Merc Announces Start of Drilling at Damoti Lake Gold Project

TORONTO, ONTARIO, Jul 07 (MARKET WIRE) --
Merc International Minerals Inc. ("Merc") (TSX VENTURE: MRK) announced
today the start of its first drill program at the Damoti Lake Gold
Project, located 200 km north of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.

Merc's ongoing 2009 exploration program which is designed to expand upon
the historic resource at Damoti Lake, consists of compiling all
historical data, auditing historical resource estimates, constructing an
updated three dimensional deposit model, defining and testing new drill
targets, and initiating a NI 43-101 resource estimate. The current 6,000
metre, 20 to 30 drill hole program is planned to infill priority target
areas within the current resource and to extend the mineralized zones
along strike and to depth within the Horseshoe and Pyrite Zones. Drilling
will also focus along the mineralized structures approximately 150 metres
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
finished by October 2009. In late 2009 an updated NI 43-101 compliant
resource will be completed using all drilling to date within the
Horseshoe Zone (135 drill holes) as well as the drilling completed in
Merc's 2009 program (20 to 30 holes). The resource will make use of
approximately 63 holes not included in the 1997 and 2004 resource
estimates.

"The drilling crew from Bradley Bros. Limited arrived on site last week
and we expect the first results later in August 2009 and monthly results
thereafter until November 2009", reported Dr. Michael Byron, Merc's
President and CEO. "We look forward to completing a NI 43-101 compliant
resource at this high-grade, near surface gold project. Preliminary
deposit modeling illustrates the broad extent of the gold mineralization
within the host iron formation, and confirms the potential for resource
expansion."

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

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