Rubicon Minerals and West Kirkland Mining Announce an Agreement on Large Claim Block on the Long Canyon Trend, Nevada

VANCOUVER, June 27, 2011 /CNW/ --
TSX:RMX | NYSE AMEX:RBY

VANCOUVER, June 27, 2011 /CNW/ - Rubicon Minerals Corporation, TSX:RMX,
NYSE AMEX: RBY ('Rubicon') and West Kirkland Mining Inc., WKM-TSXV ('West Kirkland') have entered into an agreement whereby West Kirkland can earn a
majority stake in mineral rights held by Rubicon covering approximately
351 square miles (909 sq. kilometers) in the Long Canyon Trend of north
eastern Nevada, while allowing Rubicon to retain a significant interest
in any future discovery.

Recent discoveries of gold by Fronteer Gold (now Newmont) and others at
Long Canyon have resulted in a paradigm shift in the belt, opening up
new potential for discovery of large scale gold deposits in the area. 
Long Canyon is located along a north east structural setting in rocks
only recently discovered to be favourable hosts for significant gold
mineralization.

West Kirkland can earn a 51% interest from Rubicon in a portion of the
Rubicon property package directly across the valley to the north east
from the Long Canyon gold deposit. There are gold showings noted in
historic work in this part of the overall property package, also there
are unexplored north east trending structures, outside areas of
historic exploration.  These newly recognized structures are an
immediate target for West Kirkland's planned exploration program.

Further to the north, West Kirkland can earn a 60% property interest in
a portion of the Rubicon property package of the Long Canyon Trend
adjoining the KB and TUG properties that are optioned by West Kirkland
from Fronteer.  The resulting consolidation of property interests
provides a significant new opportunity. West Kirkland is currently
drilling on the TUG property in the area of a shallow historic gold
resource.

David Adamson, President and CEO of Rubicon said 'We are pleased to see
this large property portfolio well funded through this agreement and
moved forward by a solid dedicated team at West Kirkland who has a
considerable track record of discovery. This transaction allows us to
maintain our focus in Red Lake while allowing us to retain a meaningful
interest in any potential discovery on our properties in Nevada'.

R. Michael Jones President of West Kirkland said, 'We now have the
benefit of a newly recognized deposit setting in the best gold camp in
the United States and an enormous land position to explore across. This
transaction follows West Kirkland's approach to acquire large majority
positions in known gold trends with new information where we can work
these trends systematically. '

Details

West Kirkland can earn an initial 51% interest in any of the properties
where Rubicon holds a 100% interest by making the expenditures outlined
in the table below over four years and Rubicon will retain a 49%
interest in the properties. The first year's expenditure is a firm
commitment of $2,000,000.

West Kirkland can increase its interest to 60% by completing a
pre-feasibility study or spending an additional $4,000,000 in
exploration and development work, in which case Rubicon will retain a
40% interest in the properties. For properties in which Rubicon holds a
75% interest, West Kirkland is able to earn up to a 51% interest in
such properties by making the outlined expenditures.

 ___________________________________________________________________
|Annual Period       |Annual Minimum of   |Aggregate Exploration and|
|                    |Exploration and     |Development Expenses     |
|                    |Development Expenses|                         |
|____________________|____________________|_________________________|
|First Annual Period |$2,000,000 (firm    |$2,000,000               |
|                    |commitment)         |                         |
|____________________|____________________|_________________________|
|Second Annual Period|$3,000,000          |$5,000,000               |
|____________________|____________________|_________________________|
|Third Annual Period |$5,000,000          |$10,000,000              |
|____________________|____________________|_________________________|
|Fourth Annual Period|$5,000,000          |$15,000,000              |
|____________________|____________________|_________________________|

West Kirkland is the project operator. Initial exploration will be
targeted across the valley from Long Canyon and adjacent to the KB and
TUG deposits. The property positions included in the Rubicon
transaction are in the 'checker board' of Nevada where each block of 1
square mile of property has another owner on the alternate one square
mile square. As exploration progresses further consolidation of mineral
rights may be required. Initial exploration will focus well within the
owned blocks.

About Rubicon Minerals Corporation

Rubicon Minerals Corporation is an exploration and development company,
focused on exploring and developing its high-grade gold discovery at
its Phoenix Project in Red Lake, Ontario. Rubicon controls over 100
square miles of prime exploration ground in the prolific Red Lake gold
district of Ontario which hosts Goldcorp's high-grade, world class Red
Lake Mine.

About West Kirkland Mining Inc

West Kirkland is focused on large scale exploration for gold on known
trends in Canada and the United States. The company has established
mineral rights positions in Kirkland Lake Ontario and northern Nevada. 
Drilling is underway in both camps along trend from known gold mines.

The founders and Board of West Kirkland have successful gold discovery,
development and mine operations experience in both Ontario and Nevada
over the past 40 years.

Forward Looking Information

This news release contains statements that constitute 'forward looking
information' within the meaning of applicable Canadian provincial
securities legislation ('forward-looking information'). Forward-looking
information often, but not always, is identified by the use of words
such as 'seek', 'anticipate', 'believe', 'plan', 'estimate', 'expect',
'targeting' and 'intend' and statements that an event or result 'may',
'will', 'should', 'could', or 'might' occur or be achieved and other
similar expressions. Forward-looking information in this document
includes statements regarding the exercise by West Kirkland Mining Inc.
('West Kirkland') of options to mineral interests owned by Rubicon
Minerals Corporation ('Rubicon') and that the transaction will permit
Rubicon to maintain its focus on its Red Lake project while maintaining
an interest in Nevada.

The forward-looking information that is contained in this news release
is based on various assumptions and estimates by West Kirkland and
Rubicon (together, the 'Companies') and involves a number of risks and
uncertainties. As a consequence, actual results might differ materially
from results forecast or suggested in this forward-looking information.
Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks,
uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual
results, performance or achievements of the Companies to be materially
different from any future results, performance or achievements
expressed or implied by the forward-looking information.  Factors that
could cause the actual results to differ include the ability of West
Kirkland to meet its exploration and development expenses within the
time frames set forth in the option agreement and therefore earn its
interests in the properties, and the ability of Rubicon to continue its
focus on exploring and developing its Red Lake properties. These
statements are based on a number of assumptions, including that the
West Kirkland has sufficient resources to make its exploration and
development expenses within the time frames set forth in the option
agreement, and that Rubicon has sufficient resources to continue its
exploration and development expenses in Red Lake, Ontario.  Although
the Companies have attempted to identify important factors that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or
implied in forward-looking information, there may be other factors
which cause actual results to differ.

Forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date of
this news release and the Companies disclaim any obligation to update
any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new
information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required
by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that the
forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual
results and future events could differ materially from those
anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place
undue reliance on forward-looking information.

The Toronto Stock Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

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Bill Cavalluzzo, VP-Investor Relations, Toll free: 1.866.365.4706
E-mail: bcavalluzzo@rubiconminerals.com  |  www.rubiconminerals.com
Rubicon Minerals Corporation | Suite 1540-800 West Pender Street | Vancouver BC, CANADA  V6C 2V6