Aura Minerals Releases Additional Assay Results for the Copper-Gold-Silver Aranzazu Mine in Mexico

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Feb. 10, 2011) - Aura Minerals Inc. ("Aura Minerals" or the "Company") (TSX:ORA) is pleased to release an additional 20 drill holes from the ongoing infill and extension drilling program at its wholly-owned copper-gold-silver Aranzazu Mine in Zacatecas State, Mexico. These results consist of assays from drilling, which targeted the following:

• zones southeast along strike from the Glory Hole Zone to the Cabrestante Zone;
• deeper drilling to further test for down-dip extensions; and
• the new Zona-CC to the south of the Cabrestante Zone.

Assay results from additional drill holes targeting Zona-CC are also pending. Zona-CC has not been included in any resource calculation to date.

Of the 18 reported drill holes, 14 have intercepts of greater than 1.0% copper with significant gold and silver values. Holes AZC-101, AZC-102 and AZC-128, highlighted below, targeted deeper down-dip extensions of known mineralization.

Hole AZC-219 from Zona-CC is a follow-up to the first reported intersection from drill hole AZC-179 from this zone (see News Release no. 2010-24 dated November 22, 2010), which returned 45.0 metres of 1.05% Cu, 0.86 g/t Au and 28.83 g/t Ag. This new hole highlights the possible high-grade nature of Zona-CC and the potential for this zone to grow the overall resource base at the Aranzazu Mine.

Highlights include (see Table 1 and Maps 1 and 2: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/ora29.pdf):

- Hole AZC-101, which returned 12.0 metres of 3.72% Cu, 1.33 g/t Au and 51.30 g/t Ag;

- Hole AZC-102, which returned 54.0 metres of 2.80% Cu, 0.62 g/t Au and 12.50 g/t Ag;

- Hole AZC-103, which returned 18.0 metres of 2.26% Cu, 3.27 g/t Au and 29.00 g/t Ag;

- Hole AZC-108, which returned 19.5 metres of 2.20% Cu, 4.57 g/t Au and 24.70 g/t Ag;

- Hole AZC-111, which returned 7.6 metres of 1.13% Cu, 1.22 g/t Au and 15.00 g/t Ag and 15.0 metres of 1.10% Cu, 0.92 g/t Au and 9.80 g/t Ag;

- Hole AZC-128, which returned 24.0 metres of 1.21% Cu, 0.97 g/t Au and 12.00 g/t Ag;

- Hole AZC-133, which returned 12.0 metres of 1.70% Cu, 1.39 g/t Au and 18.50 g/t Ag;

- Hole AZC-214, which returned 24.4 metres of 1.66% Cu, 1.25 g/t Au and 27.80 g/t Ag; and

- Zona CC Hole AZC-219, which returned 13.7 metres of 1.53% Cu, 0.66 g/t Au and 47.40 g/t Ag. 

One rig continues to drill along strike, with a focus on the area from the Glory Hole Zone to Zona-CC.

Additional results from the deep drill program are pending and are expected to be released later this quarter.

Commenting on these results, Mr. Patrick Downey, President and CEO of Aura Minerals, stated, "We continue to receive exceptional drill intercepts at the Aranzazu Mine. We are now expanding the resource along strike and at depth. Zona-CC was discovered late in 2010 and we continue to believe that further drilling on this zone could add significant high-grade tonnes to the resource and this area is wide open to another new zone called the Esperanza target. These zones will likely form part of our plans for project expansion as they are along strike and could likely be accessed by a new adit from the open pit which is currently being mined."

Table 1 - Aranzazu Assays (see Maps 1 and 2: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/ora29.pdf)

