Midland Exploration and Zincore Metals Commence First Drilling Program on the Gatineau Zinc Project

MONTRÉAL, QUÉBEC--(Marketwire - Jan. 11, 2011) - Midland Exploration Inc. ("Midland") (TSX VENTURE:MD), in partnership with Zincore Metals Inc. ("Zincore") to earn a 50% interest, is pleased to announce the beginning of a first drilling program on its 100%-owned Gatineau Zinc Project. This step will complete the first year exploration program, consisting of a total budget of $500,000, which involved a ground magnetic and electromagnetic geophysical survey, trenching and diamond drilling.

A previous helicopter-borne electromagnetic VTEM survey, completed by Midland and designed to characterize known massive sulfide deposits in the Gatineau area, detected several untested conductors directly associated with the Bouchette, Lafontaine and the Leitch massive sulfide zinc deposits. Several new conductors were also identified in lateral or adjacent extensions of these deposits. Following this helicopter-borne survey, a new type of electromagnetic 3D survey (PROMIS), which measures the three spatial components, was used in 2010 over 37 kilometres of lines on two ground grids, to refine the already identified VTEM anomalies on the Bouchette and Leitch properties. Recent trenching, previously reported, on the Leitch and Lafontaine zinc deposits respectively returned grades of 24.1% zinc over 3.0 metres, including 32.5% zinc over 2.0 metres, and 21.0% zinc over 2.0 metres.

Following these positive geophysical and geological results, several promising and drill ready targets were identified on the Leitch and Bouchette properties. This new drilling campaign, which will be initiated in the following days, will consist in a minimum of eight holes totalling 1,500 metres of drilling. The drilling program will test the depth extension of the Leitch, Lafontaine and Bouchette deposits according to new geophysical data combined with structural data recently acquired on the 2010 trenches. Furthermore, several selected VTEM and PROMIS electromagnetic anomalies, where some are located along strike of known deposits and others along favourable geology, will also be tested during this drilling campaign.

The Gatineau project, currently held 100% by Midland, comprises 266 claims covering a surface area of 160 square kilometres. Midland controls several significant zinc occurrences and prospects in the metamorphosed Middle-Proterozoic marbles of the Grenville Supergroup, in the Gatineau area. The interest for this area is that those zinc occurrences share many similarities with significant zinc deposits, also hosted in Grenville metamorphosed limestones. The most prolific zinc deposits of this type are those of the Balmat-Edwards district in the United States located only 60 kilometres south of the Gatineau project area. This mining district is known to have produced more than 43 million tonnes at near 10% zinc, including other commodities.

Quality Control (QA/QC)

The Gatineau exploration program is supervised by Mr. Mario Masson, Exploration V.P. for Midland and a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101. Previously reported analyses were performed by ALS Chemex laboratory of Val-d'Or, Quebec, which has a strict internal QA/QC program which includes mineralized standards, blanks and duplicate samples. All mineralized intersections present in this press release are expressed as true thickness.

Terms of the Exploration Agreement

Zincore may earn 50% of Midland's interest in the Gatineau Zinc project by spending a total of $3,500,000 in exploration work and making payments totalling $180,000 over four years. During the first year of the option period and at Zincore's election during the remainder of the option period, Midland will be the operator of the project. Upon acquiring 50% interest, Zincore will have the option to increase its undivided interest in the project from 50% to 65% by solely financing a bankable feasibility study on the project.

About Zincore

Zincore is a Vancouver-based mineral exploration company focused mainly on zinc and related base metal opportunities in the Americas, namely Peru, Mexico and Canada. The Company's common shares trade on the TSX and the Lima Stock Exchange under the symbol ZNC.

About Midland

Midland targets the excellent mineral potential and the favourable investment climate of Quebec to make the discovery of new world-class deposits of gold, base metals and REE. Midland is proud to count on reputable partners such as Zincore Metals Inc., Agnico-Eagle Mines Limited, Osisko Mining Corporation, North American Palladium Limited, Aurizon Mines Ltd., Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation and Soquem Inc. Midland prefers to work in partnership and intends to conclude additional agreements in regard to newly acquired properties. Midland is currently evaluating new opportunities and other projects in order to increase the portfolio of the Company.

This press release was prepared by Gino Roger, registered engineer and Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101.

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.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to vary materially from targeted results. Such risks and uncertainties include those described in Midland's periodic reports including the annual report or in the filings made by Midland from time to time with securities regulatory authorities.