Alderon Confirms No Impact as a Result of CN's Plan to Cancel Feasibility Study For a New Rail Service in Northern Quebec

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Feb. 12, 2013) - Alderon Iron Ore Corp. (TSX:ADV)(NYSE MKT:AXX) ("Alderon") is not reliant on the proposed CN rail service in the Labrador Trough and CN's decision to terminate the feasibility study for an integrated multi-user rail and terminal does not affect the scheduling or the time-lines of the Kami Project. One of the greatest advantages of Alderon's Kami Project is its proximity to the existing common carrier rail line owned and operated by the Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway ("QNS&L"). Alderon's feasibility study capital and operating cost projections are based on using the QNS&L Railway which has been the central case rail solution for our Kami Project since its inception.

"The QNS&L Railway is a common carrier that operates with the legal obligation to accommodate third-party traffic. It currently has ample surplus capacity and runs within 15 km of the Kami Property," says Tayfun Eldem, President and CEO of Alderon. "Alderon will continue its rail tariff discussions with QNS&L."

CN announced today that its feasibility study for a new rail line in Northern Quebec is terminated amid anticipated delays in mine development projects in and around the Labrador Trough. The proposed rail line and terminal handling facility were to serve the Quebec/Labrador iron ore corridor.

Alderon has always viewed CN's integrated rail and terminal development project as a potentially high value alternative option and as a result signed on to participate in CN's feasibility study. Now that the feasibility study is canceled, under Alderon's agreement with CN, they are obligated to refund the $1.5 million Alderon contributed to the study last year.

About Alderon

Alderon is a leading iron ore development company in Canada with offices in Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Labrador City and St. John's. The 100% owned Kami Project is located within Canada's premier iron ore district and is surrounded by four producing iron ore mines. The Alderon team is comprised of skilled professionals with significant iron ore expertise to advance Kami towards production.

For more information on Alderon, please visit our website at www.alderonironore.com.

ALDERON IRON ORE CORP.

On behalf of the Board

Mark J. Morabito, Executive Chairman

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" concerning anticipated developments and events that may occur in the future. Forward looking information contained in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to Alderon's access to the Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway.

In certain cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. Forward-looking information contained in this press release is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the estimation of mineral reserves and resources, the realization of resource estimates, iron ore and other metal prices, the timing and amount of future exploration and development expenditures, the estimation of initial and sustaining capital requirements, the estimation of labour and operating costs, the availability of necessary financing and materials to continue to explore and develop the Kami Property (as defined herein) in the short and long-term, the progress of exploration and development activities, the receipt of necessary regulatory approvals, the completion of the environmental assessment process, the estimation of insurance coverage, and assumptions with respect to currency fluctuations, environmental risks, title disputes or claims, and other similar matters. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect.

Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks inherent in the exploration and development of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined including the possibility that mining operations may not commence at the Kami Property, risks relating to variations in mineral resources, grade or recovery rates resulting from current exploration and development activities, risks relating to the ability to access rail transportation, sources of power and port facilities, risks relating to changes in iron ore prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of iron ore and related products, risks related to increased competition in the market for iron ore and related products and in the mining industry generally, risks related to current global financial conditions, uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral resources, access and supply risks, reliance on key personnel, operational risks inherent in the conduct of mining activities, including the risk of accidents, labour disputes, increases in capital and operating costs and the risk of delays or increased costs that might be encountered during the development process, regulatory risks, including risks relating to the acquisition of the necessary licences and permits, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks, including the risk that the financing necessary to fund the exploration and development activities at the Kami Property may not be available on satisfactory terms, or at all, risks related to disputes concerning property titles and interest, environmental risks, and the additional risks identified in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Information Form for the most recently completed financial year or other reports and filings with applicable Canadian securities regulators. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this press release. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information.