Alderon adds two Experienced Female Mining Executives to Board and Management Team

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Dec. 11, 2013) - Alderon Iron Ore Corp. (TSX:ADV) (NYSE MKT:AXX) ("Alderon" or the "Company") announces that Ms. Diana Walters, President and CEO of Liberty Metals & Mining Holdings, LLC ("LMM") has joined the Alderon Board of Directors in place of Mr. Noel Dunn who has resigned. In addition, Alderon has appointed Evelyn Cox as Vice President Corporate Communications.

Director Appointment

Ms. Diana Walters is President and CEO of LMM. LMM is one of the Company's largest shareholders, owning approximately 14.5% of the issued and outstanding common shares.

Ms. Walters has twenty-seven years of experience in the Natural Resources sector, both as an investment banker and in operating roles. Before joining LMM, she was a Managing Partner of Eland Capital, LLC, a Natural Resources advisory firm. Ms. Walters has extensive investment experience with both debt and equity through leadership roles at Credit Suisse, HSBC and other firms. Ms. Walters graduated with honors from the University of Texas at Austin with a BA in Plan II Liberal Arts and an MA in Energy and Mineral Resources.

Ms. Walters replaces Mr. Dunn as the representative of LMM on the Alderon Board of Directors. Mr. Dunn has provided significant contributions over the almost two year period he has served on the Board. The Board would like to acknowledge and thank Mr. Dunn for his significant contributions to the Company's development to date.

Appointment of Vice President Corporate Communications

Ms. Cox brings over 10 years of experience in the public markets within the mineral exploration sector. In her role, Ms. Cox will be responsible for developing and managing Alderon's communications activities. Prior to joining Alderon, Ms. Cox was the Executive VP Corporate Communications at King & Bay West ("KBW"), a management services company within the mining sector. Through her association with KBW, Ms. Cox has been involved with Alderon since its acquisition of the Kami Project at the end of 2009.

Ms. Cox received her BSc (Honours) in Geology from the University of British Columbia and has completed the Economic Guidelines for Mineral Exploration Course at Queen's University.

About Alderon

Alderon is a leading iron ore development company in Canada with offices in Vancouver, Montreal, St. John's and Labrador City. The Kami Project, owned 75% by Alderon and 25% by Hebei Iron & Steel Group Co. Ltd. ("HBIS"), is located within Canada's premier iron ore district and is surrounded by four producing iron ore mines. The Alderon team is comprised of skilled professionals with significant iron ore expertise to advance Kami towards production. HBIS is Alderon's strategic partner in the development of the Kami Project and China's largest steel producer.

For more information on Alderon, please visit our website at www.alderonironore.com.

ALDERON IRON ORE CORP.

On behalf of the Board

Mark J Morabito, Executive Chairman

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act and Canadian securities laws concerning anticipated developments and events that may occur in the future. Forward-looking information contained in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the development of the Kami Project.

In certain cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. Forward-looking information contained in this press release is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, receipt of governmental and other approvals, the estimation of mineral reserves and resources, the realization of resource estimates, iron ore and other metal prices, the timing and amount of future exploration and development expenditures, the estimation of initial and sustaining capital requirements, the estimation of labour and operating costs, the availability of necessary financing and materials to continue to explore and develop the Kami Property in the short and long-term, the progress of exploration and development activities, the receipt of necessary regulatory approvals, the completion of the environmental assessment process, the estimation of insurance coverage, and assumptions with respect to currency fluctuations, environmental risks, title disputes or claims, and other similar matters. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect.

Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks inherent in the exploration and development of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined including the possibility that mining operations may not commence at the Kami Property, risks relating to variations in mineral resources, grade or recovery rates resulting from current exploration and development activities, risks relating to the ability to access rail transportation, sources of power and port facilities, risks relating to changes in iron ore prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of iron ore and related products, risks related to increased competition in the market for iron ore and related products and in the mining industry generally, risks related to current global financial conditions, uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral resources, access and supply risks, reliance on key personnel, operational risks inherent in the conduct of mining activities, including the risk of accidents, labour disputes, increases in capital and operating costs and the risk of delays or increased costs that might be encountered during the development process, regulatory risks, including risks relating to the acquisition of the necessary licences and permits, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks, including the risk that the financing necessary to fund the exploration and development activities at the Kami Property may not be available on satisfactory terms, or at all, risks related to disputes concerning property titles and interest, risks related to disputes with Aboriginal groups, environmental risks, and the additional risks identified in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Information Form for the most recently completed financial year, which is included in its Annual Report on Form 40-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") or other reports and filings with applicable Canadian securities regulators and the SEC. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this press release. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information.