Noront Resources Reports Thunderbird Vanadium Assay Results

TORONTO -

Symbol: NOT:TSX-V Shares Outstanding: 154,578,457 Fully Diluted: 164,098,457

Noront Resources Ltd. (”Noront” or the “Company”) (TSX Venture: NOT) is pleased to announce results from two additional drill holes at the newly discovered Thunderbird vanadium occurrence where significant concentrations of vanadium, titanium, and iron were reported in Noront’s April 30, 2009 Press Release www.norontresources.com/News/Release/143. The Thunderbird anomaly is located in the McFaulds Lake area of the James Bay lowlands within the Ring of Fire mineral district.

HIGHLIGHTS - Drilling extends vanadium and titanium mineralization over a 900 metre strike length; - Drilling confirms significant width component; - Hole 2G24 intersected 164.9 metres of 0.36% V(2)O(5) including 45.9 meters 0.51% V(2)O(5) and 113.7 metres of 0.33% V(2)O(5) including 20.9m of 0.47% V(2)O(5); - Hole 2G25 intersected 241.4 metres of 0.37% V(2)O(5) which included 59.8 metres averaging 0.54% V(2)O(5);

Mr. Wes Hanson President and CEO of Noront, states that “The extensive vanadium mineralization at Thunderbird is further evidence of the robust potential of the Ring of Fire. Thunderbird is the third intriguing target discovered on our claims in the Ring of Fire. Recent developments at the Eagle One and the pending resource estimate for the Blackbird chromite deposits will continue to be our primary focus for the foreseeable future.”

Geology of the Occurrence:

The Thunderbird anomaly was identified by ground magnetometer and gravity surveys completed during the fall and winter of 2009. This data, combined with existing airborne electromagnetic and magnetometer surveys (VTEM), identified the Thunderbird anomaly which was targeted for follow up drilling.

Three holes were completed on the Thunderbird anomaly. Hole NOT-09-2G21, reported April 30, 2009 www.norontresources.com/News/Release/143 was drilled through the centre of the interpreted anomaly at an inclination of -50 degrees and intersected two distinct zones of mineralization.

The following table presents the results for hole NOT09-2G24, collared 300 metres to the north of hole 2G21 and NOT09-2G25, collared 600 metres to the south. Both holes were drilled using the same collar orientation and dip as hole NOT09-2G21.

Select assay results for Holes NOT-09-2G24 and NOT-09-2G25 are shown in Table 1. ————————————————————————- Hole From To Interval V(2)O(5) TiO(2) Fe(3)O(4) (m) (m) (m) (%) (%) (%) ————————————————————————- NOT-09-2G24 (A zone) 64.73 229.59 164.86 0.36 2.79 24.63 ————————————————————————- including 111.15 133.18 22.03 0.47 3.89 30.54 ————————————————————————- and 170.0 215.0 45.87 0.51 3.59 30.85 ————————————————————————- Then (B Zone) 319.91 433.56 113.65 0.33 2.65 23.2 ————————————————————————- including 331.00 351.90 20.90 0.47 3.34 28.51 ————————————————————————- ————————————————————————- NOT-09-2G25 (Single Zone) 75.8 317.21 241.41 0.37 3.07 25.85 ————————————————————————- Including 119.95 145.48 25.33 0.44 3.39 28.52 ————————————————————————- and 183.78 243.54 59.76 0.54 4.4 33.46 ————————————————————————-

Notes: Drill intercepts are not true width intercepts; all measurements are in metres. Fe is reported as Fe(3)O(4) to serve as an approximate estimate of the modal abundance of magnetite in the whole rock. Actual magnetite modes are somewhat lower because some Fe is also contained in ilmenite and silicate minerals. To calculate Fe as Fe(3)O(4), one multiplies the concentration stated as Fe(2)O(3) by a factor of 0.9666.

Please follow the link to Noront’s website for locations of the Thunderbird holes. norontresources.com/find/id/14/7b

The three holes drilled in the Thunderbird magnetic and gravity anomaly suggest a mineralized strike length of over 900 metres and overall widths between 165 and 242 metres. The assay results suggest that the vanadium mineralization in this zone may be economically significant. The results to date suggest that there is every reason to believe that similar mineralization extends to the limits of this 1.6 km linear magnetic trend. Numerous other linear highly magnetic anomalies exist within Noront’s claims in the Thunderbird area.

Quality Assurance and Quality Control:

All holes drilled are systematically logged and then sampled. Samples are shipped regularly to Actlabs in Thunder Bay, Ontario for sample preparation and initial analysis (TD-ICP) following strict chain of custody procedures. Whole rock assay including V(2)O(5), TiO(2), and Fe(2)O(3) is performed at Actlabs by fusion X-ray fluorescence analysis (fusion XRF). For fusion XRF assays the samples are melted with borate fluxes and quenched to a glass bead, which is then irradiated with X-rays. The secondary X-ray emissions are counted and used, with reference to several calibrants, to determine the whole rock composition including the analytes and all other major oxide components of the rock. For more information on Actlabs analytical procedures please visit the Actlabs website at: www.actlabs.com. Under Noront’s QA/QC program each batch of 35 samples includes one blank, two internationally certified reference materials (ICRM; henceforth referred to as standards), one quarter-sawn field duplicate, a coarse reject duplicate, and a pulp duplicate. The pass/fail criteria for the new V standard are the same as for the Cr, Cu, Ni, Au, Pd and Pt standards previously reported. In particular, if measured concentrations in standards differ from accepted values by more than two standard deviations of the method as determined by numerous XRF repeats on the standards at Actlabs, the entire batch fails and is re-analysed. Duplicates and standards will be monitored to detect and correct, if necessary, any drift bias or changes in precision that might appear through time. All QA/QC procedures and checks are carried out by Tracy Armstrong, PGeo, of P&E Mining Consultants Inc, who acts as the Qualified Person for Noront on matters pertaining to assays.

This press release has been reviewed and approved for dissemination by Noront’s senior management including Director of Exploration Jim Atkinson M.Sc., P.Geo., and Chief Operating Officer John Harvey P.Eng., all being Qualified Persons under Canadian Securities guidelines.

About Noront:

Noront Resources is focused on its significant and multiple, high-grade nickel-copper-platinum-palladium, chromite 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 drill plan for 2009.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS: “Wesley (Wes) C. 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.

The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For further information: Joanne Jobin, Vice President Corporate Communications at +1-416-367-1444 ext 126, or visit Noront’s website at: www.norontresources.com

Source: Noront Resources Ltd.

For further information: Joanne Jobin, Vice President Corporate Communications at +1-416-367-1444 ext 126