MRK Merc International Minerals Inc.

Merc International Minerals Inc. ("Merc") (TSX VENTURE: MRK) is pleased to report assay results on the first eight drill holes from its 2010 winter exploration program at the Damoti Lake Gold Project, Northwest Territories.

The eight reported holes tested shallow targets to a maximum vertical depth of 150 metres, and represent Merc's first drilling on the BIF Island Zone, an area of folded iron formation located 3.5 kilometers northeast along strike from the Horseshoe Zone. Reported holes intersected broad zones of mineralization containing high-grade cores, including Hole D10-397 which returned 4.76 grams gold per tonne over 28.15 meters, including 15.85 grams gold per tonne over 7 meters and 40.19 grams gold per tonne over 2.0 meters. In addition, Hole D10-396B returned 5.81 grams gold per tonne over 22.50 meters, including 10.53 grams gold per tonne over 10.25 meters and 25.66 grams gold per tonne over 3.0 meters.

Drilling commenced March 19, 2010 (March 24, 2010 news release) with two rigs on a 10,000 meter program to confirm and expand the mineralization at BIF Island, to extend known mineralization within the Horseshoe North and Red Mountain Zones, and to test other targets identified by the recently completed ground geophysical surveys (March 4, 2010 news release). For additional information on drill hole locations and the Company's drill program please visit the Company's website www.mercinternational.ca.

Activities began at BIF Island Zone with the drilling of sections to validate a new geological model for gold mineralization and to better define the extent of the host iron formation. Holes D10-394, 394B and 394C, all drilled in the same section, confirmed the presence of strong mineralization within the keel of the folded iron formation and established continuity of mineralization between sections, something that was previously lacking. Drilling has also extended the iron formation to greater depth, thus opening up new target areas. Holes D10-396, 396B and 396C, extended the width of the iron formation and demonstrate lateral continuity of gold mineralization. An additional 11 holes have been completed within the BIF Island mineralized corridor, the results of which are pending.

Dr. Michael Byron, President and CEO of Merc commented, "We are over half-way through the winter drill program and are excited with the progress to date. Drilling within the BIF Island corridor is completed and we are now testing targets within the Red Mountain and Horseshoe areas. Our recently completed geophysical surveys have also identified a previously unexplored iron formation 200 metres to the east of the Horseshoe Zone. Its trend and geophysical characteristics closely resemble those of the Horseshoe Zone. We look forward to exploring this new area."

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Drill Hole    From (m)   To (m)   Core Length(i) (m)    Au (gpt)
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D10-394          62.00    77.90                15.90        2.43
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including        65.00    68.00                 3.00        4.24
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including        73.10    76.70                 3.60        5.56
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including        73.70    74.90                 1.20       12.08
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D10-394B         58.00    62.25                 4.25        9.74
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including        58.00    59.55                 1.55       22.07
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including        59.00    59.55                 0.55       49.70
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including        61.75    62.25                 0.50       13.53
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D10-394C         41.50    80.00                38.50        3.24
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including        41.50    48.00                 6.50        3.29
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including        62.50    69.00                 6.50        8.62
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including        64.30    66.70                 2.40       16.51
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including        66.20    66.70                 0.50       28.10
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including        74.60    79.40                 4.80        9.52
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including        74.60    76.40                 1.80       14.67
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including        75.20    75.80                 0.60       30.90
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including        78.80    79.40                 0.60       14.65
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D10-395          96.95   110.00                13.05        1.35
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including       107.65   110.00                 2.35        5.05
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including       108.40   109.00                 0.60        9.36
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D10-396         122.50   123.50                 1.00        3.46
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D10-396B         96.00   118.50                22.50        5.81
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including       108.25   118.50                10.25       10.53
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including       108.25   111.25                 3.00       25.66
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including       108.75   110.25                 1.50       38.47
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including       116.75   118.50                 1.75       15.53
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D10-396C        112.00   113.00                 1.00        5.36
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D10-397          29.60    57.75                28.15        4.76
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including        30.10    33.70                 3.60        2.05
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including        42.00    43.00                 1.00        5.74
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including        46.00    53.00                 7.00       15.85
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including        46.00    48.00                 2.00       40.19
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including        51.50    53.00                 1.50        8.65
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including        52.00    52.50                 0.50       12.75
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(i) Lengths are reported as core lengths. True widths are not
known at this time.

Quality Control

Merc International Minerals Inc. has implemented a quality-control program to ensure best practice in the sampling and analysis of the drill core. NQ-size drill core is saw cut and half the drill core is sampled in standard intervals not exceeding 1.5 metres in length while core from the main mineralized horizons or core displaying visible gold or significant sulfides are sampled in greater detail generally not exceeding 1 metre in length. The remaining half core is stored in a secure location.

Core samples are transported in security-sealed bags for analyses at ALS Chemex Assay Laboratory in Vancouver, BC. ALS Chemex is an ISO 9001:2000 certified laboratory. Gold assaying is done by a fire assay - atomic absorption spectrometry method on a 30-gram charge of a 1,000 gram pulp. Samples returning values exceeding 3 gpt Au are re-checked by fire assay with a gravimetric finish. Pulp and metallics assaying for gold is conducted on the entire pulverized sample for all samples within the main mineralized horizons and those samples with visible gold or significant sulfides.

As part of its QA/QC program, Merc International Minerals inserts external gold standards (low to high grade) and blanks every 20 samples. This is in addition to the standards, blanks and pulp duplicates inserted by ALS Chemex. In addition, samples of pulps have been collected from ten percent of all samples analyzed and will be submitted to a second independent laboratory for comparison purposes.

The Damoti Lake Gold Project is being supervised by William Waychison, M.Sc.A., P.Geo., the Qualified Person (QP) for this project.

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 Renmark Financial Communications Inc. Barbara Komorowski (514) 939-3989 or (416) 644-2020 bkomorowski@renmarkfinancial.com Renmark Financial Communications Inc. Barry Mire (514) 939-3989 or (416) 644-2020 bmire@renmarkfinancial.com www.renmarkfinancial.com