GOLD DEVELOPMENT: Development begins at Young-Davidson pit

ONTARIO - Development of the open pit at the Young-Davidson gold mine near Matachewan began with the first blast on Nov. 17, 2011, said owner AuRico Gold of Toronto. The project is on schedule for the first gold pour at the end of March 2012.

Between 500,000 and 750,000 tonnes of ore from the pit will be stockpiled prior to start-up of the mill. The stockpile will provide mill feed for perhaps three years while the underground mine ramps up to full production at 6,000 t/d. The company is studying its options to speed up underground development and for a potential increase the mining and milling rate.

AuRico plans to double the 2012 exploration budget at Young-Davidson in an effort to add new resources, particularly at the YD West zone. That zone has an 589,000 oz of gold in the indicated and inferred categories.

Additional information about the Young-Davidson project is available at www.AuRicoGold.com.