Vancouver, Canada and Lima, Peru - (June 9, 2009) Rio Cristal Zinc Corporation (TSXV:RCZ) ("RCZ" or the "Company") announced today that it is expanding its exploration efforts to include metals other than zinc, its current focus.  Further, to demonstrate its new focus the Company will change its name to Rio Cristal Resources Corporation.  The Company’s trading symbol will continue to be “RCZ”.

Thomas Findley, President and CEO, said “while we had very encouraging results from initial drilling at our Charlotte Bongará zinc project and continue to believe that the zinc market has an excellent future, we are aware of excellent opportunities to acquire or joint venture early stage copper and gold properties in Peru.  We are therefore adopting a strategy to diversify our portfolio and expand our exploration activities.  Further, as a reflection of our expanded exploration strategy, we will change the Company’s name to Rio Cristal Resources Corporation.”

This expanded exploration strategy is another key step being taken to add shareholder value to the Company. Earlier this year the Company undertook a program to drastically reduce costs including the rescheduling of option payments for the Company’s flagship Charlotte Bongará property in northern Peru.  In April, 2009 it restructured its management team and completed a C$780,000 non-brokered financing.

Regarding the Company’s Charlotte Bongará zinc project, Findley said “the intercepts reported from the initial drilling program are interpreted as being part of an emerging MVT zinc district of which Rio Cristal Zinc controls over 25,000 hectares.  The Charlotte Bongará concessions are adjacent to the Florida Canyon advanced exploration project (Votorantim Metais and Solitario Exploration & Royalty Corp.), and the Mina Grande high-grade zinc oxide deposit controlled by Cementos Pacasmayo S.A.”

The change in the Company’s name is subject to approval by the TSX Venture Exchange and will be finalized as quickly as possible.

About Rio Cristal Zinc Corporation
Rio Cristal Zinc is a Canadian corporation focused on the discovery and further development of zinc deposits in Peru. The principal asset of RCZ is the Charlotte Bongará claim block located in northern Peru within an emerging Mississippi Valley-type zinc district. Additional information can be found on the Company’s website, www.riocristalzinc.com.

For further information please contact Thomas Findley at:
Telephone: (778) 588-6880
Toll Free: (866) 609-9644
Fax: (604) 609-9946
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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.