Callinan Begins Drilling of Snow Lake Properties

VANCOUVER , Dec. 9 /CNW/ - Callinan Mines Limited (TSX.V - CAA) has mobilized a diamond drill to the Snow Lake area of Manitoba for the immediate commencement of comprehensive drill testing of the Berry Creek , Jean Lake and Watts River claims.

The initial hole of the 2009 - 2010 winter season will be drilled at Berry Creek to test the down-dip extension of mineralized host rock intersected in diamond drill hole BR-4. This drill hole, part of the previous winter program, contained anomalous copper, zinc, molybdenum and rhenium values over a 124.97 meter core length of altered quartz serecite schist and altered ryholite. This alteration is similar to the host rock of the mines in the Snow Lake area. The initial drill hole will be drilled to a depth of 550 meters and is designed to test under the 172.87 meter hole BR4. In addition, diamond drill holes are planned to test the downward extension of a mineralized gold zone intersected in diamond drill hole BR-1. This zone, bearing 1.26 g/mt gold across 6.49 meters of core length, including 15.40 g/mt gold across 0.47m, was intersected between 29.60 meters and 36.12 meters. The planned holes will test the depth of the mineralization.

On the Jean Lake property, gold values as high as 11.44 g/mt have been sampled on surface by Callinan field crews. Gold values in surface samples occur in quartz veining and are associated with arsenopyrite mineralization. Geophysical tests of induced polarization and chargeability, conducted by Callinan, have located anomalies coincident with the sampled areas of mineralization. Three diamond drill holes are planned to test geophysical anomalies coincident with mineralization on the Jean Lake property.

For more information on Callinan's Snow Lake properties, including maps and detailed property descriptions, please visit callinan.com/snowlake.

Callinan Mines maintained a QA/QC program at all stages of exploration. Sample recovery was calculated, measured and observed at a company facility in Snow Lake before being cut at the same facility. Samples were broken in half, one half being kept for storage and the other half placed in pre-labeled plastic bags, tagged with the sample number and recorded in the log. Samples were then shipped to Acme Analytical Laboratories in Vancouver , BC, where they were crushed, split, pulverized and sieved into approximately 30 g samples at 200 mesh. Samples were then assayed by Aqua Regia digestion ICP-ES analysis, and assayed for silver and gold by fire asssay. The lab employs internal quality control by assaying pulp duplicates and inserting quality control standards of predetermined gold values and a blank sample.

About Callinan Mines

Callinan Mines receives quarterly income from a 6 2/3% net profits interest and a $0.25 per ton royalty in the 777 Mine in Flin Flon, Mantioba, operated by Hudbay Minerals. The mine is expected to produce until 2019.

In addition to the company's high potential exploration programs, the company is currently focused on the acquisition and development of late stage base and precious metals projects in North America .

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

"Mike Muzylowski"

Mike Muzylowski

The exploration programs at Snow Lake are being conducted under the supervision of Pat DeVeaux, a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, who has reviewed and approved the contents of this release.

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 release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to future expenditures. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such factors include, among others, the ability to complete contemplated private placements and the timing and amount of expenditures. Callinan does not assume the obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

For further information: Braden Maccke, 736 Granville Street, Suite 1100, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1G3, Telephone: [phone], Toll-Free: 1-877-228-5210, Fax: [phone], Email: [email protected], Website: www.callinan.com