TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Nov. 14, 2011) - Argonaut Gold Inc. (News - Market indicators) ("Argonaut Gold", "Argonaut" or the "Company") announces financial and operating results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2011. All dollar amounts are expressed in United States dollars unless otherwise specified. All financial results are presented in accordance with IFRS, unless otherwise noted.

THIRD QUARTER 2011 & RECENT HIGHLIGHTS

• Q3 2011 revenue of $22.7 million
• Q3 2011 net income of $6.0 million, $0.07 per basic share
• Cash flows from operating activities before changes in non-cash operating working capital and other items of $9.7 million
• Cash on hand was $35 million at September 30, 2011
• Gold production and cost:
  • 29,997 ounces of gold loaded to the pad (up 24% from Q3 2010)
  • Gold ounces produced in Q3 of 2011 were 16,884 ounces (up 33% from Q3 2010)
  • Cash cost per ounce sold - $628
• Q3 2011 El Castillo operating statistics:
  • Total tonnes mined – 4.8 million tonnes (up 2% from Q3 2010)
  • Record ore tonnes mined – 2.9 million tonnes (up 44% from Q3 2010)
• Operational improvements:
  • Finalized agreement with the Company's mining contractor to expand from 13 to 18 trucks with 100 tonne capacity and a fourth 992 loader added to the mining fleet
  • West crusher relocated to east side for consolidated crushing circuit with design capacity of 500,000 tonnes per month ("TPM"); operational in October
  • East side pad loading initiated and east carbon plant operational in October with the ramp up to continue thru Q4 of 2011
  • Finalized an agreement expanding surface rights on the western side of the property by 100 hectares, for an increase in overall surface rights to 1385 hectares.
• Exploration & resources:
  • La Colorada –Indicated resource increase to 1.06 mm oz. within an NI 43-101 compliant technical resource (up 76% Au and up 173% Ag over previous NI 43-101)
    • Completed 36,234 metres of drilling in 245 holes total (39 pending release)
    • Three drill rigs continue on 52,000 metre drill program with a fourth drill rig scheduled to arrive in early November
  • El Castillo – Sulphide metallurgical work pending completion
  • San Antonio – Two drill rigs continue on +10,000 metre drill program
    • Completed 10,242 metres for 71 holes pending release

This press release should be read in conjunction with the Company's unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and associated Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") which are available from the Company's website, www.argonautgoldinc.com, in the "Investors" section under "Financial Filings", and under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Financial Results – Third Quarter 2011

During the third quarter of 2011, revenue was $22.7 million from gold sales of 13,260 ounces compared to $9.8 million from sales of 7,994 ounces in the third quarter of 2010. Cost of sales and depreciation, depletion and amortization expenses were $10.8 million for the quarter. Cash cost per gold ounce for units sold (see Non-IFRS measures section note below) was $628 compared to $622 in the same period of 2010 principally because of an increase in longer ore hauls to the east pad and cyanide costs. During the third quarter of 2011, operating income from mining operations was $11.9 million compared to a $3.2 million operating income in the third quarter of 2010. Net income for the quarter was $6.0 million, or $0.07 per share.

Cash on hand increased from $32.3 million at June 30, 2011 to $35.0 million, as a result of higher gold price realized sales and early exercise of $6.8 million in broker compensation options issued in connection with the private placement of shares of the Company in late 2009. Cash flow from operations before changes in non-cash operating working capital and other items was $9.7 million during the quarter. The cash flow provided by operating activities in the quarter was $7.7 million. At September 30, 2011, approximately 6,300 gold ounces from Q3 were in finished goods inventory.

Summary of Production Results

Ore tonnes mined increased by 44% (total tonnes mined increased by 2%) for the third quarter 2011 over the third quarter of 2010. Utilizing a larger, more efficient truck fleet at El Castillo for the full quarter, the rate of mining production exceeded 1.6 million tonnes per month. The strip ratio of waste to ore declined in the third quarter of 2011 to 0.66 compared to the third quarter of 2010 of 1.36. (The new NI 43-101 compliant technical report for El Castillo indicates the anticipated strip ratio is approximately 0.88 for the life of mine). Total ounces loaded to the pads also increased. In the third quarter of 2011, there were 29,997 ounces placed on the pad, representing a 24% increase over the 24,202 ounces placed on the pad in the third quarter of 2010. Gold production of 16,884 ounces in the third quarter of 2011 was a 33% increase compared to the third quarter of 2010.

The Company anticipates operating costs to rise in the near term from longer ore haul distances to the east pad and increased reagent costs as we begin operations at the eastern side of the property. We believe this is a short term issue as the mine expands. The Company is estimating a cash cost for ounces to be sold in 2011 to be $600 to $625 per gold ounce.

Capital & Exploration Expenditures:

The Company recently increased its capital and exploration expenditure budget for the year to $36 million. Additional commitments for development of La Colorada are being allocated for construction of heap leach pads, an absorption plant and a crushing circuit; this is anticipated to be completed during early 2012. Key operational metrics and production statistics for the third quarter of 2011 compared to the respective period in 2010 are presented below:

CEO Commentary

Pete Dougherty, Argonaut's President and CEO states: "Argonaut continued to deliver strong production in Q3, moving towards meeting 2011 guidance of 70,000 ounces of gold produced during the year. We are very pleased with the progress made during the first nine months of 2011, expanding operations at El Castillo was a key objective in future development of the property. In October, the Company released a 76% gold increase and 173% silver increase in resources at the La Colorada project. A total of 6 drill rigs are continuing programs at both the La Colorada and San Antonio projects." Mr. Dougherty added "Argonaut continues to see strong progress being made at all three projects."

Non-IFRS Measures

The Company included the non-IFRS measure "Cash cost per gold ounce for units sold" in this press release to supplement its financial statements which are presented in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). Cash cost per gold ounce for units sold is equal to cost of sales less silver sales divided by gold ounces sold. The Company believes that this measure provides investors with an improved ability to evaluate the performance of the Company. Non-IFRS measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS. Therefore they may not be comparable to similar measures employed by other companies. The data is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. Please see the MD&A for full disclosure on non-IFRS measures.

Technical Information and Mineral Properties Reports

The technical information contained in this document has been prepared under supervision of, and reviewed and approved by Mr. Thomas H. Burkhart, Argonaut's Vice President of Exploration, and a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101.

Information on the Company's properties please see the reports as listed below on the Company's website or on www.sedar.com:

About Argonaut Gold

Argonaut is a Canadian gold company engaged in exploration, mine development and production activities. Its primary assets are the production-stage El Castillo Mine in the State of Durango, Mexico, the development stage and past producing La Colorada project, the advanced exploration San Antonio project, and several exploration stage projects, all of which are located in Mexico.

Creating Value Beyond Gold

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause results to differ materially from management's current expectations. Actual results may differ materially due to a number of factors. Except as required by law, Argonaut Gold Inc. assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this news release.