Drilling Update

28 July, 2010

Minco Plc

Drilling Update

MINCO REPORTS 5 HOLES CONFIRM HIGH GRADE MINERALISATION AT KNOCKROE ZONE AT PALLAS GREEN

Dublin, 28 July, 2010 - Minco Plc (AIM-"MIO"), the Irish exploration and development company, is pleased to report that five holes have been recently completed on the newly discovered Knockroe deposit, located approximately 750 metres southeast of the Caherconlish deposit and 1.5-2.0 kilometres southwest of the Tobermalug deposit. All five holes intersected significant high zinc grade mineralization.

The Knockroe discovery was first reported by Minco on May 12, 2010 with hole MN‐2529‐085A intersecting 11.14 metres (vertical thickness), from 471.85 m to 483.20 m (down hole), averaging 9.38% zinc and 1.06% lead, including 7.75 metres (vertical thickness), from 471.85 m to 479.75 m (down hole), averaging 12.66% zinc and 1.44% lead.

* Denotes previously released assay data / ** Denotes vertical thickness

Drilling is currently ongoing in the Knockroe area with three rigs. The follow-up drilling has returned the following mineralised intersections:

Hole MN-2529-099 - located 400 m southwest of discovery hole MN-2529-085A has intersected a significant sulphide zone of 7.0 m, averaging 19.98% Zn and 1.65% Pb.

Hole MN-2529-098 - located 100 m to the northwest of the discovery hole MN-2529-085A intersected a zone of 8.70 m, averaging 6.06% Zn and 0.76% Pb including 1.9 m, averaging 13.77% Zn and 1.68% Pb and 2.3 m, from 468.7 m and 471.0 m, averaging 10.41% Zn and 1.35% Pb.

Hole MN-2529-095 - located 100 m to southeast of the discovery hole MN-2529-085A intersected 1.25 m averaging 18.98% Zn and 4.46% Pb.

Hole MN-2529-094 - located 250 m south-southwest of the discovery hole MN-2529-085A intersected 1.75 m averaging 12.89% Zn and 1.40% Pb.

Hole MN-2529-102 - located 100 m to the northeast of the discovery hole MN-2529-085A intersected the mineralised zone within a 16.8 m zone of polymict black matrix breccias with massive to semi-massive disseminated style pyrite, sphalerite and galena. Mineralisation has been intersected over 17.9 m, from 443.3 m to 461.2 m, averaging 3.97% Zn and 0.82% Pb, including two zones of 4.05 m, from 443.3 m to 447.2 m, averaging 5.7% Zn and 0.36% Pb; and 5.75 m, from 455.45 m to 461.20 m, averaging 5.20% Zn and 2.17% Pb.

Comment

Commenting on the drilling results, Terence McKillen, Minco's CEO said, "We are very pleased that the follow-up drilling at Knockroe confirms a significant new zone is emerging with high grade zinc. The results are fitting the predicted geological model." Mr. McKillen added, "We are continuing to explore the Caherconlish area using 16 drill rigs with a focus on delineating the full extent of the nearby Tobermalug deposit and probing the limits of other zones of mineralisation."

The Knockroe mineralisation appears to form a north-trending deposit of zinc-lead sulphides, possibly controlled by a north to north-northwest trending secondary structure, and appears analogous to the major body of zinc and lead mineralisation located at Tobermalug, approximately 1.5-2.0 kilometres to the east where a deposit of 11,300,000 tonnes grading 10.2% zinc and 1.9% lead (JORC compliant) has been outlined. The Knockroe-Caherconlish South zones of mineralisation are likely part of the same mineralised zone and currently occupy an area of approximately 1,400 m by 500 m.

The drilling is part of the ongoing US$10 million 2010 exploration programme at the Pallas Green zinc‐lead Joint Venture project in Co. Limerick, Ireland, which comprises about 70,000 metres of diamond drilling in approximately 150 planned drill holes. The Pallas Green property is a 23.6%/76.4% joint venture with Xstrata Zinc.

Qualified Person

The above information has been reviewed and verified by Mr. Terence N McKillen, B.A. (MOD), M.A., M.Sc., P.Geo, Chief Executive Officer. Mr. McKillen is the Qualified Person for the purposes of the AIM Guidance Note on Mining, Oil and Gas Companies dated March 2006. Mr. McKillen is a graduate in Natural Sciences (Geology) from Trinity College Dublin and holds a Master of Science degree in Mineral Exploration and Mining Geology from the University of Leicester. He has 40 years of exploration experience in Ireland and internationally.

About Minco

Minco Plc is an AIM quoted precious and base metals exploration and development company engaged in zinc exploration on the Pallas Green property in Ireland in a 23.6%/76.4% joint venture with Xstrata Zinc and investments in zinc-silver projects in Mexico through its shareholding in Xtierra Inc. listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (Toronto) under the symbol "XAG".