Northair Intersects 33.75 Metres of 101.1 g/t Silver at La Cigarra Project, Mexico

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwire - Jan. 17, 2012) - International Northair Mines Ltd. (TSX VENTURE: INM) (the "Company" or "Northair") is pleased to announce assay results from seven core drill holes recently completed in the San Gregorio Zone at its La Cigarra silver project, located in north central Mexico.


Recent Highlights of the Continuing Drill Program

- Hole CC-11-038 tested the up-dip projection of hole CC-11-022 (21.30 metres of 61.3 g/t silver) and intercepted 33.75 metres of 101.1 g/t silver;

- Hole CC-11-037 returned intercepts of 12.70 metres of 86.5 g/t silver in the main zone and 8.20 metres of 242.9 g/t silver in a newly discovered parallel zone. Holes CC-11-038 and 037 are the southernmost reported holes drilled at the San Gregorio Zone;

- Hole CC-11-036, drilled 50 meters northwest of CC-11-022, intercepted 51.0 meters of 52.2 g/t silver;

- Hole CC-11-035, located 700 metres northwest of CC-11-022, intersected 34.55 metres of 20.9 g/t silver and successfully extended the San Gregorio Zone strike length by an additional 100 metres to the northwest;

- Holes CC-11-047 and 048 were positioned to test the northern projection of the San Gregorio Zone. Results are pending but inspection of the drill core indicates mineralized quartz vein and stockwork continues along strike for an additional 100 metres to the northwest of CC-11-035;

- Holes CC-11-044 and 045 were positioned 100 metres and 200 metres southeasterly of CC-11-038 to test the southern projection of San Gregorio mineralization. Assays are also pending, but visual inspection of the core indicates that both holes intersected quartz veining and quartz stockwork bringing the San Gregorio Zone strike length to a minimum of 1,000 metres;

- The San Gregorio Zone remains open in both strike directions and down dip.


"We continue to be encouraged by our drilling at La Cigarra," said Fred Hewett, President & CEO of Northair. "These recent drill results have provided valuable information to aid in our continued efforts to aggressively expand mineralization at La Cigarra and complete an initial resource calculation scheduled for 2012."

Since drilling commenced at La Cigarra in 2009, the Company has completed over 11,750 metres of drilling in 15 reverse circulation drill holes (1,455 metres) and 48 core holes (9,750 metres). The Company has reported the results of 15 reverse circulation and 41 core holes and will provide assays for the remaining seven (all completed within San Gregorio) core holes once they are received and interpreted.


Drill Results and Discussion

San Gregorio Zone

Hole    Dip   From (m)    To (m)   Drill Intercept (m)  Silver g/t    Gold g/t
CC-11-034 	-50 	137.10 	178.10 	41.00 	30.8 	0.063
Includes 		154.25 	178.10 	23.85 	43.6 	0.038
						
CC-11-035 	-50 	97.00 	131.55 	34.55 	20.9 	0.042
Includes 		106.65 	117.00 	10.35 	41.6 	0.043
		160.85 	166.25 	5.40 	25.3 	0.067
						
CC-11-036 	-50 	81.60 	132.60 	51.00 	52.2 	0.049
Note 1 		81.60 	132.60 	51.00 	34.6 	0.049
						
CC-11-037 	-50 	27.25 	39.95 	12.70 	86.5 	0.085
		94.50 	102.70 	8.20 	242.9 	0.063
Note 1 		94.50 	102.70 	8.20 	121.2 	0.063
						
CC-11-038 	-88 	44.80 	78.55 	33.75 	101.1 	0.070
Note 1 		44.80 	78.55 	33.75 	70.1 	0.070
		131.50 	136.90 	5.40 	17.5 	0.077
						
CC-11-039 	-50 	14.00 	26.90 	12.90 	18.0 	0.079
		50.70 	63.00 	12.30 	22.2 	0.034
						
CC-11-040 	-89 	0.00 	76.65 	76.65 	29.9 	0.040
Includes 		0.00 	60.10 	60.10 	35.1 	0.044
Includes 		0.00 	13.80 	13.80 	55.8 	0.053
		102.50 	105.00 	2.50 	26.8 	0.057

Note 1: Intervals with silver values greater than 500 g/t reported as 500 g/t.
Note 2: Reported widths may contain intervals with values less than 10g/t silver.
Note 3: Some sections of mineralization carry appreciable lead and zinc values.

