Pallas Green Drilling Update

12 May, 2010

Minco Plc

Drilling Update

·; MINCO REPORTS ASSAY RESULTS FROM NEW AREA AT PALLAS GREEN

Dublin, 12 May, 2010 - Minco Plc (AIM-"MIO"), the Irish exploration and development company, is pleased to announce first assay results from a new zone of mineralisation, which has been called the Knockroe Zone, the discovery of which was first announced on April 28, 2010.

The Knockroe zone is located about 750 metres southeast from the Caherconlish South zinc-lead deposit and 1.5 to 2.0 kilometres southwest of the Tobermalug zinc-lead deposit. Hole MN-2529-085A has intersected 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.

The mineralization in Hole MN-2529-085A correlates well with mineralization in earlier drilled holes MN-2529-035 and MN-2529-070 located 560 metres to the east and 275 metres to the north-northeast, respectively, and may be associated with what appears to be a northwest-southeast trending fault structure.

Commenting on the assay results, Terence McKillen, Minco's CEO said, "We are particularly excited about this newly emerging Knockroe area, which is about two kilometres west of Tobermalug and is clearly a different zone, and which we believe may be associated with an important boundary fault structure and opens up a large area of potential."

Three rigs have now been moved to follow up on this new Knockroe zone. Hole 2529-094, located 250m southwest of 2529-085A, has intersected average grade mineralization within a wide mineralised zone. Two additional holes are in progress exploring this area, 2529-095, targeted to intersect 100m to the southeast of 2529-085A, and 2529-098 targeted to intersect 150m northwest of 2529-085A.

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 Persons

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".