AuRico Gold Reports Significant Drill Results from the El Chanate Mine

TORONTO, June 29, 2011 /CNW/ --
TORONTO, June 29, 2011 /CNW/ - AuRico Gold Inc. (TSX:AUQ) (NYSE: AUQ), ('AuRico') is pleased to provide an update of drilling results from the El Chanate
Mine in Sonora, Mexico.  Since April 2010, 213 new drill holes for
28,499 metres of drilling (23 drill holes for 5,052 metres since April
8, 2011) have been completed with the objective of converting inferred
resources to measured and indicated, extending the deposit at depth to
the south and southeast and to explore for extensions to the west and
east of the present open pit.  Results to date have delineated thick
zones of continuous mineralization throughout the deposit and defined
anomalous mineralization both east and south of the existing open pit (refer to Table 1 in the Appendix for selected drilling results).

'We are very pleased that since acquiring the El Chanate Mine in April,
the targeted drilling program has returned composite grades
substantially higher than reserve grades.  The deposit is proving to be
open in both directions along strike, as well as to the south and
southeast at depth.  The Company plans on utilizing a similar
exploration approach at El Chanate that has proven to be so successful
at Ocampo and plans to mobilize a core drill to the project in Q3 to
test new and existing targets,' stated Peter Drobeck, Senior Vice
President of Exploration and Business Development.

Select results, shown in red on Diagram 1, include:

 ___________________________________________________________
|2010 Drilling Results                                      |
|___________________________________________________________|
|   Hole ID | From (m) |  To (m)  | Length (m) |  Gold g/t  |
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-348   |       6.1|      48.8|        42.7|        1.14|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-376   |      68.6|     108.2|        39.6|        1.79|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-380   |       3.1|      61.0|        57.9|        0.95|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-386   |       0.0|      21.3|        21.3|        2.31|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-392   |       0.0|      57.9|        57.9|        0.72|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-392   |      65.5|      68.6|         3.0|        1.43|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-392   |      80.8|      83.8|         3.0|        1.38|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-392   |      96.0|     112.8|        16.8|        0.27|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-392   |     138.7|     158.5|        19.8|        0.81|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-393   |       1.5|      22.9|        21.3|        0.29|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-393   |      38.1|      83.8|        45.7|        0.80|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-393   |      96.0|     132.6|        36.6|        0.37|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-404   |       0.0|      12.2|        12.2|        0.36|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-404   |      57.9|      68.6|        10.7|        1.46|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-404   |      83.8|     135.6|        51.8|        1.65|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-417   |       1.5|      47.2|        45.7|        0.59|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-417   |     102.1|     138.7|        36.6|        1.49|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-422   |      73.2|     153.9|        80.8|        0.79|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-422   |     170.7|     184.4|        13.7|        1.69|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-423   |       0.0|      91.4|        91.4|        0.80|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-453   |       6.1|       9.1|         3.0|        2.97|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-453   |      19.8|      30.5|        10.7|        0.32|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-453   |      44.2|     111.3|        67.1|        1.13|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-470   |     123.4|     211.8|        88.4|        0.77|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|2011 Drilling Results                                      |
|___________________________________________________________|
|CHCI-482   |      65.5|     146.3|        80.8|        1.13|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-498   |      86.9|     134.1|        47.2|        1.00|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-536   |     134.1|     160.0|        25.9|        2.26|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-539   |     176.8|     217.9|        41.2|        1.30|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-543   |     129.5|     140.2|        10.7|        7.22|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|

This press release sets out the gold grades found in samples from
reverse circulation drilling. The El Chanate exploration information
has been reviewed and verified by Qualified Person, Mr. Peter Drobeck,
including review of portions of the drill logs, the original assays,
and calculating the composite intercepts.  Gold sample analyses for El
Chanate were performed by the mine's on-site laboratory until the
change in ownership to AuRico Gold Inc. in April 2011, but with a
rigorous QA_QC program that used commercial standards and also had 5%
of all samples checked through ALS_Chemex Laboratories, based in
Vancouver, British Colombia.  Since the change in ownership (and after
and including drill hole CHCI-534) all assays are performed by ALS_
Chemex Laboratories, with checks by the local mine lab.  The Company
maintains a Quality Assurance - Quality Control program including the
insertion of commercial control reference pulps and blanks in all its
drill programs, along with a dedicated QA-QC engineer to monitor
results. Sample lengths are not necessarily true widths.

