Xtierra Drilling

XTIERRA REPORTS START UP OF DRILLING TO FOLLOW UP PREVIOUSLY ENCOUNTERED HIGH GRADE SILVER TARGET AT BILBAO

Dublin, 9 September, 2011 - Minco Plc (AIM-"MIO"), the Irish exploration and development company, reports that associate, Xtierra Inc. (TSXV - XAG), yesterday announced that a 2,500 metre drilling programme has been commissioned to follow up on the high grade silver mineralisation previously encountered to the south of the Bilbao deposit (and reported on June 27 and July 21, 2011). Such drilling is expected to commence during the week of September 12, 2011.

The drilling will test a number of targets including, (a) the open-ended mineralisation encountered in veins and shear structures similar to that intersected in hole X40-1 (2.45 metres averaging 1,623g/t silver, including 3,340g/t silver over 0.60m). This hole was prematurely halted due to technical difficulties while still in mineralisation; (b) the projected extensions to brecciated silver-rich limestone horizons; and (c) a geophysical anomaly (magnetic) believed to be associated with massive, skarn-type sulphide mineralisation.

In the meantime, two additional holes are currently being drilled within the main Bilbao indicated resource wire frame area to extract an adequate volume of core sample to allow advanced metallurgical test work to be carried out, including (a) flotation test work on the sulphide ore; and (b) grinding test work on the transition and oxide ores.

Qualified Person

Mr. Terence N McKillen, B.A. (MOD), M.A., M.Sc., P.Geo, Chief Executive Officer, 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 Xtierra Inc.

Xtierra Inc. is a Toronto based exploration and development company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "XAG". There are 103,272,142 shares issued and outstanding. The Company is completing a feasibility study on its Bilbao silver-zinc-lead-copper project in Zacatecas, Mexico. Xtierra's objective is to become a mid-tier producer of precious and base metals through the development of its Bilbao project as well as through exploration, organic growth and M & A opportunities.

About Minco

Minco PLC is an AIM quoted precious and base metals exploration and development company engaged in zinc-lead exploration on the Pallas Green property in Ireland in a joint venture with Xstrata Zinc and investments in zinc‐silver projects in Mexico through an equity holding in Xtierra Inc. listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (Toronto) under the symbol "XAG".

There are 349,999,988 shares of Minco issued and outstanding.