Avalon Rare Metals Inc. (TSE:AVL) Announces Appointment of Mr. Richard Morland to the Board of Directors

Toronto, Canada (ABN Newswire) - Avalon Rare Metals Inc. (TSE:AVL) (PINK:AVARF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Richard Morland, B.Eng., to the Company's Board of Directors.

Richard Morland is a mining engineer with 30 years experience in the mining industry in Australia and Canada. A native of Australia, he has lived in Canada since 2006 where he held the positions of Vice President of Operations at the Ekati Diamond Mine and also President and Chief Operating Officer of BHP Billiton Diamonds Inc., the owner and operator of the Ekati Diamond Mine. Richard is a resident of Yellowknife, NWT and remains active in the community with a number of charitable organizations.

Avalon's President Don Bubar noted, 'Richard brings extensive experience in underground and open pit mining, in a variety of mineral processing and smelting environments, in large and small scale operations to the Company's Board of Directors and most importantly, recent experience in a similar northern operating environment.'

A graduate of the University of Queensland (B. Eng., 1981), Mr. Morland spent the first 24 years of his career at various mining operations in Australia, notably 16 years at Mount Isa Mines where, at different times, he held the position of Manager in both its mining and smelting operations.

Mr. Morland commented, 'I am pleased to accept Avalon's invitation to serve on its Board of Directors. I share the Company's vision for environmentally and socially responsible mineral development in the north, and I am looking forward to working with the Board to help Avalon achieve its goals with the development of the Nechalacho Rare Earth Elements deposit.'

Mr. Morland has been granted 175,000 incentive stock options exercisable at a price of $4.36 per share for a period of five years from the date of grant of the options. The options will vest at the rate of 25% per year.

About Avalon Rare Metals Inc.:

Avalon Rare Metals Inc. (TSX:AVL), (NYSE Amex:AVL) is a mineral exploration and development company focused on rare metals deposits in Canada. Its flagship project, the 100%-owned Nechalacho Deposit, Thor Lake, NWT, is emerging as one of the largest undeveloped rare earth elements resources in the world. Its exceptional enrichment in the more valuable 'heavy' rare earth elements, which are key to enabling advances in green energy technology and other growing high-tech applications, is one of the few potential sources of these critical elements outside of China, currently the source of 95% of world supply. Avalon is well funded, has no debt and its work programs are progressing steadily. Social responsibility and environmental stewardship are corporate cornerstones.

Source:

Avalon Rare Metals Inc.

Contact:

Avalon Rare Metals
Tel:  416-364-4938
Email: office@avalonraremetals.com 
http://www.avalonraremetals.com