TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - March 30, 2012) - Argonaut Gold Inc. (News - Market indicators) (the "Company", "Argonaut Gold" or "Argonaut") is pleased to announce its financial and operating results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2011. All dollar amounts are expressed in United States dollars unless otherwise specified.

• Operational Improvements:
  • Finalised agreement with the Company's El Castillo mining contractor to expand mining fleet from 13 to 18 one hundred tonne trucks by end of the first quarter of 2012
  • El Castillo west crusher relocated to east side for consolidated crushing circuit
  • El Castillo east side pad loading initiated and east carbon plant operational in October
  • Finalised an agreement expanding El Castillo surface rights on the western side of the property by 100 hectares, overall surface rights now at 1385 hectares
  • Constructed 30 million tonnes capacity of heap leach pad space at the east pad
  • La Colorada announced February 27, 2012 that limited production has begun via the reprocessing of material from existing leach pads
• Exploration & Resources:
  • El Castillo - Column testing of core samples to define the leaching characteristics of sulphide mineralisation is ongoing
  • La Colorada - Indicated resource increase to 1.06 mm ozs. Au and 14 mm ozs Ag within an NI 43-101 compliant technical resource
    (+76% Au and +173% Ag over previous NI 43-101)
    • Completed approximately 44,000 metres of drilling in 299 holes
  • San Antonio
    • Completed 17,483 metres of drilling in 116 holes 

This press release should be read in conjunction with the Company's audited Consolidated Financial Statements for the year‐ended December 31, 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 - Fourth Quarter 2011

During the fourth quarter of 2011, revenue was $34.6 million from gold sales of 20,468 ounces. Gross profit was $16.7 million for the quarter. Cash cost per gold ounce for units sold was $679. (Cash cost per gold ounce for units sold is a non-IFRS measure, see note below). During the quarter, profit from operations was $15.0 million. Net income for the quarter was $9.1 million, or $0.10 per basic share.

Financial Results - Year End 2011

For the year ended December 31, 2011, revenue was $104.6 million from gold sales of 66,521 ounces. Gross profit was $50.3 million for the year. Cash cost per gold ounce for units sold was $622 (compared to $728 for the same period in 2010). For the full year, profit from operations was $43.2 million. Net income for the year was $26.3 million, or $0.30 per basic share. 

CEO Commentary

Mr. Pete Dougherty, Argonaut's President and CEO states: "2011 was a milestone year for Argonaut Gold. We achieved our stated production goal of 72,000 ounces at the El Castillo mine. Our acquisition of Pediment Gold in January 2011 added two significant properties to our portfolio, La Colorada and San Antonio. Our overall gold resource has increased from 2.0 million to 6.5 million ounces through the acquisition and through additional exploration results."

In discussing the outlook for 2012, Mr. Dougherty added; "Initiatives planned for 2012 provide the framework for increasing future production. At El Castillo, we will be adding to the mining fleet and adding a conveying and stacking system to enhance production. We have announced La Colorada is in limited production, reprocessing existing leach pad material. Once construction of the gold processing plant and refinery are completed and the Phase II permits are received, we will start to ramp up gold production further at La Colorada. The new processing plant at La Colorada will have a designed capacity to handle gold production from all three of the Company's Mexican projects."

Forecasted gold production for 2012 is 75-80,000 ounces at El Castillo and an additional 13-17,000 ounces from La Colorada. In 2012, the Company has announced exploration drill programs totaling 32,500 metres for El Castillo, La Colorada, San Antonio and La Fortuna. "The lowest cost ounces we will ever find are the ones that lie within the properties we already own", Mr. Dougherty added. "We remain committed to exploration as we look to grow the Company"

Summary of Production Results:

Total tonnes mined increased by 14% for the fourth quarter 2011 over fourth quarter 2010 and 44% year over year. The total of ounces loaded to the pads decreased slightly in the fourth quarter of 2011 due to mining of lower grade material. There were 30,162 ounces placed on the pad in the fourth quarter of 2011, representing a 3% decrease from the fourth quarter of 2010. Year over year, there was a 28% increase in ounces of gold loaded to the pad.

Gold production of 19,698 ounces in the fourth quarter of 2011 was an 8% increase compared to the fourth quarter of 2010. Production in 2011 of 72,049 ounces was a 40% increase over 2010 full year production.

The strip ratio of waste to ore dropped in the fourth quarter to 0.87 compared to the fourth quarter of 2010 of 0.91. The strip ratio for the year ended December 31, 2011 was 0.80 compared to 2010 of 1.06.

Looking Forward - 2012:

El Castillo Objectives $8-10 million capex program

• New conveying, stacking system to be implemented on the east side during third quarter.
• Heap leach pad construction for the west side.
• 2012 production of 75,000 - 80,000 ounces at cash cost between $625 and $650 per ounce. (Q1 production of 17-18 k ozs @ $625-$650/oz estimate).
• 1,000 metre core drill program to provide sampling of sulphides for further metallurgical test work to assess recoveries.

La Colorada Objectives $15-20 million capex program

• Completion of desorption plant and refinery in the second quarter.
• Permit response anticipated on phase 2 expansion in the second quarter.
• 2012 production of 13,500- 17,000 ounces at a cash cost between $625 and $650 per ounce. (Q1 production of 2-3 k ozs at $625-$650/oz estimate).
• 20,000 metre drill program at La Colorada targeted the Eastern side of the property.

San Antonio Objectives $3-4 million capex program

• 10,500 metres drill program.
• $3-$4 million in development costs based on permitting timeline.

La Fortuna Objectives

• 1,000 metre drill program at La Fortuna to follow up on drill targets.

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 standardised 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. For further 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 La Colorada Mine in the State of Sonora, Mexico, the advanced exploration stage San Antonio project in the State of Baja California Sur, Mexico, and several exploration stage projects, all of which are located in Mexico.

Creating Value Beyond Gold

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities laws concerning the proposed transaction and the business, operations and financial performance and condition of  Argonaut Gold Inc. ("Argonaut"). Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to estimated production and mine life of the various mineral projects of Argonaut; synergies and financial impact of completed acquisitions; the benefits of the development potential of the properties of Argonaut; the future price of gold, copper, silver; the estimation of mineral reserves and resources; the realization of mineral reserve estimates; the timing and amount of estimated future production; costs of production; success of exploration activities; and currency exchange rate fluctuations. Except for statements of historical fact relating to Argonaut, certain information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan," "expect," "project," "intend," "believe," "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are based on a number of assumptions and subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Many of these assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of Argonaut and there is no assurance they will prove to be correct.
Factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from results anticipated by such forward-looking statements include changes in market conditions, variations in ore grade or recovery rates, risks relating to international operations, fluctuating metal prices and currency exchange rates, changes in project parameters, the possibility of project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated. Although Argonaut has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Argonaut undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Statements concerning mineral reserve and resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements to the extent they involve estimates of the mineralization that will be encountered if the property is developed. Comparative market information is as of a date prior to the date of this presentation.