Click the link below to view a plan of the San Gregorio Zone:
http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/INM117_F1.pdf.

Hole CC-11-034 was drilled on Section 2+50S, approximately 50 metres northeast from previously reported hole CC-11-023 (51.45 metres of 85.7 g/t silver). This hole intersected 41 metres of 30.8 g/t silver in a quartz veined zone 40 meters below hole CC-11-023. Results are pending for holes CC-11-042 and CC-11-043 drilled on the same section to test the up-dip projection of the zone.

Hole CC-11-035 was drilled on Section 3+50N, as a 100 metre step-out along strike and north of hole CC-11-032 (49.25 metres of 32.6 g/t silver) to test the northerly strike continuation of the San Gregorio zone towards La Borracha. The hole intersected disseminated and stockwork hosted silver mineralization that now extends the San Gregorio Zone with asssays from core drilling for 700 metres (from 3+50N to 3+50S). This zone remains open down dip and along strike to the north (towards the La Borracha Zone) and south towards the Las Carolinas Zone.

Hole CC-11-036 was drilled on Section 3+00S, 50 metres south of hole CC-11-023 (51.45 metres of 85.7 g/t silver) and north of hole CC-11-022 (21.30 metres of 61.3 g/t silver). This hole successfully confirmed the continuation of the 50 meter wide silver bearing zone between holes CC-11-022 and CC-11-023.

Holes CC-11-037 and 038 were collared from the same location on Section 3+50S to test the up-dip projection of the zone intersected in hole CC-11-022. Both holes intersected significantly higher silver grades including 33.75 metres of 101.1 g/t silver in hole CC-11-038; and 12.70 metres of 86.5 g/t in the Main target and a further 8.20 metres of 242.9 g/t silver in a deeper, parallel and previously unknown zone in CC-11-037. When combined with results from CC-11-036, it appears an area of higher silver grades over widths in the 30-50 meter range extends southeast from section 2+50S to at least 3+50S. Initial results also suggest higher-grade shoots plunge to the northwest.

Holes CC-11-039 and 040 were collared from the same location on Section 1+00S to test the up-dip projection of the zone intersected in hole CC-11-004 (53.7 metres of 87.1 g/t silver). These holes successfully intersected the mineralized zone highlighted by hole CC-11-040 returning 76.65 metres of 29.9 g/t silver and indicates that the basal contact of the silver-bearing zone steepens as it approaches the surface.


Sampling and QA/QC

All technical information for the La Cigarra exploration program is obtained and reported under a formal quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) program. Samples are taken under the direction of qualified geologists and stored in sealed bags. Samples are delivered by the Company via courier to ALS Chemex Labs in Chihuahua for drying, crushing and pulverizing; with the pulps sent airfreight by ALS Chemex to Vancouver B.C. for analysis. Systematic assaying of standards and blanks are performed for precision and accuracy. Analysis for silver, zinc, lead and copper and related trace elements was done by ICP four acid digestion, with gold analysis by 30 gram fire assay with an AA finish.


About the La Cigarra Silver Project

The La Cigarra Project is located in State of Chihuahua along the eastern fringes of the Sierra Madre Occidental in Mexico. Local topography is gentle with good road access to the major city of Parral, located 26 kilometres to the south east. The La Cigarra Project hosts a silver-rich, epithermal vein system with three identified zones forming a three kilometre trend.

Click the link below to view a drill plan of the La Cigarra Property:
http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/inm15_F3.pdf.


This news release has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 and approved by Fred Hewett, the Company's President and CEO, and a Qualified Person under NI 43-101.


ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, INTERNATIONAL NORTHAIR MINES LTD.

Fred G. Hewett, P.Eng.
President & CEO



This news release may contain forward looking statements which are not historical facts, such as ore reserve estimates, anticipated production or results, sales, revenues, costs, or discussions of goals and exploration results, and involves a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, metal price volatility, volatility of metals production, project development, ore reserve estimates, future anticipated reserves and cost engineering estimate risks, geological factors and exploration results. See Northair's filings for a more detailed discussion of factors that may impact expected results.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to sell any securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

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 news release.



Contact Information

International Northair Mines Ltd.
Fred Hewett
President
604-687-7545 or 1-888-338-2200

International Northair Mines Ltd.
Chris Curran
Manager, Investor Relations
604-687-7545 or 1-888-338-2200
604-689-5041 (FAX)
info@northair.com
www.northair.com/international