VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Oct. 12, 2011) - Almaden Minerals Ltd. (News - Market indicators)(NYSE Amex:AAU) ("Almaden" or "the Company") is pleased to announce results from the on-going drilling at the Ixtaca Zone with holes TU-11-45, 51, 53 to 55, 57, 58 and 60. Holes TU-11-51, 53 to 55, 57, 58 and 60 were drilled 180 degrees away from the known Ixtaca veining (at a 330 azimuth) and intersected the zone of mineralisation now referred to as Ixtaca North. The orientation of the Ixtaca North zone remains poorly understood. Hole TU-11-45 was drilled at the southwest extent of the known Ixtaca zone and intersected veining in the overlying ash unit. This intersection shows that the Ixtaca Zone remains open to the southwest. Final assays remain pending for holes TU-11-56 and 59.

Highlights from the current group of assays include the following intercepts:

Hole TU-11-45 MAIN IXTACA ZONE SW EXTENSION:
81.30 meters @ 0.78 g/t gold and 4.6 g/t silver (0.9 g/t gold equivalent)
    including: 8.15 meters @ 1.99 g/t gold and 4.2 g/t silver (2.1 g/t gold equivalent)

Hole TU-11-51 IXTACA NORTH ZONE:
98.58 meters @ 0.92 g/t gold and 76.3 g/t silver (2.5 g/t gold equivalent)
and: 53.50 meters @ 1.26 g/t gold and 120.2 g/t silver (3.7 g/t gold equivalent)

Hole TU-11-53 IXTACA NORTH ZONE:
41.96 meters @ 0.64 g/t gold and 49.1 g/t silver (1.6 g/t gold equivalent)

Hole TU-11-54 IXTACA NORTH ZONE:
11.94 meters @ 0.63 g/t gold and 52.0 g/t silver (1.7 g/t gold equivalent)

Hole TU-11-55 IXTACA NORTH ZONE:
11.45 meters @ 0.55 g/t gold and 100.4 g/t silver (2.6 g/t gold equivalent)

Hole TU-11-57 IXTACA NORTH ZONE:
15.85 meters @ 0.52 g/t gold and 38.3 g/t silver (1.3 g/t gold equivalent)
    including: 7.80 meters @ 1.85 g/t gold and 140.6 g/t silver (4.7 g/t gold equivalent)

Hole TU-11-58 ASH ABOVE MAIN IXTACA ZONE:
12.75 meters @ 0.43 g/t gold and 10.6 g/t silver (0.6 g/t gold equivalent)

Hole TU-11-60 IXTACA NORTH ZONE:
1.48 meters @ 2.56 g/t gold and 223.3 g/t silver (7.0 g/t gold equivalent)

J.D. Poliquin, Chairman of Almaden commented, "These new holes continue to show that the Ixtaca zone is a robust and wide system of veining. The veining of the Ixtaca North zone indicates that the overall Ixtaca vein system is wider than previously known. Hole TU-11-45 shows that the Ixtaca zone remains open to the southwest. Overall, drilling to date on the Ixtaca zone also shows good continuity of mineralisation in both horizontal and vertical dimensions. We are very pleased with these new results which further expand the known extent of the Ixtaca zone. We now have three drills on site." The Company anticipates drilling operations will continue throughout 2011.

Below is a plan map, relevant sections and table of significant intervals which will be posted to the Company's website (www.almadenminerals.com) along with complete tables of assays.

To view the plan map, relevant sections and table of significant intervals, along with complete tables of assays, please click on the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/amm1012.pdf

About the Ixtaca Property

The 100% owned Ixtaca zone is a blind discovery made by the Company in 2010. The zone of veining is thought to have a north-easterly trend. Holes to date suggest that the zone is sub vertical with local variations. This interpretation suggests that true widths are approximately 60% of intersected widths. The drilling completed to date has traced mineralisation over 750 meters along this northeast trend. Based upon observations at surface and of core as drilling progresses, there seems to be a variety of veinlet orientations within the vein zone. Registered professional geologist (Utah) Jim Lunbeck, a qualified person ("QP") under the meaning of NI 43-101, was the QP and project manager of Almaden's Ixtaca program at the time the holes announced today were drilled and reviewed the technical information in this news release. The analyses reported were carried out at ALS Chemex Laboratories of North Vancouver using industry standard analytical techniques. For gold, samples are first analysed by fire assay and atomic absorption spectroscopy ("AAS"). Samples that return values greater than 10 g/t gold using this technique are then re-analysed by fire assay but with a gravimetric finish. Silver is first analysed by Inductively Coupled Plasma - Atomic Emission Spectroscopy ("ICP-AES"). Samples that return values greater than 100 g/t silver by ICP-AES are then re analysed by HF-HNO₃-HCLO₄ digestion with HCL leach and ICP-AES finish. Of these samples those that return silver values greater than 1,500 g/t are further analysed by fire assay with a gravimetric finish. Blanks, field duplicates and certified standards were inserted into the sample stream as part of Almaden's quality assurance and control program which complies with National Instrument 43-101 requirements. Gold equivalent ("AuEq" or "Gold Eq.") and silver equivalent ("AgEq" or "Silver Eq.") values were calculated using silver to gold ratios of 50 to 1. The ratio of 50 to 1 was used for the sake of consistency with past news releases. Intervals that returned assays below detection were assigned zero values. Metallurgical recoveries and net smelter returns are assumed to be 100% for these calculations.

About Almaden

Almaden is a well-financed (no debt, approximately $C25 MM in working capital) mineral exploration company working in North America. The company has assembled mineral exploration projects, including Tuligtic, through its grass roots exploration efforts. While the properties are largely at early stages of development they represent exciting opportunities for the discovery of significant gold, silver and copper deposits as evidenced at Ixtaca. Almaden's business model is to find and acquire mineral properties and develop them by seeking option agreements with others who can acquire an interest in a project by making payments and exploration expenditures. Through this means the company has been able to expose its shareholders to discovery and capital gain without the funding and consequent share dilution that would be required if the company were to have developed these projects without a partner. The company intends to expand this business model, described by some as prospect generation, by more aggressively exploring several of its projects including the Ixtaca Zone.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Morgan J. Poliquin, Ph.D., P.Eng., President, CEO and Director

Almaden Minerals Ltd.

Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, certain information presented constitutes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Canadian securities laws. Such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, those with respect to potential expansion of mineralization, potential size of mineralized zone, and size and timing of exploration and development programs, estimated project capital and other project costs and the timing of submission and receipt and availability of regulatory approvals involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievement of Almaden to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, risks related to international operations and joint ventures, the actual results of current exploration activities, conclusions of economic evaluations, uncertainty in the estimation of mineral resources, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, environmental risks and hazards, increased infrastructure and/or operating costs, labour and employment matters, and government regulation and permitting requirements as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Almaden's Annual Information form and Almaden's latest Form 20-F on file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. Although Almaden has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Almaden disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required pursuant to applicable securities laws. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.