Cambior Increases Shareholding in Aurizon.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Aurizon Mines Ltd. (TSX:ARZ)(AMEX:AZK) reports that Cambior Inc. ("Cambior") has filed a Schedule 13D with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on January 11, 2005, stating that Cambior had increased its holdings in Aurizon from 4,885,753 common shares to 9,401,953 shares, representing 9.1% of the Company's issued share capital. The SEC filing states that Cambior acquired the common shares of Aurizon more than 60 days prior to the date of filing. As of December 31, 2004, Aurizon had 103,421,522 common shares issued.

Aurizon Mines Ltd. is a Canadian-based gold mining company 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, has all necessary mining permits in place and is on the Hydro Quebec power grid. The Company is anticipating the release of the results of a Feasibility Study being conducted on Casa Berardi by the end of January 2005. Aurizon is currently developing Casa Berardi with the goal of fast-tracking it to production in late 2006. Aurizon also owns 50% of the Sleeping Giant Mine, of which Cambior is the operator and owner of the remaining 50% interest. 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 as an alternative form of AIF 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

Aurizon Mines Ltd. (TSX:ARZ) (AMEX:AZK)