Avino Silver and Gold Mines Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:ASM)(NYSE MKT:ASM)(FRANKFURT:GV6)
("Avino" or "the Company") reports that upgrading and expansion of its San
Gonzalo mine ("SG") on the Avino property near Durango, Mexico continues to
progress rapidly. At San Gonzalo, activities in February were centered on
underground development and mining as well as delivering new underground mining
equipment. At the main Avino Mine ("ET"), efforts have been focused on water
treatment and de-watering to allow access to lower levels for exploration and
development.


At the processing plant, crews have been working to expand the primary crushing
circuit to operate at 1,500 tonnes per day ("tpd") and feed three separate
recovery circuits:




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Circuit #  Throughput (tpd)                Source of Mill feed   Online Date
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1                       250                        San Gonzalo    Now Online
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2                       250   Avino Surface Stockpiles, SG, ET       Q2 2013
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3                     1,000                         Avino Mine       Q1 2014
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A new 250 tpd circuit ("Circuit 2") that has been paid for with cash generated
from the sale of San Gonzalo concentrate will initially be used to process
remaining historic aboveground stockpiles left from past mining of the main
Avino Vein. The Company expects the stockpiles will provide enough mill feed for
approximately seven months of operations. During the third quarter of 2012,
Circuit 1 (250 tpd) produced 50,074 ounces of silver equivalent (calculated)
from the same stock piles, Avino expects output will be similar from Circuit 2
once it's activated in Q2 of this year. After the historic stockpiles have been
depleted, the new circuit will have the ability to process additional mill feed
from the San Gonzalo and Avino Mines as they are developed at depth. 


Circuit 1 will continue to process high-grade mill feed from the San Gonzalo
Mine. Production numbers are reported monthly and are summarized to date in the
news release dated February 12, 2013.


Circuit 3 is scheduled to begin processing new material from the main Avino Mine
in Q1 2014. In the final full year of production prior to shut down in 2001,
Circuit 3 produced 1,733,565 ounces of silver equivalent (calculated) at the
processing rate of 1,000 tpd.


The following is a summary of ongoing work in February: 

San Gonzalo Mine



--  The three new pieces of equipment purchased through the Caterpillar
    credit facility are on site and training has begun. The new jumbo and
    scoop tram have been used at San Gonzalo in the ramp from level 4 to
    level 5. As of February 27th, the level 5 elevation had been reached, a
    cross cut to the vein is being driven with about 5 metres remaining
    before the vein is intersected. Training for the new loader included
    loading two concentrate trucks scheduled for delivery to Manzanillo.
    Eventually, the new scoop tram and jumbo will be used in the main Avino
    mine once sufficient dewatering has occurred. 
    
--  Maqsa-Caterpillar ("MC") has installed GPS transmitters on new surface
    machinery to track performance remotely. MC will provide monthly reports
    to identify inefficiencies that could affect equipment performance. 
    
--  Two new ore passes were installed on Level 4. One pass services the cut
    and fill stope to the west. The other pass services stopes to the east.
    The installation of these passes will reduce haulage time by the scoops.
    
--  Haulage of waste material to the surface waste pile has been kept to a
    minimum with waste being used as fill underground in the cut and fill
    stope on level 4 and other mined areas deemed necessary for support. 



Avino Mine



--  The Avino Mine is now dewatered down to level 7.5 from 5. The ramp is in
    good condition. Rehabilitation work can now begin in the few areas
    affected by sloughing and falling rock. 
    
--  Mexican authorities have granted permission to the Company to begin de-
    watering the mine without requiring a formal permit. Avino is required
    to submit quarterly reports logging the chemical content of the water
    being pumped from the underground workings. Dewatering is expected to
    reach the bottom of the flooded area (level 11) within 6 to 8 months. 
    
--  A second pump was added to speed up dewatering efforts and 2 spare pumps
    are on standby should they be required. 
    
--  Pilot testing of the water treatment plant has been ongoing for the past
    month with daily analysis of the feed and treated water performed at the
    mine lab. Results to date indicate the discharge is meeting agricultural
    guideline limits. Government inspectors visited the facilities and
    requested the mercury analysis to be rechecked at another laboratory. 
    
--  Work to bring Circuit 2 online is nearing completion. A reconditioned
    41/4 ft. short head cone crusher has been ordered and is expected to
    arrive in the second week of March. A 20ft thickener tank is now in
    place awaiting the installation of the mechanism. 
    
--  Initially, Circuit 2 will be powered by a diesel generator. This
    generator will serve as the backup power supply once CFE completes the
    power upgrade work to the mill. 



