Mariana Resources Appoints New Non-Executive Director

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwire) -- 07/25/11 -- Mariana Resources Ltd. (TSX: MRY)(AIM: MARL)(PLUS: MARL) ('Mariana' or 'the Company'), the AIM and TSX quoted exploration and development company focussed on Argentina and Chile, announces the appointment of Mr. J. Christopher Mitchell as Non-executive Director to the Board, effective from 22 July, 2011. The appointment complements the Company's strategy of bolstering its Canadian exposure following its recent listing on the TSX.

Mr. Mitchell, BSc (Hons. Chem.), MSc (Metallurgy), MBA (Fin.), is a Vancouver based financial advisor to listed companies active in the mineral exploration and production arena. During a career spanning more than 40 years, he has served in senior executive positions with several listed mining companies. He currently serves as Chief Financial Officer of several TSX Venture Exchange listed companies and as a non-executive director of three junior mineral exploration companies listed on the TSX Venture Exchange. He is also principal of Adera Company Management Inc., which provides financial and administrative management services to smaller public companies.

Mariana's Chairman John Horsburgh said, 'His specific industry and Canadian experience will be invaluable to Mariana following our listing on TSX and as we look towards expansion of our Las Calandrias gold-silver resources in Argentina.'

Chris Mitchell, aged 70, is a director of the following TSX Venture Exchange listed companies:

 Endurance Gold Corporation
 First Point Minerals Corp.
 Skyline Gold Corporation

There are no other matters which are required to be announced with regard to this appointment under paragraph (g) of Schedule 2 of the AIM Rules.

For further information please visit website at www.marianaresources.com.

About Mariana Resources

Mariana Resources Ltd is an AIM and TSX quoted exploration and development company with an extensive portfolio of gold, silver and copper projects in Argentina and Chile. In southern Argentina, in addition to the Las Calandrias gold-silver discovery, the Company has the Sierra Blanca silver-gold prospect (70%); the Los Amigos joint venture (49%) with Hochschild Mining and a 160,000 Ha land package (100%) in the country. All of these projects are located in the Deseado Massif epithermal gold-silver district in mining-friendly Santa Cruz province of southern Argentina, which hosts four mines and several advanced projects. In Chile, Mariana has a joint venture with US based international mining and natural resources company Cliffs Natural Resources Inc., to explore for iron oxide-copper-gold deposits ('IOCG') in a 92,000 km2 area ('SCM Mariana Area') in north-central Chile along the highly prospective Atacama Fault Zone. The SCM Mariana Area includes the 44km2 Buenaventura and 46km2 Perro Chico IOCG projects. Mariana is also evaluating a number of gold-silver and copper-gold opportunities away from the Cliffs JV area, as part of a new initiative.

Safe Harbour

This press release presents 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation that involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the future price of gold and other minerals and metals, the estimation of mineral resources, the capital expenditures, costs and timing of the resources, the realization of mineral reserve estimates, the capital expenditures, costs and timing of the development of new deposits, success of exploration activities, permitting time lines, currency exchange rate fluctuations, requirements for additional capital, government regulation of mining operations, environmental risks, unanticipated reclamation expenses, title disputes or claims and limitations on insurance coverage. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward looking terminology such as 'plans', 'expects' or 'does not expect', 'is expected', 'budget', 'scheduled', 'estimates', 'forecasts', 'intends', 'anticipates' or 'does not anticipate', or 'believes', or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results 'may', 'could', 'would', 'might' or 'will be taken', 'occur' or 'be achieved'.

Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Mariana to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements, including but not limited to: risks related to international operations, actual results of current exploration activities; actual results of current or future reclamation activities; conclusions of economic evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; future prices of gold and other minerals and metals; possible variations in ore reserves, grade or recovery rates; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; and delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities. Although the management of Mariana believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions and have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, 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. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Mariana Resources does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Neither the TSX nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Contacts:

Mariana Resources Ltd.

John Horsburgh

Chairman

61 2 94374588


Mariana Resources Ltd.

Glen Parsons

CFO

61 2 94374588


Mariana Resources Ltd. (Vancouver Office)

Kathryn Witter

1 604 669 9336
www.marianaresources.com


RFC Corporate Finance Limited (Nomad)

Rob Adamson

61 2 9250 0041


RFC Corporate Finance Limited (Nomad)

Will Souter

61 2 9250 0050


FinnCap (Broker)

Joe Lunn

Analyst

44 20 7600 1658


FinnCap (Broker)

Matthew Robinson

44 20 7600 1658


St Brides Media and Finance Ltd (PR)

Felicity Edwards

44 20 7236 1177


St Brides Media and Finance Ltd (PR)

Hugo de Salis

44 20 7236 1177