About AuRico Gold


AuRico Gold is a leading intermediate Canadian gold and silver producer
with a diversified portfolio of high quality mines and projects in
Mexico. The Company's three wholly-owned operating properties include
the Ocampo mine in Chihuahua State, the El Chanate mine in Sonora State
and the El Cubo mine in Guanajuato State. Its strong pipeline of
development and exploration stage projects includes the Guadalupe y
Calvo advanced exploration property in Chihuahua State and the Orion
advanced exploration property in Nayarit State, along with six
exploration properties throughout Mexico. AuRico's head office is
located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Cautionary Statement

Cautionary Note to US Investors - The United States Securities and
Exchange Commission permits US mining companies, in their filings with
the SEC, to disclose only those mineral deposits that a company can
economically and legally extract or produce. This press release uses
certain terms, such as 'measured', 'indicated' and 'inferred'
'resources,‛ that the SEC guidelines strictly prohibit US registered
companies from including in their filings with the SEC. US Investors
are urged to consider closely the disclosure in AuRico Gold's Annual
Report on Form 40-F, which may be secured from AuRico Gold, or from the
SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml.

No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority
has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

Certain statements included herein, including information as to the
future financial or operating performance of the Company, its
subsidiaries and its projects, constitute forward-looking statements.
The words ''believe'', ''expect'', ''anticipate'', ''target'',
''continue'', ''estimate'', ''may'', and similar expressions identify
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, among
other things, statements regarding the grades of additional underground
and surface drilling programs at El Chanate, the ability to delineate
additional measured and indicated resources or reserves as a result,
the suitability of targets for future open pit mining at El Chanate,
anticipated future financial and operational performance, the future
price of gold and silver, the timing of re-commissioning and
re-commencement of production at El Cubo, the de-risking of operations,
future exploration results of its exploration and development program
at El Chanate and the success of the Company's exploration approach,
the Company's ability to delineate additional resources and reserves as
a result of such program, and the company's ability to mine such
targets by mid-2011, statements regarding its financial exposure to
litigation, targets, estimates and assumptions in respect of gold and
silver production and prices, operating costs, results and capital
expenditures, mineral reserves and mineral resources and anticipated
grades, recovery rates, future financial or operating performance,
margins, operating and exploration expenditures, costs and timing of
completion of the Ocampo expansion program and improvements to the heap
leach pad, costs and timing of the development and commencement of
production of new deposits, costs and timing of construction, costs and
timing of future exploration and reclamation expenses including,
anticipated 2011 results, operating performance projections for 2011,
our ability to fully fund our business model internally, 2011 gold and
silver production and the cash and operating costs associated
therewith, the ability to achieve productivity and operational
efficiencies, and the timing of each thereof. Forward-looking
statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and
assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are
inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive,
political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors
could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from
those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by,
or on behalf of, the Company. Such factors include, among others, known
and unknown uncertainties and risks relating to additional funding
requirements, reserve and resource estimates, commodity prices, hedging
activities, exploration, development and operating risks, illegal
miners, political and foreign risk, uninsurable risks, competition,
limited mining operations, production risks, environmental regulation
and liability, government regulation, currency fluctuations, recent
losses and write-downs, restrictions in the Company's loan facility,
dependence on key employees, possible variations of ore grade or
recovery rates, failure of plant, equipment or process to operate as
anticipated, accidents and labour disputes. Investors are cautioned
that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future
performance and, accordingly, investors are cautioned not to put undue
reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty
therein.

