Romarco drills 33.5 meters of 4.3 g/t gold - Update on 2009 drilling program

TORONTO, Jan. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ROMARCO MINERALS INC. (TSXV: R) (the "Company") is pleased to announce recent assay results and an update on the 2009 exploration program at the Haile Gold Mine, in South Carolina. These intercepts continue to demonstrate the expansion of gold mineralization at Haile.

Approximately 73,000 meters (236,000 feet) in 223 holes were drilled as part of the 2009 exploration program. The Company has assays pending for approximately 60 drill holes. Currently drilling is being conducted in outlying areas in order to select site facilities for the plant, tailings and waste dumps pursuant to the current feasibility that is underway. Drilling in three of the five proposed tailings sites identified gold mineralization. Drilling on the fourth site is approximately thirty percent complete and although gold mineralization has been encountered it is not yet sufficient to eliminate the site for facilities or tailings disposal. These results are a further indication that the mineralized zone is continuing to grow and remains open in all directions and at depth. Recent drilling demonstrates that the mineralization not only continues along strike in an east-west direction but is continuing to extend to the north as evidenced through recent condemnation drilling for site facilities. The Company's technical team is analyzing recently received assay data and will be disclosing those results and interpretations in the near future.

RC-1669 was drilled as a step-out hole in the area where the Ledbetter and Snake pits merge. RC-1669 encountered 33.5 meters (110 feet) of 4.3 g/t Au (0.126 opt) at 213.4 meters (700 feet). The hole was designed as a step-out in order to extend this mineralized zone to the north. The hole flattened out sooner than anticipated therefore the total distance from known mineralization was approximately 21 meters (70 feet). Additional holes stepping beyond RC-1669 have been planned. RC-1663 encountered 29.0 meters (95 feet) of 1.1 g/t Au (0.034 opt) at 7.6 meters (25 feet). RC-1663 was drilled as a step-out hole approximately 45 meters (150 feet) along the far western edge of the property (Champion area). RC-1663 demonstrates the continued possibility of finding additional near surface mineralization within the Haile mine area and confirms the mineralized zone remains open to the west. The results of these holes are summarized in the table below.

------------------------------------------------------------------------- Interval From To Gold Hole (meters) (meters) (meters) (g/t) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- RC-1663 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Interval 29.0 7.6 36.6 1.1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- RC-1669 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Interval 33.5 213.4 246.9 4.3 -------------------------------------------------------------------------

With five drill rigs on site (four RC and one core rig), the current program is designed to identify additional resources and convert resources into proven and probable reserves across the entire mine property. Drilling is being performed by Boart Longyear, Romarco's company owned drill, and Connors drilling. The drill samples are being assayed by Alaska Assay Labs in Fairbanks, AK. Blank samples as well as third party standards were submitted with all of the drill holes. The results of the control samples were within acceptable ranges and adjacent to the mineralized zones. Romarco's Qualified Person under NI-43-101 is Peter J. Butterfield.

About Romarco Minerals Inc. ---------------------------

Romarco Minerals Inc. is a gold development company focused on production in the US and Mexico. The Company's flagship project is the Haile Gold Mine in South Carolina which is currently undergoing exploration drilling, bankable feasibility study and permitting. The Pinos Gold District in Mexico is a high grade epithermal vein district in the advanced exploration stage.

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ROMARCO MINERALS INC.

CONTACT: Romarco Minerals Inc.: Diane Garrett, President and CEO, (210)
621-4200, [e-mail]; Victoria Vargas, V.P., Investor Relations,
[phone], [e-mail]; Renmark Financial Communications Inc.:
Dan Symons, [phone], [e-mail]