Mariana Resources Ltd Releases Its Half-Yearly Report and the Quarterly Management Discussion & Analysis for the Periods Ended 30 June 2012

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwire) -- 08/10/12 -- Mariana Resources Ltd (TSX: MRY)(AIM: MARL) ('Mariana' or 'the Company') the AIM and TSX quoted exploration and development company focused in Argentina and Chile, today released its Half-yearly Financial Report to 30 June 2012 and its Management Discussion & Analysis for the quarter ended 30 June 2012.

The full report and MD&A can be accessed at the following links to the Mariana Resources Ltd web site:

http://www.marianaresources.com/pdf/2012/120630_Mariana_Half_Year_Report.pdf

http://www.marianaresources.com/pdf/2012/120630_Mariana_MDA.pdf

or on SEDAR on the company's profile at www.sedar.com

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

About Mariana Resources

Mariana Resources Ltd is an AIM 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%). 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 contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation ("forward-looking statements"). These forward-looking statements are made as at the date of this press release and include, without limitation, statements regarding discussions of future plans, the realization, cost, timing and extent of mineral resource estimates, estimated future exploration expenditures, costs and timing of the development of new deposits, success of exploration activities, permitting time lines, and requirements for additional capital. The words "plans", "expects", "budget", "scheduled", "estimate", "forecasts", "intend", "anticipate", "believe", "may", "will", or similar expressions or variations of such words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: the effects of general economic conditions; the price of gold and silver; misjudgments in the course of preparing forward-looking statements; risks associated with international operations; the need for additional financing; risks inherent in exploration results; conclusions of economic evaluations; changes in project parameters; currency and commodity price fluctuations; title matters; environmental liability claims; unanticipated operational risks; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or in the completion of development or construction activities; political risk; and other risks and uncertainties described in the Company's annual information form and MD&A for the most recently completed financial year available on SEDAR. Although we believe 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 forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Incorporated in Guernsey registered number 44276.

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:

In Australia:

Mariana Resources Ltd

John Horsburgh

Chairman

+612 9437 4588


Mariana Resources Ltd

Glen Parsons

CFO

+612 9437 4588


RFC Ambrian Limited (Nomad)

Rob Adamson

+612 9250 0041


RFC Ambrian Limited (Nomad)

Will Souter

+612 9250 0050


In U.K.:

Fox Davies Capital (Co UK Broker)

Jonathan Evans

+44 20 3463 5000


St Brides Media and Finance Ltd (PR)

Felicity Edwards

+44 20 7236 1177


RFC Ambrian Limited (Co UK Broker)

Klara Kaczmarek

+44 20 7634 4725


In Canada:

Mariana Resources Ltd (Vancouver Office)

+1 604 669 9336