Provides chromium drilling update

Noront Resources Ltd. ("Noront" or the "Company") (TSX Venture: NOT) is pleased to present an update on its exploration activities in the Ring of Fire area of northern Ontario in the James Bay Lowlands.

    <<
    HIGHLIGHTS

    -   Noront continues an aggressive drill program, exploring the Ring of
        Fire with five drills;
    -   Selected drill results for chromite include the following:
        -   Hole NOT-08-1G077 intersects 35.38% Cr2O3 over 16.6 metres
        -   Hole NOT-08-1G082 intersects 43.00% Cr2O3 over 9.0 metres
        -   Hole NOT-08-1G085 intersects 44.02% Cr2O3 over 7.0 metres
        -   Hole NOT-09-1G087 intersects 36.32% Cr2O3 over 10.2 metres
        -   Hole NOT-09-1G089 intersects 42.22% Cr2O3 over 13.9 metres
    >>

Drilling Details:

Since recommencing drilling in early January, Noront has continuously employed two diamond drills in the Blackbird chromium (Cr) deposit area. A total of 40 holes were drilled to the end of March (holes NOT-09-1G086 to 1G122 inclusive and 1G124 to 1G126 inclusive), totalling 12,645.9 metres, and drilling continues on this project. The Blackbird Cr project is located approximately two kilometres south of the Eagle One Magmatic Massive Sulphide deposit. As stated February 26, 2009, the primary goal of this drilling campaign at the Cr project is to define a National Instrument 43 - 101 compliant resource for the Blackbird discoveries by completing sufficient drilling at an optimum drill hole spacing to provide both inferred and indicated resources depending on the density of sampling and the domain type (massive vs. disseminated chromite).

In mid to late March, 2009 a third drill was brought onto Noront's 100%-owned Double Eagle property which was previously located on a Noront Joint Venture property in the area. This drill is now working on testing geophysical anomalies on Noront's claims located 15 kilometres to the northeast of Eagle One, in the general area of the AT12 nickel, copper, PGE occurrence and beyond. Two holes were completed in this area (NOT-09-2G22 and NOT-09-2G23) totalling 852.9 metres, and drilling continues. Drilling in this area is challenging due to deep overburden and long water-lines, therefore progress has been slow.

A fourth drill was mobilized to the northern portion of the Ring of Fire in mid March to commence exploration on the Winisk Project, located to the Northeast of Webequie First Nation, east of the Winisk River and approximately 75 kilometres to the northwest of the Eagle One deposit. Five holes have been drilled on this new project (WI-09-01 to WI-09-05) totalling 1,464.7 metres. Drilling continues in this area but results to date have been disappointing.

A fifth drill has been mobilized to explore an area located approximately 12 kilometres to the southwest of the Eagle One and Blackbird areas. To date, this drill has completed three holes (NOT-09-1G123, 127 and 134) totalling 904 metres. Drilling continues in this area, testing geophysical targets for their base and precious metal potential.

Assay Results:

Since the last report of assays (January 14, 2009), Noront has received final assay data for 13 of its Cr-related holes, including some that had been drilled in late 2008. Assays for chromitite intersections in many other holes are pending, final results of which will be released as they become available and are of a material nature. The following table provides assay highlights of the drilling to date:

    <<
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   diluted
                                    inter-
    Hole ID            from    to    val  massive Cr2O3%  Cr%    Fe%   Cr:Fe
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    NOT-08-1G077       78.3   89.3   10.9    7.5  35.01  23.96  14.42   1.66
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    followed by       136.8  153.3   16.6   15.2  35.38  24.21  11.87   2.04
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    NOT-08-1G078       55.8   57.4    1.6    1.6  36.19  24.80  14.60   1.70
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    NOT-08-1G081      101.8  109.7    8.0   7.36  32.14  21.99  15.43   1.43
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    and               121.4  124.1    2.7   2.53  34.06  23.30  13.49   1.73
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    NOT-08-1G082       72.5  105.8   33.3   21.5  26.75  18.30  11.96   1.53
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    including          90.5   99.5    9.0    9.0  43.00  29.43  14.17   2.08
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    NOT-09-1G085       69.9   81.5   11.6   8.45  34.01  23.26  12.05   1.93
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    including          74.5   81.5    7.0    7.0  44.02  30.11  14.14   2.13
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    NOT-09-1G087       92.9  103.1   10.2   10.2  36.32  24.84  16.05   1.55
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    NOT-09-1G089       30.0   43.9   13.9   13.8  42.22  28.87  13.93   2.07
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------


