Lourenco Goncalves Appointed Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.

NEWS RELEASE


Lourenco Goncalves Appointed Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of
Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.


CLEVELAND - Aug. 7, 2014 - Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. (NYSE: CLF) today
announced that the Company's Board of Directors has appointed Lourenco Goncalves
to the positions of Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, effective
immediately.

"I am honored by the opportunity to lead Cliffs into its next chapter, with a
keen focus on improving performance and restoring shareholder value," said Mr.
Goncalves.  "Cliffs has a unique position of strength in iron ore in the Great
Lakes region, many valuable assets in other sectors elsewhere in the US and
around the world, and talented employees at all levels of the company.  I look
forward to working closely with all of my fellow Directors to refocus Cliffs on
a new strategic path that builds on those strengths, and I am grateful to my
fellow shareholders for the vote of confidence they have placed in us.  While
there is much to be done and many challenges ahead of us, there is also much
promise. I can assure all of our stakeholders we are hitting the ground
running."

Mr. Goncalves replaces Jim Kirsch who served as Chairman since July 2013, and
Gary Halverson who served as CEO since February 2014.

Richard K. Riederer, who has been a Director of the Company since 2002 and was
re-elected at this year's Annual Meeting, added, "I look forward to working with
the new Board and management team.  The Company wishes to thank Gary Halverson
for his contributions to Cliffs as CEO. We also extend our thanks to Jim Kirsch
for his service as Chairman of our Board and wish him well in his future
endeavors."

Mr. Goncalves' brings more than 30 years of experience in the metals and mining
industries, as well as extensive Board experience in the United States and
abroad. Mr. Goncalves served as Chairman of the Board, President and Chief
Executive Officer of Metals USA Holdings Corp., a leading American manufacturer
and processor of steel and other metals, from May 2006 through April 2013, and
was President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of the company since
February 2003. Mr. Goncalves also served as a board member of Ascometal SAS, a
manufacturer of special steel headquartered in Paris, France, from October 2011
to April 2014. Prior to Metals USA, Mr. Goncalves served as President and Chief
Executive Officer of California Steel Industries, Inc. from March 1998 to
February 2003. From 1981 to 1998 he was employed by Companhia Siderúrgica
Nacional, a leading steel and mining company in Brazil, where he held several
positions in operations and sales.

Mr. Goncalves earned a Masters of Science degree in Metallurgical Engineering
from the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Belo Horizonte, Brazil and a
Bachelor's degree in Metallurgical Engineering from the Military Institute of
Engineering in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.


About Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.
Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. is an international mining and natural resources
company. The Company is a major global iron ore producer and a significant
producer of high-and low-volatile metallurgical coal. Cliffs' strategy is to
continually achieve greater scale and diversification in the mining industry
through a focus on serving the world's largest and fastest growing steel
markets. Driven by the core values of social, environmental and capital
stewardship, Cliffs associates across the globe endeavor to provide all
stakeholders operating and financial transparency.

The Company is organized through a global commercial group responsible for sales
and delivery of Cliffs' products and a global operations group responsible for
the production of the minerals the Company markets. Cliffs operates iron ore and
coal mines in North America and an iron ore mining complex in Western Australia.

News releases and other information on the Company are available on the Internet
at: http://www.cliffsnaturalresources.com

Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
federal securities laws. Although the Company believes that its forward-looking
statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are subject to
risks and uncertainties relating to Cliffs' operations and business environment
that are difficult to predict and may be beyond Cliffs' control. Such
uncertainties and factors may cause actual results to differ materially from
those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements for a variety of
reasons including without limitation: trends affecting our financial condition,
results of operations or future prospects, particularly the continued volatility
of iron ore and coal prices; our actual levels of capital spending; uncertainty
or weaknesses in global economic conditions, including downward pressure on
prices, reduced market demand and any slowing of the economic growth rate in
China; our ability to successfully integrate acquired companies into our
operations and achieve post-acquisition synergies, including without limitation,
Cliffs Quebec Iron Mining Limited (formerly Consolidated Thompson Iron Mining
Limited); our ability to successfully identify and consummate any strategic
investments and complete planned divestitures; the outcome of any contractual
disputes with our customers, joint venture partners or significant energy,
material or service providers or any other litigation or arbitration; the
ability of our customers and joint venture partners to meet their obligations to
us on a timely basis or at all; our ability to reach agreement with our iron ore
customers regarding any modifications to sales contract provisions; the impact
of price-adjustment factors on our sales contracts; changes in sales volume or
mix; our actual economic iron ore and coal reserves or reductions in current
mineral estimates, including whether any mineralized material qualifies as a
reserve; the impact of our customers using other methods to produce steel or
reducing their steel production; events or circumstances that could impair or
adversely impact the viability of a mine and the carrying value of associated
assets; the results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies in relation to
projects; impacts of existing and increasing governmental regulation and related
costs and liabilities, including failure to receive or maintain required
operating and environmental permits, approvals, modifications or other
authorization of, or from, any governmental or regulatory entity and costs
related to implementing improvements to ensure compliance with regulatory
changes; our ability to cost-effectively achieve planned production rates or
levels; uncertainties associated with natural disasters, weather conditions,
unanticipated geological conditions, supply or price of energy, equipment
failures and other unexpected events; adverse changes in currency values,
currency exchange rates, interest rates and tax laws; availability of capital
and our ability to maintain adequate liquidity and successfully implement our
financing plans; our ability to maintain appropriate relations with unions and
employees and enter into or renew collective bargaining agreements on
satisfactory terms; risks related to international operations; availability of
capital equipment and component parts; the potential existence of significant
deficiencies or material weakness in our internal control over financial
reporting; problems or uncertainties with productivity, tons mined,
transportation, mine-closure obligations, environmental liabilities, employee-
benefit costs and other risks of the mining industry; and other factors and
risks that are set forth in the Company's most recently filed reports with the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The information contained
herein speaks as of the date of this release and may be superseded by subsequent
events. Except as may be required by applicable securities laws, we do not
undertake any obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements
contained in this release.

Contacts:

Patricia Persico
Director, Global Communications
(216) 694-5316

Matt Benson/Alexandra LaManna
Sard Verbinnen and Co
(212) 687-8080








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Source: Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. via GlobeNewswire
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