Aurizon Discovers New Gold Bearing Quartz Zone at Casa Berardi

Aurizon Mines Ltd. (TSX: ARZ)(AMEX: AZK) is pleased to announce the most significant discovery of mineralization to date outside of the Casa Berardi fault, 350 metres south and 900 metres east of the existing West Mine infrastructure, at its Casa Berardi project, located in Northwestern, Quebec.

Two surface master holes, drilled approximately 100 metres apart, returned intersections (along the hole) of 32.7 grams of gold per tonne over 13.8 metres and 13.1 grams of gold per tonne over 11.6 metres, approximately 650 metres below surface. Short wedge holes drilled 10 metres above each master hole, returned respectively 10.2 grams of gold per tonne over 13.8 metres and 6.4 grams of gold per tonne over 11.5 metres.

The newly discovered Zone 123-S is interpreted to dip steeply to the south. The vein orientation and correlation between the drill holes indicate that the system deformation is nearly east-west with vertical, 60 degree, south-dipping splays. Taking into account the curvature of the drill holes from surface, the true thickness of the mineralization is approximately 75% to 90% of the drill hole intersections reported above.

"We are pleased to note that the strong quartz vein system, which hosts Zone 113 and the Lower Inter Zone in the West Mine area, re-appears along the gold corridor to the east," said Martin Demers, Principal Exploration Geologist. "East of the Zone 113 area, previous drill results indicated that mineralization was usually restricted to a stockwork system with lower grade and lower continuity. The new drill results indicate that Zone 123-S is associated with wide quartz veins similar to the mineralization of the current mineral reserves."

The South fault is the southern branch of the gold bearing fault system, while the Casa Berardi fault represents the northern branch. Both faults merge together to the west in the area of the Lower Inter Zone and approximately 600 metres east of the new Zone 123-S discovery.

Historic deep drilling was focussed on intersecting the extension of the Casa Berardi fault and generally intersected the South fault above the 500 metre elevation. Mineralization was encountered only in the area of the South West Zone and Zone 123. Only five holes have been drilled in the area of the South fault between the 800 metre and 1,300 metre elevation and returned values of between 2.7 to 5.5 grams of gold per tonne over widths of between 2.7 and 5.5 metres between sections 122 and 124. Four holes intersected stockwork mineralization and one intersected quartz vein mineralization. Deep exploration along the South fault remains open at depth and along strike.

Two surface drill rigs are currently active in the area of Zone 123-S. Aurizon is currently evaluating various scenarios to access the zone, including the possible development of a new underground exploration drift from the 850 metre level of Zone 113, in order to test the dip extension of both Zone 123-S and Zone 122-Deep, down to 1,500 metres.

Zone 123-S represents the second significant discovery made in 2006 as underground exploration also intersected high grade mineralization along the Casa Berardi fault (Zone 122-Deep) in the same area. (See News Release dated November 10, 2006) Previously reported intersections returned 12.2 grams of gold per tonne over 9.9 metres and 12.2 grams of gold per tonne over 7.2 metres. The 2006 exploration drill program has generated the most exciting discoveries at Casa Berardi since Aurizon discovered Zone 113 shortly after acquiring the property, in 1999.

Aurizon expects to achieve commercial production at Casa Berardi in the first quarter of 2007. It is estimated that Casa Berardi will produce approximately 185,000 ounces of gold in 2007 at an estimated total cash cost of US$250 per ounce, using a Canadian dollar exchange rate of 1.13. Based on its 2005 Feasibility Study, it is estimated that, Casa Berardi will produce 1,092,000 ounces of gold from 4.8 million tonnes of ore over the initial 6.2 year operating plan, based on current mineral reserves.

Quality Control

Core assays are performed on core sawed in half, with standard fire assay procedures and atomic absorption finition. Certified reference material is inserted in the sample sequence for quality control. Assay checking on the pulp and reject samples are carried out systematically. Exploration primary assaying is performed on site and check assays on mineralized intervals will be carried out by ALS Chemex of Val D'Or.

Drill hole planning, implementation and the quality control program is supervised by Martin Demers, P. Geol. Principal Exploration Geologist, and Marie-Kim Lachapelle, P.Geol., Exploration Geologist, both appropriately qualified persons as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

Additional Information

Two sketches are attached showing the West Mine and Principal Zones area, and the recent drilling results. All other information previously released on the Casa Berardi Project is also available on the Aurizon website.

Aurizon is a gold producer with a growth strategy focused on developing its existing projects in the Abitibi region of north-western Quebec, one of the world's most prolific gold and base metal regions, and by increasing its asset base through accretive transactions. Aurizon shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "ARZ" and on the American Stock Exchange under the symbol "AZK". Additional information on Aurizon and its properties is available on Aurizon's website at http://www.aurizon.com .