MRK Merc International Minerals Inc.

Merc International Minerals Inc. ("Merc") (TSX VENTURE: MRK) announced today that Mr. William Waychison has been retained to oversee Merc's upcoming diamond drill program at its Damoti Lake Gold Project.

Mr. Waychison, a Professional Geoscientist, has over 30 years experience with companies such as Gold Fields Canadian Mining Limited and Santa Fe Canadian Mining Limited, and has a wealth of hands-on knowledge in all facets of exploration, including a recent new discovery of gold in iron formation, a setting similar to Damoti Lake.

"Bill is the ideal person to help advance the Damoti Lake Gold Project, and we are excited to have him aboard," stated Merc's CEO, Dr. Michael Byron. "Bill is well known in the industry for his range of experience, successes and accomplishments. Having previously visited and completed a detailed examination of Damoti in the late 90's, his involvement further strengthens our already strong technical team, and will significantly improve our ability to exploit the opportunities at Damoti Lake."

In a recent news release (April 9, 2009), Merc reported that it had increased its land position at Damoti Lake, located 200 km north of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, and was finalizing preparations for its first drill program, a 6,000 metre campaign scheduled for early June 2009. The Damoti Lake Gold Project has a varied exploration history, including resource estimates, as summarized in the above-mentioned news release.

Merc's first drill program is designed to expand upon the known resource and culminate with a new NI 43-101 compliant resource estimate. Twenty to thirty drill holes are planned to infill priority target areas within the current resource and to extend the mineralization along strike and to depth within the Horseshoe and Pyrite Zones. Drilling will also focus along the mineralized fold structures immediately west of the Horseshoe Zone within the Red Mountain, Pink Antler and Lookout Zones.

In November 2008, Merc closed a $2.0 million flow-through financing to support the 2009 Damoti Lake drill program, which is expected to be completed by October 2009. In late 2009 an updated NI 43-101 compliant resource will be prepared using all drilling to date within the Horseshoe zone (135 drill holes) as well as the drilling completed in the 2009 program ( 20 to 30 holes). The NI 43-101 compliant resource will make use of approximately 63 holes not included in the 1997 and 2004 resource estimates.

Merc also announces that it has granted to consultants, officers and directors 495,000 options to purchase Merc's common shares at a price of $0.30 on or before May 12, 2012. 85,000 options were granted to directors, 100,000 options were granted to officers and 310,000 options were granted to consultants.

This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on assumptions and judgments of management regarding future events or results. Such statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to revise or update such statements.

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.

Contacts: Merc International Minerals Inc. Dr. Michael Byron 705-560-2382 705-560-0765 (FAX) info@mercinternational.ca