Minera Andes announces work stoppage at San José Mine

SPOKANE, WA, Sept. 9 /CNW/ - Minera Andes Inc. (the "Corporation" or "Minera Andes") (TSX: MAI and US OTC: MNEAF) announced today that it has been advised by Minera Santa Cruz SA ("MSC"), that production was suspended Monday at the San José Mine in Argentina due to a dispute over certain workplace issues with the local mining union, AOMA (Asociaci?n Obrera Minera Argentina).

The San José project is operated by MSC, which is owned 51% by Hochschild Mining plc and 49% by Minera Andes.

Daily production at the San José mine has been running at a rate of approximately 32,600 silver equivalent ounces (of which the share attributable to Minera Andes is approximately 16,000 silver equivalent ounces).

The Corporation will keep the market informed of developments as they occur.

Minera Andes is a gold, silver and copper exploration company focused in Argentina. The Corporation holds or has an interest in approximately 304,000 acres of mineral exploration land in Argentina located in the regions near the San José mine and the Los Azules copper project in San Juan province where a scoping study has been completed and the Corporation is awaiting a decision by its joint venture partner, Xstrata Copper Company, if it will exercise its right to back in to a 51% ownership of the project. The San José joint venture property covers 50,941 hectares and is not included in the acres noted above.

Other exploration properties, primarily silver and gold, in southern Argentina, are being evaluated.

This news release is submitted by James K. Duff, Chief Operating Officer of Minera Andes Inc.

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