VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA–(Marketwire – Jan. 3, 2012) – Aura Minerals Inc. (TSX:ORA) (“Aura Minerals” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ian Stalker to the Company’s Board of Directors.

Mr. Stalker has over thirty years of experience developing and operating mines in Europe, Africa and Australia. He has worked his way up from operational roles in base and precious metals mines to executive positions in some of the largest mining companies in the world. Mr. Stalker is currently the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of Brazilian Gold Corporation. In 2010, he was the CEO of Berkeley Resources Ltd. From 2005 to 2007, he was CEO of UraMin Inc. (“UraMin”) until its acquisition by Areva in August 2007 for US$2.5 billion. Prior to joining UraMin, Mr. Stalker was a Vice President of Gold Fields Limited from 2005 to 2007, the fourth largest gold producer in the world at the time.

Patrick Mars, Aura Minerals’ Chairman, stated, “We are very pleased that Ian has agreed to join our Board. His extensive international mining experience at both the operational and executive levels will be extremely valuable as we advance the Serrote de Laje Project (formerly the Arapiraca Project) through feasibility and the Aranzazu Mine through a preliminary economic assessment evaluating an expanded throughput rate of up to 5,000 tonnes per day and possibly beyond.”

About Aura Minerals Inc.

Aura Minerals is a Canadian mid-tier gold and copper production company focused on the 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, the Sao Francisco and Sao Vicente gold mines in Brazil and the copper-gold-silver Aranzazu Mine in Mexico. Other significant assets include the feasibility-stage copper-gold-iron ore Serrote de Laje Project in Brazil.