MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA--(Marketwire - Jan. 19, 2012) - Mineral Deposits Limited "MDL" (TSX:MDM)(News - Market indicators) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Tom Whiting as a non-executive director of the company effective immediately. Tom's appointment will strengthen the non-executive component of the board, creating a majority of non-executives. He brings to MDL a wide range of international mining industry experience and, in particular, a strong background in larger company systems and processes. A brief overview of his background follows.

Tom Whiting (PhD, BSc.Hons, GradDipAppFin, MASEG, AICD)

Tom has over 30 years' experience in global minerals exploration management including a very successful discovery track record. He held numerous senior management roles over a 20 year career with BHP Billiton, including Vice President of Minerals Exploration BHP Billiton from 2000-2004. In this role, Tom was responsible for BHP Billiton's global minerals exploration program whilst based in Melbourne. His other roles included strategic overview of Brownfield's Exploration programs for all global BHP Billiton minerals assets. He also served on the Leadership group for BHP Billiton's Diamonds and Specialty Customer Sector Group, which includes its mineral sands business. Prior to joining BHP, he worked for CRA Exploration Pty Ltd based in Melbourne and Geoterrex Pty Ltd (an international geophysical contractor) in Australia and Canada. He started his career with Delhi Oil based in Adelaide, Australia. He is currently Non-executive Chairman of the Deep Exploration Technologies Cooperative Research Centre. He is based in Melbourne and serves as an independent, non-executive director on several boards.

About MDL

Mineral Deposits Limited (TSX:MDM)(News - Market indicators), is an Australian based mining company in the business of finding, mining and processing mineral sands resources.

MDL owns 50% of TiZir Limited which, effective 1 October 2011, owns the world-class Grande Côte Mineral Sands Project in Senegal, West Africa and an ilmenite upgrading plant in Tyssedal, Norway.

Grande Côte, over an expected mine life of at least 20 years, is anticipated to produce on average approximately 85ktpa of zircon and 575ktpa of ilmenite (and small amounts of rutile and leucoxene) when in full production. Currently being developed and with production expected to commence late-2013, it is one of only a few major new projects globally that can take advantage of the supply-constrained mineral sands sector.

The Tyssedal ilmenite upgrading plant smelts ilmenite to produce a high TiO₂ titanium slag which is sold to pigment producers and a high purity pig iron which is sold as a valuable co-product to ductile iron foundries. The facility currently produces approximately 200ktpa of titanium slag and 110ktpa of high-purity pig iron.

Once Grande Côte reaches expected average production rates, TiZir will be producing approximately 7% of both global zircon and titanium feedstock supply.

ABN 19 064 377 420