Noront Reports on 2009 Stock Option Grants

TORONTO, January 29 -

    Symbol:               NOT:TSX-V
    Shares Outstanding:   165,415,745
    Fully Diluted:        176,782,896

Noront Resources Ltd. ("Noront" or the "Company") (TSX Venture: NOT)
reports that pursuant to the Company's Stock Option Plan and subject to any
regulatory approvals, it has granted the following stock options ("Noront
Stock Options") to employees, officers and directors of the Company during
2009:

     - August 4, 2009: 700,000 Noront Stock Options were granted to
       directors and officers at a strike price of $2.70, exercisable for a
       period of five years (2014) with a three year vesting period;

     - October 15, 2009: 700,000 Noront Stock Options were granted to
       directors of the Company at a strike price of $1.84, exercisable for
       a period of five years (2014) with a one year vesting period;

     - October 15, 2009: 500,000 Noront Stock Options were granted to
       officers of the Company at a strike price of $1.84, exercisable for a
       period of five years (2014) with a three year vesting period; and

     - December 11, 2009: 555,000 options were granted to employees and
       officers of the Company at a strike price of $2.09, exercisable for a
       period of five years (2014) with no vesting period.

About Noront: Noront Resources Ltd. is focused on its significant and
multiple, high-grade nickel-copper-platinum-palladium, chromite, gold and
vanadium discoveries in an area known as the "Ring of Fire", an emerging
multi-metals district located in the James Bay Lowlands of Ontario, Canada.
Noront is the dominant land holder at the Ring of Fire and continues to
delineate and prove up its discoveries with NI 43-101 technical and economic
reports and an aggressive and well financed drill plan for 2010. All material
information on Noront can be found on the Company's website at
www.norontresources.com or at SEDAR at www.sedar.com

Wesley (Wes) Hanson

President & Chief Executive Officer

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of
applicable Canadian securities legislation, including predictions,
projections and forecasts. Forward-looking statements include, but are not
limited to, statements that address activities, events or developments that
the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including
such things as future business strategy, competitive strengths, goals,
expansion, growth of the Company's businesses, operations, plans and with
respect to exploration results, the timing and success of exploration
activities generally, permitting time lines, government regulation of
exploration and mining operations, environmental risks, title disputes or
claims, limitations on insurance coverage, timing and possible outcome of
any pending litigation and timing and results of future resource estimates or
future economic studies. Often, but not always, forward-looking
statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "planning",
"planned", "expects" or "looking forward", "does not expect", "continues",
"scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "potential", "anticipates",
"does not anticipate", or "belief", or describes a "goal", or variation of
such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results
"may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved.

Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and
assumptions, including, the result of drilling and exploration activities,
that contracted parties provide goods and/or services on the agreed timeframes,
that equipment necessary for exploration is available as scheduled and does
not incur unforeseen break downs, that no labour shortages or delays are
incurred, that plant and equipment function as specified, that no unusual
geological or technical problems occur, and that laboratory and other
related services are available and perform as contracted. Forward-looking
statements involve known and unknown risks, future events, conditions,
uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results,
performance or achievements to be materially different from any future
results, prediction, projection, forecast, performance or achievements
expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors
include, among others, the interpretation and actual results of current
exploration activities; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be
refined; future prices of gold; possible variations in grade or recovery
rates; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; the
failure of contracted parties to perform; labour disputes and other risks
of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or
financing or in the completion of exploration, as well as those factors
disclosed in the company's publicly filed documents. Although Noront has
attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions,
events or results to differ materially from those described in
forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions,
events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can
be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate,
as actual results and future events could differ materially from those
anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue
reliance on forward-looking 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.

For further information: Joanne Jobin, Vice President Corporate
Communications at +1(416)367-1444, or visit Noront's website at:
www.norontresources.com

For further information: Joanne Jobin, Vice President Corporate Communications at +1(416)367-1444, or visit Noront's website at: www.norontresources.com