within a quartz vein system. The reported head grade for the former operation was 2.0% WO₃ and production ceased in the mid-1980s, following the collapse of world tungsten prices.

The reconnaissance drilling programme was intended to test the accuracy of the reported grade and also examine the prospects for additional assemblages of tungsten bearing veins throughout the project area.

Assay results have now been received for six of the drill holes. Three of these have tested the lateral and depth extensions of the former production vein (the Mae Lama vein), while the other three explored an area to the south of the former mine and intersected a number of narrow, mineralised veins. The balance of the reconnaissance drill holes, for which results are expected shortly, explored additional vein systems which have been identified throughout the property.

The Mae Lama vein dips steeply to the south and each of the three drill holes which intersected it had visible wolframite crystals in the drill core. The significant vein intercepts were reported as follows:

Hole # MLM 4:        inclination 90�, vein intercept from 55.0 � 56.0 metres,

                              Assay grade 1.4% WO₃.

Hole # MLM 5:        inclination 80�, vein intercept from 215.4 � 216.0 metres,    

Assay grade 0.4% WO₃.

Hole # MLM 6:        inclination 90�, vein intercept from 194.0 � 195.0 metres.

Assay grade 1.2% WO₃.             

Holes MLM 5 and MLM 6 intersected the vein some 100 m below the lowest of the former working levels, thus demonstrating that the Mae Lama vein contains significant tungsten mineralisation to a depth of at least 200 m below the surface. The vein appears to have a varying width of up to about 1.5 metres and can be traced along its trend for over 700 metres.

Also, having now gained access to some of the old production openings, the Company�s geologists have observed high grade mineralisation in situ and based on photographic evidence and the observed wolframite crystals in the drill core, the Mae Lama tungsten deposits are now seen to be classic �high-grade narrow vein� deposits, with the tungsten mineralisation (wolframite) occurring as discrete high grade mineralised areas within the quartz matrix of the vein.

Amanta feels that core drilling is valuable in establishing possible tonnage and demonstrating the overall extent of the mineralisation of the Mae Lama tungsten deposit, but that channel and bulk sampling of the vein will offer a more accurate method of establishing average grades for the deposit, as core drilling can tend to over or under estimate grades in such high grade wolframite deposits.

Accordingly, Amanta engaged Drill Corp Philippines, Inc., a mining consultant, to advise on the stability of the existing adits at the property and propose a rehabilitation plan to provide safe working conditions to permit channel and bulk samples to be taken from the former production vein (the Mae Lama vein). This report has now been received by the Company and is under review.

The establishment of the average grade for the Mae Lama vein is one of Amanta�s primary objectives as the Company evaluates the opportunities for the early resumption of mining operations at the property. The assay results reported for the drill holes which intersected the vein give the company confidence that the reported former production grade is realistic and can be confirmed as further sampling work is completed.

Gerald Wright, President and CEO, commented that Amanta was very pleased with the progress of the Mae Lama project, one of three former tungsten mines in which Amanta holds 100% interests. �For such high grade tungsten deposits, a relatively modest tonnage can be the basis for a very profitable mining operation. Our objective is to develop a resource of up to one million tonnes, at grades of up to 2% WO₃ and we feel that there is sufficient tonnage contained within the Mae Lama vein system to reach this target. We are confident, having inspected the drill core, that the pending results for drill holes to the southwest of the Mae Lama vein will demonstrate additional resource potential for the project�.

Sample preparation and assays were carried out at the MAS laboratory in Bangkok where the pulverized samples are digested with a strong three acid attack and analyzed by ICP methods.

Geological Information contained within this report has been verified by Pieter Bakker (Director, Executive VP � Amanta Resources Ltd.). Mr. Bakker satisfies the requirements of a Qualified Person as defined in the National Instrument 43-101 (Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects).

Amanta Resources Ltd. is focused on mineral exploration, development and production in Thailand and the Southeast Asian region. The Company concentrates on the systematic evaluation of known mineral occurrences, rather than "greenfields" exploration, creating early opportunities to finance and develop mines.

on behalf of the board of

AMANTA RESOURCES LTD.

�Gerald D. Wright�

Gerald D. Wright,

President

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