    ----------------------------------------------------
                               Pt     Pd     Au     TPM
    Hole ID             Ni%    g/t    g/t    g/t    g/t
    ----------------------------------------------------
    NOT-08-1G077       0.17   0.16   0.17   0.02   0.35
    ----------------------------------------------------
    followed by        0.12   0.20   0.22   0.07   0.49
    ----------------------------------------------------
    NOT-08-1G078       0.12   0.17   0.08   0.00   0.25
    ----------------------------------------------------
    NOT-08-1G081       0.11   0.12   0.12   0.00   0.25
    ----------------------------------------------------
    and                0.34   0.11   0.12   0.00   0.23
    ----------------------------------------------------
    NOT-08-1G082       0.13   0.10   0.11   0.01   0.22
    ----------------------------------------------------
    including          0.46   0.05   0.33   0.07   0.45
    ----------------------------------------------------
    NOT-09-1G085       0.14   0.11   0.15   0.01   0.27
    ----------------------------------------------------
    including          0.12   0.11   0.11   0.01   0.23
    ----------------------------------------------------
    NOT-09-1G087       0.11   0.17   0.12   0.16   0.44
    ----------------------------------------------------
    NOT-09-1G089       0.13   0.16   0.09   0.00   0.24
    ----------------------------------------------------

    Notes: Drill intercepts are not true width intercepts; all measurements
    are in metres.
    >>

Additional assay information pertaining to holes NOT-08-1G077 to NOT-09-1G089 is provided on Noront's website. http://www.norontresources.com/prdoc...

Please follow the link to Noront's website for locations of the aforementioned holes, as well as those recently drilled but not yet reported. http://www.norontresources.com/prdoc...

The intervals reported include both chromitite and zones of intercalated beds of chromitite and heavily disseminated chromite hosted by talc-altered dunite and peridotite. The cumulative length of the chromitite beds as measured along the core length in each intersection is listed in the column after total diluted interval length. Whereas most of the intervals listed contain some dilution due to the intercalated disseminated beds, we draw attention to the grade of the chromitite in the massive sub-intervals in holes NOT-08-1G82, 085 and 089, with Cr2O3 above 42% and Cr:Fe above 2:1.

Quality Assurance and Quality Control Definitions for Noront Resources:

Noront's ongoing review of its entire Cr assay database continues. Hundreds of randomly selected duplicate pulp splits from the entire suite of Cr assays performed for Noront during the past year have been re-analysed by a variety of methods both by Actlabs and at alternate labs (Becquerel and SGS Lakefield). No material discrepancies have been detected between duplicate analyses and the original values as reported in prior press releases by Noront. When this program is complete the entire results will be made available on Noront's website, unless there is a material discrepancy, whereby those results will be reported via press release.

All holes drilled are being systematically logged and then sampled. Samples are being shipped regularly to Actlabs in Thunder Bay, Ontario for sample preparation and initial analysis (TD-ICP) following strict chain of custody procedures. Final Cr and Fe analyses are being done by instrumental neutron activation (INAA) at the Actlabs facility in Ancaster, Ontario. Neutron activation is a method in which samples are irradiated by neutrons, causing the analyte elements to become radioactive. Counting the radioactivity of each activated isotope in comparison to the activity of a reference material such as Cr wire allows the determination of element concentrations with no matrix effect. For more information on Actlabs analytical procedures please visit Actlabs website at: http://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. These procedures are conducted in addition to Actlabs' standard practise of further inserting one Cr standard within each reactor bundle of 11 samples. The pass/fail criteria for the new Cr standard and for the standards inserted by Actlabs are the same as for the 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 INAA repeats on the standards at Actlabs, the entire batch fails and is re-analysed. The standard deviation for 30 repeat measurements of the ICRM SARM 9 by INAA at Actlabs was 1.2% Cr2O3, giving a coefficient of variation of 2.6% and therefore a nominal precision of 5.2% (taken as twice the standard deviation). Precision of pulp splits within reactor batches as determined by the Thompson-Howarth method is 1.7%; between reactor batches it is 5%, matching very closely the apparent precision of 5.2% from replicate analyses of standards. Duplicates and standards are also monitored over periods of months 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 reviewed by Tracy Armstrong, P.Geo, of P&E Mining Consultants Inc, who acts as the independent Qualified Person for Noront on matters pertaining to assays.

Additional quality control measures have been recently adopted for Cr and Fe including the blind insertion of a certified reference material SARM 8, purchased from Mintek in South Africa, and a change from INAA to fusion X-ray fluorescence (XRF) to analyse chromite samples. 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. The additional compositional data would be of interest to buyers of any potential ore from the Blackbird deposits.

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

Noront is a tier two junior resource company on the TSX Venture Exchange, trading symbol NOT, with 153,722,283 shares issued to date.

<< ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS: "Paul A. Parisotto and Joe Hamilton" Co-Chief Executive Officers >>

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. >>

%SEDAR: 00003339E

SOURCE: Noront Resources Ltd.

Investor Relations Department at (416) 238-7226, or visit Noront's website at: http://www.norontresources.com