Rio Cristal Resources Issues Stock Options

April 16th, 2012

Vancouver, Canada and Lima, Peru -- (April 16, 2012) - Rio Cristal Resources Corporation (TSXV:RCZ) (BVL:RCZ) ("RCR" or the "Company") announces that 2,550,000 incentive stock options have been granted to its directors and officers and to certain employees of the Company, on April 3, 2012, pursuant to the Company's Stock Option Plan. The 5 year options were issued at a price of C$0.11 per option. One third of the options vest immediately; one third vest 12 months after the date of grant; and one-third vest 24 months after the date of the grant.

About Rio Cristal Resources Corporation

Rio Cristal Resources is a Canadian corporation focused development of the 18,000 hectare BongarĂ¡ zinc property in northern Peru. There are four separate exploration projects at BongarĂ¡ and the Company's first Measured and Indicated resource was announced in February, 2012.

The Company is also actively reviewing other zinc, gold and copper prospects in Peru.

The Company's shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, Venture Segment and the Bolsa de Valores de Lima (Lima Stock Exchange) under the symbol RCZ.

For further information for investors, please contact Lucia Cestti via email at investor@riocristalresources.com or call her at 511 628-5124 in Lima, Peru.

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding potential exploration results, future plans and objectives of the Company are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future results, events and objectives could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Rio Cristal's expectations include exploration and other risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to sell any securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.
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