News

Vancouver , B.C. - Bear Creek Mining (TSX Venture: BCM) ("Bear Creek" or the "Company") is pleased to announce results for twenty-nine drill holes from the Corani project. This brings the total holes drilled following the first resource estimation on this large silver discovery to eighty-two; doubling the number of drill holes used in the resource estimation (see news release 13 March 2006 for details of the Corani resource). Highlights of this release include:

• Corani Este: step-out drilling continues to extend silver mineralization with base metals increasing; including 84 meters averaging 93 g/mt Ag, 1.5% Pb, and 1.3% Zn; mineralization remains strongly open to the north.
• Minas Corani: step-out drill holes north and west continue to extend silver mineralization; including 53m averaging 174 g/mt Ag, 1.9% Pb and 0.8% Zn which confirms that a 400 meter-wide covered target is prospective.

Andrew Swarthout, President and CEO, stated “All drill holes reported today are step-outs beyond the March ’06 resource estimation boundaries, and continue to greatly expand the area of silver and base metal mineralization for the next resource update expected in July. The mineralized area now tested by drilling has increased by 100% for Corani Este and by 50% for Minas Corani from the areas used in the earlier resource estimate; and many of the new holes contain grades higher than the resource average. Importantly, mineralization is still open in both deposits. We expect that the new drill results will have a very significant, positive impact on the contained ounces silver when the resource estimate is updated. Grade, thickness, and continuity all point to a significant open-pitable, bulk-tonnage silver deposit as evidenced by the numerous intercepts that extend over lengths equal to more than ten, 10-meter mining benches. The increasing lead and zinc values from drilling as we move to the north in both Corani Este and Minas Corani will result in higher equivalent silver grades; potentially providing significant byproduct credits and a lower silver cash cost. Most exciting is the geologic potential; mineralization still remains open with a source yet to be identified. Drilling in progress show signs of strong silver-lead-zinc at the northern limits of the drilling at Corani Este suggesting that near-source, higher-grade mineralization lies to the north under post-mineral tuffs. July through September will be a dynamic period as the resource model is updated, metallurgical work is completed, and the project’s first scoping study defines the directions for project development”.

THE LATEST DRILL HOLE RESULTS ARE AS FOLLOWS :

CORANI ESTE

MINAS CORANI ZONE

CORANI MAIN  

(Please refer to Bear Creek’s website at www.bearcreekmining.com for drill hole locations, trench assay maps, previously reported drill intervals and detailed assay results. To access the silver drill hole map directly please refer to http://www.bearcreekmining.com/i/pdf/2006-06-15_CDR.pdf)

Four drills continue on the project with two dedicated to expanding mineralization at Corani Este and two expanding mineralization at Minas Corani. The drills are focused on areas where there will be the greatest impact to either increasing resources, converting waste to ore within likely stripping areas, or converting inferred resources to measured and/or indicated categories.

Corani Este- There are now 46 drill holes completed since the March ’06 resource estimation. Importantly, lead and zinc grades are increasing, and the thickest intercepts and highest grades are located at the north end of drilling where mineralization is at least 200 meters wide and remains open. Drilling in progress at the northeastern limits contains strong stock work sulfide vein and breccia mineralization; suggesting that the limits will extend to the north and northeast significant distances at Corani Este. One drill will continue to test the northern extension of mineralization while the second drill will test for extensions to the west of Corani Este where drill holes C-76 and C-78 indicate that resources will increase between Corani Este and Minas Corani ( see drill hole plan map please refer to http://www.bearcreekmining.com/i/pdf/2006-06-15_CDR.pdf). Six drill holes, shown in the table below, from the southern end of the deposit begin to define the eastern limits of mineralization. Even these “limiting” drill holes contain silver-base metal mineralization; however, the results indicate that the higher-grades are pinching out approximately 200 meters east of the main body.

Drill Holes on the Eastern Margin of Corani Este

Minas Corani- Drilling continues to define mineralization in the northwest extension now 700 meters north of the inferred resource block limits from the March ’06 estimate. Drill holes 84 and 84A begin to extend the mineralization west under the approximately 450 meter wide area of thin post-mineral cover which represents a large, highly prospective and unexplored target. Drill holes 91 and 91A are in progress and are beginning to explore this area between higher-grade silver mineralization in drill holes C-51 and C-74.

Corani Main- Drilling in the hanging wall has produced a 152 meter long interval of 96 g/mt Ag, 1.2% Pb and 0.3% Zn 150 meters from the main mineralized structure (C-77). The intercept is located under a broad area of soil cover which contains abundant quartz-barite float indicative of hidden mineralization. Additional drilling is planned for August following the resource update.

Scoping Study- The first economic study of the Corani deposits has been started, the elements of which include site access, preliminary site-specific engineering studies, metal/concentrate marketing, material and concentrate transportation, power, metallurgy, process water sources, mine planning and permitting. These reports are scheduled for completion and compilation into the scoping study in the third quarter. Metallurgical compositing has been completed for four samples derived from two holes drilled specifically for this purpose with results of selective flotation expected in late June.

OTHER PROJECTS

Drilling is expected to begin in late-June at Santa Ana. A portable diamond drill has been located to perform approximately 1,000 meters of initial drilling before the end of July.

Approximately 650 meters of drilling has been completed at Condor in four diamond drill holes. As assays are received, data will be complied for release by the end of June.

The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

- End -

Andrew Swarthout - President and CEO, or Patrick De Witt - Investor Relations

Phone: 604-685-6269 Direct: 604-628-1111

E-mail:

For further information, please visit the Company's website (www.bearcreekmining.com)

Regulatory footnotes:

All of Bear Creek's exploration programs and pertinent disclosure of a technical or scientific nature are prepared by or prepared under the direct supervision of David Volkert, P.Geo., Bear Creek's Vice President of Exploration, who serves as the qualified person (QP) under the definitions of National Instrument 43-101. All diamond drilling has been performed using HQ diameter core with recoveries averaging greater than 95%. Core is logged and split on site under the supervision of Bear Creek geologists. Sampling is done on two-meter intervals and samples are transported by Company staff to Cusco, Peru for direct shipping to ALS Chemex, Laboratories in Lima, Peru. ALS Chemex is an ISO 9001:2000-registered laboratory and is preparing for ISO 17025 certification. Silver, lead, and zinc assays utilize a multi-acid digestion with atomic absorption ("ore-grade assay method"). The QC/QA program includes the insertion every 20th sample of known standards prepared by SGS Laboratories, Lima. A section in Bear Creek's website is dedicated to sampling, assay and quality control procedures.

Certain disclosure in this release, including management's assessment of Bear Creek's plans and projects, constitutes forward-looking statements that are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors relating to Bear Creek's operation as a mineral exploration company that may cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. *Any reference to the potential quantity & grade of mineralization at Corani is conceptual in nature, there has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource on the property and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in discovery of a mineral resource on the property. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Bear Creek expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.