Aurizon Mines Ltd.: Casa Berardi Project Progress Report and Appointment.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Aurizon (AMEX:AZK) (TSX:ARZ) is pleased to announce that Mr. Gilles Brousseau has been appointed Mine Manager at Casa Berardi. Mr. Brousseau has over 41 years of mining industry experience, including former positions as Assistant Manager at the Bousquet Mine, Quebec and Mine Manager at El Indio, both for Barrick Gold Corporation. Recently, he was involved with Hecla Mining Company as Mine Manager of La Camorra in Venezuela. In 1995, Mr. Brousseau was recognised by the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy for his work on innovative mining methods and ground support systems in soft rock mining conditions.

Aurizon has assembled a 32 member technical task force to conduct the ongoing underground exploration program at Casa Berardi and to support Met-Chem Canada Inc. in the completion of an updated feasibility study. The average staff member has more than 20 years of mining experience working for companies such as Barrick, Cambior Inc., Noranda Inc., Falconbridge Limited and major mining contractors.

Underground Exploration Program

The underground exploration program, which included extension of the main ramp from the West Mine to the 550 metre level; development of a 450 metre exploration drift for the detailed drilling of Zone 113; and development of Zone 113 to test the continuity of the mineralization and to provide samples for metallurgical purposes, has been completed. A third diamond drill has been added in the 550 metre exploration drift to expedite the definition and infill drilling.

Shaft Preparation

The surface work required for the excavation and construction of the shaft collar is underway. Geotechnical test-work, road access, site preparation, electrical distribution and engineering studies are nearing completion. Shaft collar excavation and construction work should begin in late July, following the completion of the tendering process and the mobilization of the contractor.

The underground shaft work is progressing well. Access to the shaft location has been completed on the 280 metre level and is in progress on the 550 metre level. To date, 390 metres of drifting has been completed on the 550 metre level to access the future shaft location. A pilot raise, located in the centre of the future shaft, has been started at the 280 metre level, where a total of 80 metres has been excavated. Once access to the 550 level shaft location is complete, a pilot raise will be driven from the 550 metre level up to the 280 metre level.

Updated feasibility study

In March 2004, Aurizon announced that an Updated Feasibility Study had been awarded to Met-Chem Canada Inc. The Feasibility Study is due to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2004.

Metallurgical and environmental test-work, detailed engineering of the surface and underground infrastructure and detailed mine planning are in progress.

Aurizon and Met-Chem are reviewing scenarios which will see Casa Berardi in full production in a timely manner. The objective is to prioritize the mine plan so that mine payback is accelerated and the internal rate of return is maximized.

Additional Information

A sketch showing the progress on the underground workings described herein is attached to this news release. If you are unable to view this information, please download this news release from Aurizon's website at http://www.aurizon.com or contact the Company at the numbers listed below. All other information previously released on the Casa Berardi project is also available on the Aurizon website.

Aurizon is a Canadian gold producer with operations and exploration activities in the Abitibi region of north-western Quebec, one of the world's most prolific gold and base metal regions. Aurizon owns one hundred percent (100%) of the Casa Berardi property, which is accessible by road, permitted, and is on the Hydro Quebec power grid. Aurizon also owns fifty percent (50%) of the Sleeping Giant Mine. Aurizon shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "ARZ" and on the American Stock Exchange under the symbol "AZK".

This News Release contains "forward-looking statements", including, but not limited to, statements regarding the Company's expectations as to the market price of gold, strategic plans, future commercial production, production targets and timetables, mine operating costs, capital expenditures, work programs, exploration budgets and mineral reserve and resource estimates. Forward-looking statements express, as at the date of this report, the Company's plans, estimates, forecasts, projections, expectations, or beliefs as to future events or results. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. Therefore, actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Factors that could cause results or events to differ materially from current expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, include, but are not limited to, factors associated with fluctuations in the market price of precious metals, mining industry risks and hazards, environmental risks and hazards, uncertainty as to calculation of mineral reserves and resources, requirement of additional financing, risks of delays in construction and other risks more fully described in Aurizon's Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities Commissions of the provinces of British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec, with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, and with the Toronto Stock Exchange.

U.S. Registration: (File #0-22672) Form 20-F

News Release Issue No. 17 - 2004