 ___________________________________________________________
|Significant 2010  Drill Results                            |
|___________________________________________________________|
|     Hole  | From (m) |  To (m)  | Length (m) |  Gold g/t  |
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-344   |       4.6|      12.2|         7.6|        0.38|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-344   |      36.6|      39.6|         3.0|        4.01|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-344   |      48.8|      51.8|         3.1|        3.08|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-344   |      91.4|      99.1|         7.6|        2.92|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-345   |      10.7|      22.9|        12.2|        0.41|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-345   |      85.3|     111.3|        25.9|        0.74|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-347   |       3.1|      30.5|        27.4|        0.90|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-347   |      47.2|      86.9|        39.6|        0.39|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-348   |       6.1|      48.8|        42.7|        1.14|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-348   |      71.6|      74.7|         3.1|        0.91|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-350   |       7.6|      47.2|        39.6|        0.77|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-351   |       0.0|      22.9|        22.9|        0.71|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-351   |      68.6|      97.5|        29.0|        0.30|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-354   |       0.0|      35.1|        35.1|        0.59|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-354   |      44.2|      68.6|        24.4|        0.93|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-376   |      68.6|     108.2|        39.6|        1.79|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-377   |       3.0|      73.2|        70.1|        0.64|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-378   |       0.0|      22.9|        22.9|        0.95|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-378   |      67.1|      89.9|        22.9|        0.70|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-379   |       1.5|      27.4|        25.9|        1.14|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-379   |      33.5|      61.0|        27.4|        0.38|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-380   |       3.1|      61.0|        57.9|        0.95|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-386   |       0.0|      21.3|        21.3|        2.31|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-392   |       0.0|      57.9|        57.9|        0.72|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-392   |      65.5|      68.6|         3.0|        1.43|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-392   |      80.8|      83.8|         3.0|        1.38|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-392   |      96.0|     112.8|        16.8|        0.27|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-392   |     138.7|     158.5|        19.8|        0.81|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-393   |       1.5|      22.9|        21.3|        0.29|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-393   |      38.1|      83.8|        45.7|        0.80|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-393   |      96.0|     132.6|        36.6|        0.37|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-398   |      29.0|     138.7|       109.7|        0.31|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-402   |       0.0|      48.8|        48.8|        0.66|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-402   |      93.0|      96.0|         3.1|        2.42|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-403   |       0.0|      39.6|        39.6|        0.63|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-403   |      96.0|     152.4|        56.4|        0.73|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-404   |       0.0|      12.2|        12.2|        0.36|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-404   |      57.9|      68.6|        10.7|        1.46|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-404   |      83.8|     135.6|        51.8|        1.65|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-406   |       4.6|      30.5|        25.9|        0.70|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-406   |      50.3|      82.3|        32.0|        0.81|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-406   |      91.4|      99.1|         7.6|        0.34|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-406   |     125.0|     152.4|        27.4|        0.36|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-407   |       0.0|      54.9|        54.9|        0.34|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-417   |       1.5|      47.2|        45.7|        0.59|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|Significant 2010  Drill Results                            |
|___________________________________________________________|
|     Hole  | From (m) |   To (m) | Length (m) |   Gold g/t |
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-417   |     102.1|     138.7|        36.6|        1.49|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-418   |       4.6|      18.3|        13.7|        0.36|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-418   |      30.5|      59.4|        29.0|        0.93|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-418   |     155.5|     190.5|        35.1|        0.47|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-419   |       0.0|      39.6|        39.6|        0.66|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-419   |      62.5|      96.0|        33.5|        0.62|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-419   |     108.2|     125.0|        16.8|        0.90|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-420   |       4.6|      29.0|        24.4|        0.38|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-420   |      36.6|      41.2|         4.6|        0.32|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-420   |      65.5|      83.8|        18.3|        1.32|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-422   |      73.2|     153.9|        80.8|        0.79|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-422   |     170.7|     184.4|        13.7|        1.69|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-423   |       0.0|      91.4|        91.4|        0.80|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-424   |       4.6|      24.4|        19.8|        0.75|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-424   |      39.6|      54.9|        15.2|        1.68|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-424   |     175.3|     221.0|        45.7|        0.45|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-427   |       4.6|      30.5|        25.9|        1.52|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-427   |     227.1|     233.2|         6.1|        3.22|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-449   |       9.1|      54.9|        45.7|        0.74|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-449   |      68.6|     108.2|        39.6|        0.63|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-453   |       6.1|       9.1|         3.0|        2.97|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-453   |      19.8|      30.5|        10.7|        0.32|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-453   |      44.2|     111.3|        67.1|        1.13|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-456   |       6.1|      54.9|        48.8|        0.65|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-461   |       1.5|      54.9|        53.3|        0.52|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-463   |      24.4|      57.9|        33.5|        0.83|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-464   |      45.7|      71.6|        25.9|        0.84|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-470   |     123.4|     211.8|        88.4|        0.77|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-474   |      79.3|     111.3|        32.0|        1.12|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|

