Southern Arc Drilling Results and Exploration Update

Southern Arc Minerals (TSX VENTURE:SA)(OTCQX:SOACF) ("Southern Arc" or "the
Company") is pleased to provide an update on exploration activities from its
West Lombok and Sabalong properties.


West Lombok Project, Lombok Island

Southern Arc's West Lombok exploration program is currently focused on
epithermal gold mineralization in the Pelangan prospect to the northwest of the
property, and porphyry copper-gold mineralization around the Selodong prospect
to the southeast of the property.


Drill hole SLD031 was the first to test new porphyry targets generated by an
aeromagnetic survey and porphyry prospectivity study of the property (see
February 9, 2012 news release). This drill hole tested the North Belikat target
(see Figure 1 and Table 1) and returned:




     SLD031:      83.0 m @ 0.33 g/t gold and 0.08% copper from 285.0 m
          incl.   43.5 m @ 0.41 g/t gold and 0.08% copper from 306.0 m
          incl.   14.0 m @ 0.60 g/t gold and 0.12% copper



The mineralization intersected in this hole is very encouraging since the North
Belikat target is not exposed at surface, and these results confirm the
methodology behind the prospectivity study for targeting shallow or blind
porphyry mineralization throughout the property. A second hole, SLD032, has also
been completed on another target with final assay results pending.


Since early January the Company has completed ten shallow drill holes along a
900-meter-long strike length of the Tanjung-Jati target, in the Pelangan
prospect. Results are summarized in Table 2 and Figure 2, with highlight
intersections of:




     PLD043:      1.4 m @ 9.30 g/t gold from 50.5 m

     PLD040:      2.0 m @ 5.84 g/t gold and 2.2 g/t silver from 11.7 m



Southern Arc is currently testing the Kayu Putih target at Pelangan immediately
to the north of Jati. Upon completion of that program, Southern Arc will review
the results of geochemical mapping and sampling on the property and redeploy the
drill rigs as appropriate. Mapping and sampling of epithermal gold targets
continues throughout the property and includes reconnaissance for new targets
and follow-up of previous positive rock chip targets with the objective of
refining drill targets.


Sabalong Project, Sumbawa Island

Phase 1 drilling continues on the Sabalong property, which is operated under a
joint venture with Vale S.A. whereby Vale has the option to earn a 75% interest
in the project by funding all expenditures through to completion of a bankable
feasibility study. Southern Arc is the operator of the property. Two diamond
drill holes have been completed totaling 1,342 metres (DDL001, depth 679.7 m and
DDL002, depth 662.3 m). Although no significant assay results were returned, the
geology and wallrock alteration recognized in the drill core has provided
sufficient encouragement to drill a third hole targeting potential porphyry
copper-gold mineralization below a lithocap. Preparations are underway to start
this third drill hole, with results to be released upon completion of Phase 1
exploration.


On behalf of the Board of Southern Arc Minerals Inc.

John Proust, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

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, two of which are being
advanced in partnership with Vale S.A. 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 International under the symbol SOACF. More
information is available at www.southernarcminerals.com or by emailing
[e-mail].


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.


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 97.5%. Half
core is cut by rock saw and is generally sampled according to geological
contacts ranging between 0.2 to 2.5 metres in length. Three quality control
samples (one blank 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 analyzed by fire assay with AAS finish
and a four-acid digestion with ICP-MS finish is used to analyze 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.





Table 1: Selodong Prospect, North Belikat Target - Phase 2 Drill Hole
         Statistics Summary

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           Coordinates                     Inter-          
Drill         Depth ------------------          From    To   val  Gold   Cu
hole   Target    (m)       E         N  Az Dip    (m)   (m)   (m) (g/t)  (%)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
SLD031 North  603.3 389442.5 9021771.0 270 -50 285.0 368.0  83.0  0.33 0.08
       Beli-
       kat
Inclu-                                         306.0 349.5  43.5  0.41 0.08
ding                                           
Inclu-                                         306.0 320.0  14.0  0.60 0.12
ding                                           
---------------------------------------------------------------------------


Table 2: Pelangan Prospect, Jati / Tanjung Target - Phase 2 Drill Hole
         Statistics Summary

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           Coordinates                     Inter-       Sil-
Drill         Depth ------------------          From    To   val  Gold  ver
hole   Target    (m)       E         N  Az Dip    (m)   (m)   (m) (g/t)(g/t)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLD039 Jati  222.00 383153.0 9029461.6 210 -50  79.3  81.3   2.0  0.83  2.5
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLD040 Jati  184.70 383234.2 9029417.3 210 -50  11.7  13.7   2.0  5.84  2.2
                                                99.0 101.6   2.6  1.64  7.5
                                               111.5 111.8   0.3  0.90  5.3
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLD041 Jati  200.80 383331.1 9029277.3  30 -50 52.75  53.7  0.95  0.53     
                                                62.0  63.2  1.20  0.68 21.8
Including                                       62.8  63.2  0.40  1.22 63.2
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLD042 Tan-  248.70 383737.6 9028867.2  30 -50    No Significant Result    
       jung                              
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLD043 Tan-  183.60 383675.7 9029039.0  30 -50  50.5  51.9  1.40  9.30
       jung      
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLD044 Tan-  156.85 383850.3 9028840.5  30 -50 43.55 44.75  1.20  1.10
       jung      
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLD045 Tan-  172.70 383886.9 9028800.0  30 -60    No Significant Result
       jung                              
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLD046 Jati  162.00 383576.2 9029107.9  30 -50  47.1  49.3  2.20  1.40     
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLD047 Tan-  235.80 383777.1 9028827.0  30 -50    No Significant Result
       jung                              
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLD048 Jati  155.90 383454.1 9029199.7  30 -50    No Significant Result    
---------------------------------------------------------------------------



To view Figure 1 and Figure 2 accompanying this press release, please click on
the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/sa44_F1-2.pdf