MacDonald Mines to Commence Drilling on Two Prime Properties in the Ring of Fire, James Bay Lowlands

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Sept. 29, 2009) - MacDonald Mines Exploration Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:BMK) ("MacDonald" or the "Company") announces it has commenced a 2,000 meter diamond drill program in the "Ring of Fire" James Bay Lowlands of Northern Ontario. The drill program will focus on a total of 14 high-priority targets. Geotech Ltd. remodeled geophysical anomalies on two of the Company's prime properties. The drill program is expected to be completed by early November in advance of the winter freeze-up period.

MacDonald Mines currently holds prime mining claim blocks totaling over 88,000 hectares in the "Ring of Fire" and has intersected both volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) and disseminated nickel sulfide mineralization during previous drill programs (e.g., MacDonald News Releases on February 23, 2008 and June 14, 2007).

Seven Targets Each on "Big Mac West" and "Salo" Properties

Big Mac West Property

For the Big Mac West Property, a re-interpretation of both airborne geophysics and regional geology has defined 7 high-priority drill targets using matched model equivalents for both Ni-Cu and Cu-Zn mineralization previously discovered by Spider-KWG, Noront Resources, White Pine Resources and MacDonald within the "Ring of Fire" greenstones. The new interpretation has established that the claim block contains discrete coincident airborne magnetic-VTEM anomalies, 4 of which occur in an apparent stratigraphically favorable position and have geophysical signatures similar to the significant VMS discoveries of Spider-KWG at McFaulds Lake. The other three high-priority targets are associated with a strong magnetic complex interpreted to be a layered mafic-ultramafic complex that was drill-intersected previously on MacDonald's adjacent Big Mac Property with targeting designed to find Ni-Cu deposits similar to Noront's Eagle One Ni-Cu deposit. The three VTEM drill targets all exhibit a limited strike length (with coincident magnetics) and are interpreted to be steeply plunging conductive bodies.

Salo Property

The Salo Property is located approximately 90 kilometres west-northwest of MacDonald's Big Mac West Property and has a geophysical expression very similar to the layered mafic-ultramafic complexes and greenstones within other parts of the "Ring of Fire." Geotech Ltd. magnetic and VTEM data interpretation on the Salo Property and the resulting geological model has defined a further 7 high-priority targets for drill testing. Both VMS and Ni-Cu targets appear are indicated.

Hadyn Butler P.Geo notes, "The "Ring of Fire" currently has discovered greenstone mineralization over a strike length of more than 100 kilometers, including significant Ni-Cu massive and disseminated sulfide, chromitites and titanomagnetites in layered mafic-ultramafic complexes, VMS discoveries throughout its length, and a gold-in-sediment train down the Ekwan River from the Big Mac Property. Further potential occurs along strike since the geophysical expression of the "Ring of Fire" continues beyond the limits of current discovery. In the new economy, junior mining companies are at the forefront of new mineral discovery and MacDonald uses the latest science to focus drilling on the best targets."

Awaiting Confirmation from First Nations for Salo Exploration

The plan is to begin exploration on the Big Mac Property first, which will then be followed by work on the Salo Property. MacDonald Mines operating philosophy is to ensure an ongoing commitment to working with First Nations Communities through a consultative process in regards to any exploration activities. The Company has contacted the Kasabonika First Nations Community and ensuing discussions have resulted in the framework for a potential arrangement. The Company is awaiting approval from the Community and if no confirmation of exploration activity is reached by the conclusion of the program on Big Mac West, then the exploration phase of the drill program on Salo will not go forward until such confirmation is reached.

Company Re-analyzing Regional Geophysical Data for Additional Targets

MacDonald Mines has multiple drill targets with the right geophysical signature in the right geological environment. The Company is in the process of upgrading its regional geophysical interpretation to outline additional targets including chromitite within the mafic – ultramafic complexes know to occur on the Company's various claim blocks. MacDonald's Hornby, Pender and Duncan Properties immediately border the recent and significant chromite discoveries by Noront Resources, Freewest Resources and KWG-Spider Resources.

Bill Nielsen, P.Geo, is the designated qualified person for the technical information contained in this press release.