 ___________________________________________________________
|Significant 2011 Drill Results                             |
|___________________________________________________________|
|     Hole  | From (m) |  To (m)  | Length (m) |  Gold g/t  |
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-482   |      65.5|     146.3|        80.8|        1.13|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-483   |      91.4|     129.5|        38.1|        0.43|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-483   |     143.3|     150.9|         7.6|        1.59|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-484   |       6.1|      29.0|        22.9|        0.75|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-485   |      15.2|      41.2|        25.9|        1.24|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-490   |      64.0|      71.6|         7.6|        2.69|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-491   |      16.8|      48.8|        32.0|        0.93|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-498   |      86.9|     134.1|        47.2|        1.00|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-502   |      51.8|      64.0|        12.2|        0.46|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-502   |      70.1|      80.8|        10.7|        0.67|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-502   |      86.9|     100.6|        13.7|        0.97|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-502   |     138.7|     166.1|        27.4|        0.77|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-505   |      88.4|     112.8|        24.4|        0.48|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-505   |     135.6|     140.2|         4.6|        1.85|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-505   |     160.0|     163.1|         3.0|        7.13|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-506   |      97.5|     137.2|        39.6|        0.76|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-509   |       4.6|      54.9|        50.3|        0.66|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-509   |      79.3|      83.8|         4.6|        0.43|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-511   |      39.6|      85.3|        45.7|        0.53|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-512   |      50.3|      99.1|        48.8|        0.38|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-512   |     115.8|     172.2|        56.4|        0.40|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-520   |     120.4|     172.2|        51.8|        0.64|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-521   |     157.0|     161.5|         4.6|        0.51|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-521   |     181.4|     196.6|        15.2|        2.21|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-521   |     211.8|     216.4|         4.6|        0.78|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-524   |     158.5|     164.6|         6.1|        0.34|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-524   |     169.2|     202.7|        33.5|        0.70|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-524   |     207.3|     224.0|        16.8|        0.26|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-528   |       9.1|      18.3|         9.1|        0.59|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-528   |      27.4|      35.1|         7.6|        0.34|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-528   |     106.7|     160.0|        53.3|        0.40|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-529   |      27.4|      35.1|         7.6|        1.37|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-529   |     128.0|     144.8|        16.8|        1.25|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-531   |       7.6|      15.2|         7.6|        2.52|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-536   |     134.1|     160.0|        25.9|        2.26|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-537   |     125.0|     137.2|        12.2|        2.37|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-537   |     144.8|     178.3|        33.5|        0.54|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-539   |     176.8|     217.9|        41.2|        1.30|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-543   |     129.5|     140.2|        10.7|        7.22|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-543   |     146.3|     163.1|        16.8|        0.37|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-544   |      70.1|      94.5|        24.4|        1.31|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-544   |     160.0|     167.6|         7.6|        0.50|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-544   |     182.9|     207.3|        24.4|        1.44|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|
|CHCI-545   |      67.1|     105.2|        38.1|        0.77|
|___________|__________|__________|____________|____________|

Diagram 1:  El Chanate Plan Map: http://files.newswire.ca/975/El_Chanate_Plan_Map.pdf

To view this news release in HTML formatting, please use the following URL: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/June2011/29/c2003.html

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