Montero Produces First Samples of Rare Earth Saleable Products From the Wigu Hill Rare Earth Project in Tanzania

Montero Mining and Exploration Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:MON) ("Montero") is pleased to
announce that the first samples of concentrated Rare Earth chemical grade
products have been produced from bastnaesite-rich carbonatite material from the
Wigu Hill Rare Earth Project in Tanzania. The products produced include a Mixed
Rare Earth Carbonate, Oxalate and Hydroxide and importantly an individual Cerium
Hydroxide product.


Montero has successfully completed a 3rd phase Hydro-metallurgical testwork at
Mintek in South Africa. The aim was to assess the design efficiencies of a
multiple leach process and to produce a Mixed Rare Earth product for assessment
by potential off-take partners. This process design has been successfully tested
on both a laboratory and bulk scale. On the completion of the bulk scale leach,
Mintek tested product precipitation processes on the mixed rare earth chloride
solutions. The precipitation process tests were successful resulting in the
production of the following marketable products;




--   Cerium Hydroxide (e.g., Ce(OH)4) 
--   Mixed Rare Earth Hydroxide (La+Pr+Nd+Sm+ Heavies) 
--   Mixed Rare Earth Carbonate (Ce+La+Pr+Nd+Sm + Heavies) 
--   Mixed Rare Earth Oxalate (Ce+La+Pr+Nd+Sm+ Heavies)

     Dr. Tony Harwood, President and Chief Executive Officer of Montero     
     commented, "The production of samples of Mixed Rare Earth and          
     Cerium chemical products for marketing purposes is a major             
     milestone as it will enable Montero to enter into advance              
     discussions with off-take partners able to assist in the financing     
     of mine and refinery operations. Advancing the hydro-metallurgical     
     flowsheet established by Montero and Mintek puts us on track to        
     de-risk the project and is a significant milestone in achieving        
     early production from the Wigu Hill Project."                          



The Cerium hydroxide was produced using standard chemical separation processes
and it may be possible to further upgrade the product specification for
additional sales value add. The "up-front" recovery of Cerium from the Leach
plant solutions will simplify the down-stream refining process and potentially
reduce the refinery capital and operating costs. Further investigation with
Mintek into the production of other value-added products is on-going, including
the extraction of a potentially saleable Strontium chemical product.


Montero now has a process route to produce high value rare earth chemical
products for potential sale. The production of these basic commercial-level
samples represents a major accomplishment in demonstrating a viable
hydrometallurgical process route for the extraction of the rare earth chemicals
from Wigu Hill. 


To view a photograph of the samples produced from the testwork completed by
Mintek, please visit:
http://www.monteromining.com/projects/pdf/rareearthsamples.pdf.


Montero's marketing efforts are headed by Richard Amata who has over 20 years of
specialty chemicals and rare earth experience, including positions at Molycorp
Minerals, Blue Line Corporation and Rhodia and manages Montero's Technology
Development and sales research program to match production with customer
requirements. Richard is undertaking discussions with interested off-take groups
and customers in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas are targeted. 


The hydrometallurgical testwork continues to advance with Mintek, including
further optimization tests (see News Release dated 5/12/2011) and development
work to enhance the work to date and generate high purity Rare Earth products
for sale. A report on the results of the Stage 1 Refinery Testwork, which
includes results on leaching tests completed to date, is expected in Q2 2012.
This report will provide sufficient data to form the Design Basis for a
Pre-Feasibility Study.


Qualified Person's Statement

The technical information contained in this press release has been reviewed by
Mr. Mike Evans, M.Sc. Pr.Sci.Nat., who is a qualified person for the purpose of
National Instrument 43-101 and a consulting geologist to Montero. 


About Montero Mining & Exploration

Montero Mining and Exploration Ltd. is a mineral exploration and development
company engaged in the identification, acquisition, evaluation and exploration
of mineral properties primarily focused on rare earth elements (REE), and with
phosphates and uranium assets in Tanzania, South Africa and Quebec, Canada,
respectively. Montero is focused on adding value for all shareholders through
the acquisition and exploration on properties, which have the highest potential
for future discoveries or development of existing mineral resources into
mineable reserves. We remain engaged in the development of our flagship Wigu
Hill Rare Earth Element Project in Tanzania, which is a high-grade, undeveloped
Light Rare Earth Element deposit. The Company's current focus is on updating the
initial NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate and advancing the
hydro-metallurgical testwork with Mintek. With the rising prices of REEs and
China's control over export quotas, it is becoming imperative that the rest of
the world develops new rare earth resources to meet the increasing demand from
"green" technology and high-tech applications.


Montero's growth strategy is to develop the Wigu Hill Rare Earth Element project
and to bring this to account through eventual rare earth production and cash
flow, while operating in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. We
will continue to add value through the development of our portfolio of
properties. Montero trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol MON.


Dr. Tony Harwood - President and CEO

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT:

This News Release includes certain "forward-looking statements". These
statements are based on information currently available to the Company and the
Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's
expectations. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that
describe the Company's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the
effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to
occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as "believes",
"anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", or
"plan". Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address
future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks
and uncertainties. Actual results relating to, among other things, results of
exploration, project development, reclamation and capital costs of the Company's
mineral properties, and the Company's financial condition and prospects, could
differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements for many
reasons such as: changes in general economic conditions and conditions in the
financial markets; changes in demand and prices for minerals; litigation,
legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and
competitive developments; technological and operational difficulties encountered
in connection with the activities of the Company; and other matters discussed in
this news release. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect
any of the Company's forward-looking statements. These and other factors should
be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on the
Company's forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update
any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by the Company
or on its behalf, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.