SUNSTONE METALS LTD — Board/Management Information 2010

Feb 2, 2010

==> picture [454 x 86] intentionally omitted <==

ASX/Media Release 3 February 2010

APPOINTMENT OF GENERAL MANAGER – OPERATIONS

SENIOR MINING EXECUTIVE ANDREW MUNCKTON JOINS AVALON TEAM

Australian-based metals company Avalon Minerals Ltd (ASX: AVI ; “Avalon”) is pleased to announce the appointment of senior mining executive Andrew Munckton to the newly created position of General Manager – Operations, effective immediately.

Mr Munckton was most recently General Manager of Operations with the successful Australian iron ore company Gindalbie Metals Limited from 2004 to 2009, where he was responsible for leading the team that discovered, defined and commenced development of the world-class Karara Magnetite Project as well as over 40 Direct Shipping Ore (DSO) grade iron ore deposits.

He has over 25 years experience in the mining industry, holding a wide range of senior positions including at various stages as General Manager of the Paddington, Kundana and Kanowna Belle Gold Operations for Goldfields Ltd, Aurion Gold and Placer Dome before joining Gindalbie.

Mr Munckton holds a Bachelor of Science (Geology) from the University of Western Australia. He is a Member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) and is also a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

In welcoming his appointment, Avalon’s Managing Director, Mr David McSweeney, said: “I am very pleased to welcome Andrew to the Avalon team and look forward to the opportunity of once again working alongside him.”

“Andrew is a highly capable individual who has an impeccable track record in exploration, project development and operations. He will lead our team as we progress our 100%-owned Viscaria VMS Copper Project in northern Sweden through the exploration and feasibility stage towards development.”

Avalon recently commenced the first drilling programme for the 2010 calendar year at Viscaria, targeting extensions to the existing resource inventory.

– ENDS –

On behalf of: Mr David McSweeney Chairman Avalon Minerals Limited Mobile: +61 0439 399 318

Released by: Nicholas Read/Jason Cunningham Read Corporate Telephone: +61 (0)8 9388 1474

Avalon Minerals Ltd ACN 123 184 412

PO Box 165 West Perth WA 6872

Telephone: +61 8 9322 2752 Mobile: 0439 399 318 Email:

david@avalonminerals.com.au Web: www.avalonminerals.com.au

ASX Code: AVI

Directors David McSweeney (Executive Chairman)

Tan Sri Abu Sahid Mohamed (Non-Executive Director)

Stephen Stone (Non-Executive Director)

Gary Steinepreis (Non- Executive Director)

==> picture [454 x 86] intentionally omitted <==

Avalon Minerals – Background

Avalon Minerals Ltd listed in March 2007 with the aim of discovering and developing mineral deposits and to subsequently build a diversified resource mining group based on cash flows from producing operations.

The primary project generation strategy has been very successful with the acquisition of the advanced Viscaria copper deposit in northern Sweden where a maiden JORC Code Compliant Inferred mineral resource has been defined.

This Inferred resource is comprised of:

8.2 million tonnes @ 2.7% Cu at the ‘A’ Zone South;

5.1 million tonnes @ 1.2% Cu at the ‘A’ Zone North; 24.1 million tonnes @ 0.8% Cu at the ‘B’ Zone; and

2.5 million tonnes @ 1.6% Cu at the ‘D’ Zone.

These resources combined total 514,600 tonnes of contained copper.

In addition, the cluster of six closed historical copper-zinc mines at Adak, 300km south of Viscaria, also provides an opportunity for Avalon to incrementally grow its base metal inventory within northern Sweden.

Competent Persons Statements

The information in this report relating to Exploration Results is reviewed by Ms Louise Lindskog BSc Hons (Geol) who is a Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and is the Company’s Exploration Manager. Ms Lindskog has over 8 years of exploration experience in a variety of mineral deposit styles including uranium, diamonds, base metals and gold mineralisation and she consents to inclusion of the information in this report in the form and context in which it appears. She qualifies as a Competent Person as defined in the 2004 Edition of the “Australasian Code for reporting ” of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves .