Aura Minerals Announces CEO to Step Down

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - March 25, 2011) - Minerals Inc. ("Aura Minerals" or the "Company") (TSX:ORA) today announced that Patrick Downey, President & Chief Executive Officer, will be leaving the Company.

Mr. Downey stated, "The Board of Directors and I have agreed that this would be an appropriate time for me to step down as President and CEO of the Company. I am proud to have led Aura Minerals through its transition from a junior exploration Company to an established operating company with a strong management team and a solid portfolio of mining assets."

Patrick Mars, Chairman, stated, "Patrick has made an outstanding contribution to the success of the Company. During his tenure as President and CEO, the Company has grown significantly from one advanced exploration project in Brazil to an intermediate producer with four producing mines in Mexico, Honduras and Brazil and an exciting organic development pipeline. On behalf of the Board, we wish Patrick every success in the future and we thank him for all his contributions towards the growth of Aura Minerals. We would also like to thank Patrick for agreeing to remain as CEO up to June 30, 2011 which will give the Company the opportunity to find a suitable replacement and allow a smooth transition."

The Board of Directors has commenced a search for Mr. Downey's successor. 

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 include the San Andres gold mine in Honduras, and the Sao Francisco and Sao Vicente gold mines in Brazil. The Company also operates the copper-gold-silver Aranzazu Mine in Zacatecas state in Mexico. Other significant assets include the feasibility-stage Serrote Deposit at the copper-gold-iron ore Arapiraca Project in Brazil.

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.