Published: October 13, 2006

Atacama Appoints Brian Kennedy as V.P. Operations

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VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - (CCNMatthews - Oct. 13, 2006) - Atacama Minerals Corp. ("Atacama" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:AAM), a growing industrial minerals company with operations in Chile, is pleased to announce that Mr. Brian Kennedy will be joining the Atacama team as Vice President-Operations. Mr. Kennedy has over 19 years of experience on major international mining projects with extensive experience in process design and engineering, plant commissioning and start up. Mr. Kennedy is a professional engineer with a B.A.Sc. in metallurgical engineering from the University of British Columbia and has held senior process and project management positions with AMEC, Rescan and Flour Daniel.

Mr. Edward Posey, President of Atacama, commented, "We are very pleased to have Mr. Kennedy join our management team. He brings a wealth of practical, hands-on experience. Atacama is in the process of a major expansion and improvement program which has already increased iodine production, improved efficiency and extended the resource base at its Aguas Blancas project and Mr. Kennedy's experience and expertise will complement and assist our growing operations well."

Atacama Minerals Corp. is an industrial minerals company with producing assets in Chile. The Company holds a 100% interest in the world-class Aguas Blancas iodine/sulphate/nitrate mine located near Antofagasta in northern Chile.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Edward F. Posey, President

The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Website: www.atacama.com