Applied Minerals Signs Agreement With Sigma-Aldrich Corporation to Distribute Dragonite(TM) Halloysite Clay to Researchers Worldwide

NEW YORK, NY -- (Marketwired) -- 04/04/13 -- Applied Minerals, Inc. (OTCQB: AMNL), the leading global producer of Halloysite Clay solutions, today announced the signing of an agreement with Sigma-Aldrich Corporation (NASDAQ: SIAL), a leading Life Science and High Technology Company, to market and distribute Dragonite™ Halloysite Clay to researchers worldwide through the Aldrich Materials Science initiative.

Dragonite Halloysite Clay is a natural, biocompatible aluminosilicate clay that possesses a unique tubular structure. Applications of the material include high-value solutions for flame retardancy, controlled release, environmental remediation, nanocomposites, as well as many other areas. According to Bryce P. Nelson, Initiative Lead for Aldrich Materials Science, "Over the past decade, researchers have taken an increasingly strong interest in utilizing the unique properties of this material to deliver environmentally sustainable solutions in a growing number of high value applications. The addition of Dragonite™ Halloysite clay expands Aldrich's growing family of products developed for engineers and materials scientists."

According to Andre Zeitoun, President and CEO of Applied Minerals, Inc., "Sigma-Aldrich is the global leader in providing new materials to the research market. Through operations in forty countries, Sigma-Aldrich can provide researchers global access to our Dragonite product. Improved availability of halloysite clay to researchers worldwide can enable continued growth of the already impressive list of publications citing Dragonite™ Halloysite Clay."

Under terms of the agreement, Aldrich Materials Science will market and distribute research quantities of Dragonite™ Halloysite Clay, while Applied Minerals will continue to market its halloysite clay solutions to commercial customers through its domestic and international sales network.

About Applied Minerals, Inc.: Applied Minerals is the leading producer of Halloysite Clay solutions from its wholly-owned Dragon Mine property in Utah. Halloysite is an aluminosilicate clay that forms naturally occurring microscopic tubes. Applied Minerals has developed several high value applications that benefit from the tubular morphology of its halloysite. These applications include reinforcement and flame retardancy of plastics plus applications in numerous other fields including coatings, adhesives, controlled release and remediation. Additional information on the company can be found on our company website at www.appliedminerals.com.

About Sigma-Aldrich: Sigma-Aldrich is a leading Life Science and High Technology company whose biochemical, organic chemical products, kits and services are used in scientific research, including genomic and proteomic research, biotechnology, pharmaceutical development, the diagnosis of disease and as key components in pharmaceutical, diagnostics and high technology manufacturing. Sigma-Aldrich customers include more than 1.3 million scientists and technologists in life science companies, university and government institutions, hospitals and industry. The Company operates in 38 countries and has nearly 9,000 employees whose objective is to provide excellent service worldwide. Sigma-Aldrich is committed to accelerating customer success through innovation and leadership in Life Science and High Technology. For more information about Sigma-Aldrich, please visit its website at www.sigma-aldrich.com.

About Aldrich Materials Science: More information is available at http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/materials-science.html.

Sigma-Aldrich is a registered trademark of Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC. Aldrich Materials Science is a trademark of Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC. Dragonite is a trademark of Applied Minerals, Inc.

Safe harbor statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 for Applied Minerals, Inc.: Some statements contained or implied in this news release may be considered forward-looking statements, which by their nature are uncertain. Consequently, actual results could materially differ. For more detailed information concerning how risks and uncertainties could affect the Company's financial results, please refer to Applied Minerals' most recent filings with the SEC. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information.

Contact for Applied Minerals:

Jordan M. Darrow

Darrow Associates

631-367-1866
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