Southern Arc Announces Completion of Porphyry Prospectivity Study Following Interpretation of Detailed Airborne Magnetic Survey for West Lombok Project

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwire) -- 02/09/12 -- Southern Arc Minerals (TSX VENTURE: SA)(OTCQX: SOACF) ('Southern Arc' or 'the Company') is pleased to announce the completion of a prospectivity study for porphyry exploration targets on its West Lombok project. The study identified 17 new porphyry exploration targets throughout the property (Figure 1). Southern Arc has commenced drill testing and will continue evaluating these targets with detailed ground work.

Based on previous drilling conducted by the Company, Southern Arc considers the West Lombok property to be highly prospective for mineralized porphyries. Drilling during 2007 and 2008 on the Selodong prospect in the southern part of the property returned significant porphyry-grade intersections including 363.50m @ 0.3% copper and 0.5 g/t gold, and 102.25m @ 0.5% copper and 1.05 g/t gold (Figure 2, Table 1) (refer to Southern Arc news releases dated June 28 and July 31, 2007). At Selodong, relatively deeper erosion has exposed mineralized porphyries and it is inferred that at higher elevations northwest along the mineralized corridor, advanced argillic alteration zones in the Mencanggah and Pelangan prospects represent potential lithocaps to concealed porphyry systems.

To view the Figures and Table associated with this release, visit: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/sa209_Figs.pdf.

Targets with moderate to high porphyry prospectivity occur in Montong Botek, Blongas, Mahoni, Belikat and Makam Kedaro in the Selodong prospect; Bising, Lendak Bare and Telekur in the Mencanggah prospect; and Batu Sendi and Lala in the Pelangan prospect. A number of the targets have already had a limited amount of drill testing (marked with black rings in Figure 1) and include the Montong Botek and Blongas targets, which host zones of high-grade gold-rich porphyry copper mineralization, supporting the outcome of the prospectivity analysis.

'The prospectivity study has identified valid porphyry exploration targets on the West Lombok property based on conventional and contemporary wisdom on porphyry / lithocap models,' said Dr. Mike Andrews, Chief Operating Officer of Southern Arc. 'Southern Arc has a two-pronged exploration strategy at West Lombok: to drill the more than 26-kilometer cumulative strike length of epithermal-gold mineralization identified on the property, while exploring for copper-gold porphyry systems related to the epithermal mineralization. While Southern Arc awaits receipt of its Ministry of Forestry permit, the Company will prioritize the porphyry targets to the southeast and northeast of the property that are located in areas without forestry designation.'

The porphyry prospectivity study was completed by Dr. Steve Garwin, Southern Arc's Senior Technical Advisor, with the objective of recommending new porphyry copper-gold exploration targets within the West Lombok property. The study followed 3D inversion modeling of results from a high-definition airborne magnetic and radiometric survey completed in September 2011. The primary objectives of the study were to review and interpret the results of the ongoing regional geological mapping program; integrate geology and geochemical results with the results of the recently completed airborne magnetics/radiometric survey; and undertake a prospectivity analysis to generate porphyry exploration targets.

The prospectivity analysis was intended to determine primary pathway and focus elements for hydrothermal fluid flow and ascending porphyry intrusions. Pathways or inferred deep-seated structures were determined from coincident deep linear features expressed in local geology, topography and the processed results of the airborne magnetic survey images. Zones of increased structure abundance are supported by a positive correlation with the major alteration zones, gold fertile silica-ledges, quartz diorite porphyries and the margins of equigranular diorite plutons.

Elements indicating a primary focus for porphyry-intrusions are: 1) mapped quartz diorites and dacitic porphyries; 2) the margins of pre-mineralization equigranular diorite plutons; 3) potassium-deleted silica-clay alteration zones; and 4) high-level magnetic bodies (potential mineralized porphyry stocks) that occur along the margins of, or above, deep-level magnetic highs (potential feeder plutons) (Figure 1). Pathway and focus elements were superimposed to indicate the high probability target zones for ascending magma and developing porphyry systems.

Based on the results of the study, Southern Arc has initiated a program to drill test the priority porphyry copper-gold targets.

About Southern Arc

Southern Arc Minerals Inc. is a Canadian mineral exploration company with an aggressive exploration, acquisition and growth strategy. The Company's portfolio includes four exploration projects with epithermal gold and copper-gold porphyry prospects on the Lombok and Sumbawa islands in Indonesia, three of which are being advanced in partnership with major mining companies Vale and Newcrest. The Company's key exploration property is its West Lombok project, with several gold-rich copper porphyry and epithermal gold vein prospects. Southern Arc is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol SA and on the OTCQX under the symbol SOACF. More information is available at www.southernarcminerals.com or by emailing info@southernarcminerals.com.

On behalf of the Board of Southern Arc Minerals Inc.

John Proust, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

Qualified Person

The technical information in this document has been reviewed by Southern Arc's Chief Geologist, Andrew Rowe, B. App. Sc. Geology, MAusIMM. Mr. Rowe has over 18 years of international mineral exploration experience throughout Southeast and Central Asia and Australia. During this time he has held such positions as Principal Geologist - Feasibility Studies, Senior Geologist and Consulting Geologist. The technical information in this document has also been reviewed by Southern Arc's President & Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Mike Andrews, PhD, FAusIMM, who has sufficient experience relevant to the style of mineralization under consideration and qualifies as a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

The drill program and sampling protocol is managed by Southern Arc under the supervision of Andrew Rowe. The diamond drill holes are drilled at PQ, HQ and NQ sizes depending on hole depth and core recovery to date has averaged 98.6%. Half core is cut by rock saw and is generally sampled using nominal 2 metre intervals; however, sample intervals are varied according to geological contacts and have ranged between 1.0 to 3.0 metres in length. Four quality control samples (two blanks and two standards) are inserted into each batch of 40 samples. The half core samples are securely transported from the project site to the Intertek Testing Services ('ITS') sample preparation laboratory in Sumbawa Besar via private truck hired by Southern Arc. Sample pulps are then sent to the ITS Jakarta laboratory by ITS. Gold is analysed by fire assay with AAS finish and a four-acid digestion with AAS finish is used to analyse a full suite of elements including silver and base metals. ITS is one of the world's largest product and commodity testing, inspection and certification organizations. The Jakarta laboratory is ISO 17025 accredited and employs a Laboratory Information Management System for sample tracking, quality control and reporting.

Forward-looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to expected or anticipated future events and operations, timing of projects and anticipated results that are forward-looking in nature and, as a result, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, such as general economic, market and business conditions, the regulatory process and actions, technical issues, new legislation, competitive and general economic factors and conditions, the uncertainties resulting from potential delays or changes in plans, the occurrence of unexpected events, and the Company's capability to execute and implement future plans. Actual results achieved may vary from the information provided herein as a result of numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors. There is no representation by the Company that actual results achieved during the forecast period will be the same in whole or in part as that forecast.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as such term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contacts:

Southern Arc Minerals Inc.

Rhylin Bailie

Vice President, Communications & Investor Relations

604-676-5241 or Toll Free: 1-888-676-5241
info@southernarcminerals.com
www.southernarcminerals.com