Hole #	East		North	Azimuth (degrees)	Dip (degrees)		From (metres)		To (metres)		Interval(1) (metres)	Cu (2)(4) (%)	Au (3) (g/t)	Ag (4) (g/t)
AZC-101	253964		2724234	213	-62		283.5		286.5		3.0	1.80	0.75	13.30
AZC-101	253964		2724234	213	-62		318.0		330.0		12.0	3.72	1.33	51.30
AZC-102	253902		2724277	212	-61		114.0		117.0		3.0	1.48	0.11	13.70
AZC-102	253902		2724277	212	-61		294.0		348.0		54.0	2.80	0.62	12.50
AZC-103	254098		2724110	208	-62		45.0		51.0		6.0	0.73	0.16	17.90
AZC-103	254098		2724110	208	-62		202.5		220.5		18.0	2.26	3.27	29.00
AZC-105	253902		2724277	212	-67		319.5		324.0		4.5	0.56	0.27	7.30
AZC-105	253902		2724277	212	-67		336.0		340.5		4.5	0.53	0.29	6.00
AZC-105	253902		2724277	212	-67		364.5		369.0		4.5	0.81	0.49	17.30
AZC-106	254097		2724110	210	-54		177.0		184.5		7.5	1.16	0.98	11.20
AZC-108	254119		2724203	211	-46		246.0		255.0		9.0	0.93	1.28	14.90
AZC-108	254119		2724203	211	-46		274.5		294.0		19.5	2.20	4.57	24.70
AZC-109	254073		2724113	210	-48		46.5		63.0		16.5	0.88	0.21	2.60
AZC-109	254073		2724113	210	-48		79.5		96.0		16.5	0.96	0.24	5.70
AZC-109	254073		2724113	210	-48		130.5		136.5		6.0	1.72	1.78	20.00
AZC-111	254073		2724114	207	-58		52.5		64.5		12.0	0.81	0.11	2.20
AZC-111	254073		2724114	207	-58		155.9		163.5		7.6	1.13	1.22	15.00
AZC-111	254073		2724114	207	-58		175.5		190.5		15.0	1.10	0.92	9.80
AZC-128	254239		2724156	208	-46		183.0		201.0		18.0	0.66	0.44	23.70
AZC-128	254239		2724156	208	-46		280.5		304.5		24.0	1.21	0.97	12.00
AZC-128	254239		2724156	208	-46		310.5		316.5		6.0	0.95	1.49	13.20
AZC-133	254262		2724148	211	-45		282.0		294.0		12.0	1.70	1.39	18.50
AZR-210	254513		2723838	31	-55		0.0		6.1		6.1	1.40	0.60	6.60
AZR-210	254513		2723838	31	-55		65.5		71.6		6.1	0.73	0.73	42.90
AZR-211	254547		2723844	30	-56		0.0		4.6		4.6	0.94	0.10	3.40
AZR-214	254181		2724009	210	-45		68.6		93.0		24.4	1.66	1.25	27.80
AZR-215	254181		2724010	208	-59		10.7		19.8		9.1	0.61	1.76	9.30
AZR-215	254181		2724010	208	-59		85.3		88.4		3.1	0.68	0.77	14.80
AZR-215	254181		2724010	208	-59		137.2		147.8		10.7	0.56	0.21	6.00
AZR-216	254155		2724020	210	-54		73.2		85.3		12.2	0.80	0.65	13.00
AZR-217	254155		2724021	211	-65		6.1		9.1		3.0	0.56	0.38	7.40
AZR-217	254155		2724021	211	-65		93.0		100.6		7.6	0.54	0.53	7.90
AZR-217	254155		2724021	211	-65		106.7		114.3		7.6	1.09	1.26	24.60
UAZ-029	253706		2724143	220	-66		39.0		48.0		9.0	0.83	0.27	15.90
UAZ-029	253706		2724143	220	-66		99.0		105.0		6.0	1.84	0.49	17.20
UAZ-030	253706		2724143	220	-73		58.5		61.5		3.0	1.28	0.25	13.30
Zona-CC
AZR-219	254652		2723289	351	-74		91.4		105.2		13.70	1.53	0.66	47.40
AZR-224	254592		2723213	350	-83		198.1		202.7		4.60	0.61	0.31	16.90

1. true width has yet to be determined
2. using a copper cutoff grade 0.5%
3. fire assay and atomic absorption finish
4. ICP-MS

Qualified Person

Exploration at the Aranzazu Mine is being conducted under the supervision of Mr. Alan Hitchborn, P.Geo., who is the Company's Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Hitchborn has also reviewed and approved the contents of this news release as applicable.

Quality Assurance and Quality Control ("QA/QC") Procedures for the Aranzazu Mine

Aura Minerals is presently drilling at the Aranzazu Mine utilizing both core and reverse circulation drill rigs. The drilling is conducted by Layne de Mexico. The reverse circulation drill uses a bit sized from 5.5 inches to 4.75 inches. The core program utilizes HQ-sized core and then stepping down to NQ-sized core as required. Samples are collected on a 1.5 metre sample interval. The reverse circulation drill cuttings are split at the drill rig. The samples collected consist of an approximate 25% split of the total material recovered from the interval sampled. This material is shipped directly to the Stewart Group de Mexico ("Stewart Mexico") sample preparation facility in Zacatecas, Mexico and processed utilizing the same sample preparation protocol as used for the core samples discussed below. Assays are completed at the ISO 9001-2008 certified Eco Tech Laboratory Limited ("Eco Tech Stewart"), a subsidiary of the Stewart Group Ltd., in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada. Diamond drilling core is logged, photographed and then split in half using a diamond core saw. Half the core is retained off-site in a secure storage facility and the other half is sampled, secured in sealed, labeled bags and then transported to the Stewart Mexico facility in Zacatecas, Mexico and processed utilizing the same preparation protocol discussed below. Assays are completed at the Eco Tech Stewart laboratory in Kamloops, B.C. The entire half-core and reverse circulation drill cuttings are crushed to 95% passing 2 millimetres, split and pulverized to 95% passing 150 mesh, split again, and a 150 gram sample sent for assay. Gold assays are determined by fire assay with an AA finish, over limit assays are determined by fire assay with a gravimetric finish. Silver, copper, lead and zinc assays are determined by a four acid digestion with an ICP-MS finish. Molybdenum assays are determined by aqua regia digestion followed by an ICP-OES finish. Silver overlimits are determined by a fire assay with a gravimetric finish. The Company systematically inserts certified standard samples, sample duplicates in a non-sequential order and blank samples in all batches of samples sent to Stewart Mexico and Eco Tech Stewart as a means of quality control. Additionally, Stewart Mexico and Eco Tech Stewart have their own stringent internal QA/QC protocols. Check samples are systematically sent to the ALS Chemex lab in Vancouver, Canada. Chain of custody of drill samples is maintained throughout the process with the use of numbered seal tags closing sample bags and third party professional transportation of samples to the laboratories. Each stage of sample handling is recorded in log sheets and receipts obtained from each party involved.

About Aura Minerals Inc.

Aura Minerals is a Canadian mid-tier gold production company focused on the acquisition, exploration, development and operation of gold and base metal projects in the Americas. The Company's producing assets includes the San Andres gold mine in Honduras, the Sao Francisco and Sao Vicente gold mines in Brazil and the copper-gold-silver Aranzazu Mine in Zacatecas state in Mexico, which commenced commercial production on February 1, 2011. Other significant assets include the feasibility-stage Serrote Deposit at the copper-gold-iron ore Arapiraca Project in Brazil.

For further information, please visit Aura Minerals' web site at www.auraminerals.com.

Cautionary Statement:

This news release contains forward-looking statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include those risks set out in Aura Minerals' public documents filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although Aura Minerals believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Aura Minerals disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.