Cardero Receiving Final USD 88 Million For Pampa De Pongo Iron Ore Deposit, Peru

Cardero Resource Corp. ("Cardero" or the "Company") (TSX:CDU)(AMEX:CDY)(Frankfurt:CR5) is pleased to announce that Jinzhao Mining Peru, S.A., the Peruvian subsidiary of Zibo Hongda Mining Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Nanjinzhao Group Co. Ltd. ("Nanjinzhao"), has advised that it is proceeding with the completion of the purchase of the Pampa de Pongo Iron Deposit in Peru. Due to the fact that Nanjinzhao has not yet finalized its project financing banking arrangements with respect to the Pampa de Pongo project, and is therefore making the final payment from its own corporate resources, it has requested, and Cardero and Cardero Hierro Peru, S.A. ("Cardero Peru") have agreed, that the final payment of USD 88 million will be split into three payments, as follows:

- USD 18 million, to be paid prior to December 17, 2009 - paid
- USD 40 million, to be paid on December 17, 2009 - paid
- USD 30 million, to be paid on December 31, 2009 - to come

Aura Minerals Releases Drill Results for the Aranzazu Copper-Gold-Silver Project in Mexico

Aura Minerals Inc. ("Aura Minerals" or the "Company") (TSX: ORA.TO) is pleased to release additional drill hole results from its wholly owned Aranzazu Project in Zacatecas State, Mexico.

The Company is continuing to drill close-spaced resource definition holes for mine planning as part of the planned restart of operations in Q2/2010. Results from a further 25 holes have been received.

Ivanhoe Mines Announces Construction Budget of US$758 Million For Development Work in 2010 at Oyu Tolgoi Mining Complex in Mongolia

Majority of Oyu Tolgoi Investment Agreement conditions precedent have been satisfied in recent weeks

Ivanhoe Mines' (NYSE: IVN)(NASDAQ: IVN)(TSX: IVN) President and Chief Executive Officer John Macken announced today that the joint Ivanhoe Mines-Rio Tinto Oyu Tolgoi Technical Committee has approved a conditional US$758 million budget for 2010 to begin full-scale construction of the copper-gold mining complex in southern Mongolia.

"The approval of the 2010 construction budget represents the next big step toward bringing this project into production," Mr. Macken said. "Ivanhoe is considering a schedule that could see construction of the initial open-pit mine completed in 2012 and commercial production begin in 2013."

International Royalty informed by Franco-Nevada Corporation of its intention to make an offer for IRC shares

International Royalty Corporation (NYSE-A:ROY, TSX: IRC) ("IRC") announced today that it has been informed of the intention of Franco-Nevada Corporation to, directly or indirectly through a wholly-owned subsidiary, make a formal all-cash offer to IRC shareholders to acquire any or all of the outstanding common shares of IRC for C$6.75 cash per share. IRC's board of directors will be meeting with its legal and financial advisors to consider an appropriate response to Franco-Nevada Corporation's intention regarding the offer and the board will communicate further with IRC's securityholders in due course.