New NI 43-101 Compliant Resource Estimate

The Company has commissioned an independent engineering firm to assemble a new
property wide technical report that will include new resource estimates for San
Gonzalo and the main Avino Mine. Avino expects to receive the report in April. 


Commitment to Technology Investment

Ongoing investment in new technology is a key element in Avino's expansion
objectives. "We are committed to obtaining the latest and most advanced
technologies," said Avino's President and CEO David Wolfin. "Not only are we
increasing output, we are focused on improving efficiencies, reducing costs and
extending the life of each piece of equipment." 


Improving Exploration Abilities

Toward this commitment, the company has purchased Gemcom 3D software and plans
to import a new digital database now being compiled by Tetra Tech and scheduled
for completion by end of March. This new software will allow geologists to
compile significant raw data-including 80 Kilometres of IP (Induced
Polarization) Geophysics, 1500 soil samples, topography, drill hole data and
satellite imagery. Using this technology, management anticipates finding new
significant drill targets. The company owns two drill rigs (one surface and one
underground) and plans to drill these new targets once the 3D model is
completed. 


Line of Credit with Nissan Mexico

Avino is also working to complete a $2M MXN (approximate) credit line with
Nissan Mexico to increase the diesel trucks fleet for both underground mines.
The fleet will include two or three additional diesel trucks to expedite
movement of personnel, parts and equipment to deeper levels of both the San
Gonzalo and ET mines. 


About Avino

Founded in 1968, Avino's mission is to create shareholder value through
profitable organic growth at the historic Avino property near Durango, Mexico.
We are committed to managing all business activities in an environmentally
responsible and cost-effective manner while contributing to the well-being of
the community in which we operate.  


Avino's key goal is to become a significant low-cost primary silver producer
with specific objectives to: 1) expand resources and reserves, 2) increase the
mine's output, and 3) identify, explore and develop new targets on the property.


ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

David Wolfin, President & CEO

Safe Harbor Statement - This news release contains "forward-looking information"
and "forward-looking statements" (together, the "forward looking statements")
within the meaning of applicable securities laws and the United States Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including our belief as to the extent
and timing of various studies including the PEA, and exploration results, the
potential tonnage, grades and content of deposits, timing and establishment and
extent of resources estimates. These forward-looking statements are made as of
the date of this news release and the dates of technical reports, as applicable.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements,
as there can be no assurance that the future circumstances, outcomes or results
anticipated in or implied by such forward-looking statements will occur or that
plans, intentions or expectations upon which the forward-looking statements are
based will occur. While we have based these forward-looking statements on our
expectations about future events as at the date that such statements were
prepared, the statements are not a guarantee that such future events will occur
and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors which
could cause events or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or
implied by such forward-looking statements.


Such factors and assumptions include, among others, the effects of general
economic conditions, the price of gold, silver and copper, changing foreign
exchange rates and actions by government authorities, uncertainties associated
with legal proceedings and negotiations and misjudgments in the course of
preparing forward-looking information. In addition, there are known and unknown
risk factors which could cause our actual results, performance or achievements
to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements
expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Known risk factors
include risks associated with project development; the need for additional
financing; operational risks associated with mining and mineral processing;
fluctuations in metal prices; title matters; uncertainties and risks related to
carrying on business in foreign countries; environmental liability claims and
insurance; reliance on key personnel; the potential for conflicts of interest
among certain of our officers, directors or promoters of with certain other
projects; the absence of dividends; currency fluctuations; competition;
dilution; the volatility of the our common share price and volume; tax
consequences to U.S. investors; and other risks and uncertainties. Although we
have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions,
events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking
statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not
to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that
forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and
future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.
Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements. We are under no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking
statements except as required under applicable securities laws.


Cautionary Note to United States Investors - The information contained herein
and incorporated by reference herein has been prepared in accordance with the
requirements of Canadian securities laws, which differ from the requirements of
United States securities laws. In particular, the term "resource" does not
equate to the term "reserve". The Securities Exchange Commission's (the "SEC")
disclosure standards normally do not permit the inclusion of information
concerning "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" or
"inferred mineral resources" or other descriptions of the amount of
mineralization in mineral deposits that do not constitute "reserves" by SEC
standards, unless such information is required to be disclosed by the law of the
Company's jurisdiction of incorporation or of a jurisdiction in which its
securities are traded. U.S. investors should also understand that "inferred
mineral resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and
great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. Disclosure of
"contained ounces" is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however,
the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not
constitute "reserves" by SEC standards as in place tonnage and grade without
reference to unit measures.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: 
Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd.
David Wolfin
President & CEO
604.682.3701
604.682.3600 (FAX)
ir@avino.com
www.avino.com
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