Southern Arc Intersects 24.8 m @ 4.27 g/t gold at Tibu Serai and Commences Further Drilling of Epithermal Gold and Porphyry C...

Southern Arc Minerals (TSX VENTURE:SA)(OTCQX:SOACF) ("Southern Arc" or "the
Company") is pleased to report encouraging drilling results from the Tibu Serai
target at Mencanggah on Southern Arc's West Lombok property, as well as the
commencement of a further phase of drill holes testing both epithermal gold and
porphyry copper-gold targets on the property. 


Seven shallow drill holes have been completed (1,124.2 m) at Tibu Serai to test
down dip from high-grade surface channel samples (Figure 1 and Table 1).
Highlight intercepts include:




MCG055 24.8 m @ 4.27 g/t gold and 0.6 g/t silver from 48.6 m                
          including 0.5 m @ 71.0 g/t gold and 1.9 g/t silver from 49.4 m    
          and 5.4 m @ 9.44 g/t gold and 1.3 g/t silver from 67.2 m          
          including 0.55 m @ 71.0 g/t gold and 6.8 g/t silver from 71.75 m  
                                                                            
MCG050 10.77 m @ 1.01 g/t gold and 4.0 g/t silver from 100.23 m             
          including 2.15 m @ 3.87 g/t gold and 17.0 g/t silver from 108.85 m
          including 0.5 m @ 15.0 g/t gold and 67.4 g/t silver from 110.5 m  
                                                                            
MCG051 8.7 m @ 1.56 g/t gold and 0.71 g/t silver from 114.7 m               
          including 3.5 m @ 3.33 g/t gold and 1.0 g/t silver from 119.9 m   
       8.85 m @ 0.74 g/t gold and 0.4 g/t silver from 136.45 m              
                                                                            
MCG049 12.1 m @ 1.07 g/t gold and 1.2 g/t silver from 31.3 m                
          including 4.2 m @ 2.17 g/t gold and 1.7 g/t silver from 34.65 m   
       3.3 m @ 1.21 g/t gold and 1.2 g/t silver from 78.7 m                 



These results confirm the down dip continuity of mineralization below surface at
Tibu Serai. The seven widely spaced drill holes have tested only a fraction of
the strike of the mineralized breccias at Tibu Serai and many zones of highly
anomalous surface sampling remain to be tested. 


Drillhole MCG055 is particularly encouraging as this mineralization lies
adjacent to an inferred major cross-cutting structural break evidenced from the
magnetic survey data and mapped outcrop patterns. Southern Arc's exploration
team believes this major structural break may be influencing higher gold grades
in its proximity. Several other anomalous vein targets lie adjacent to this
feature and represent encouraging targets for future exploration.


Tibu Serai comprises a 2 km by 2 km area at the northern end of the Mencanggah
prospect and hosts numerous northwest and north-northwest trending linear gold
mineralized structures. The majority of these well-exposed mineralized zones
have been systematically channel sampled and have returned numerous highly
gold-anomalous intervals. Highlight channel samples include 7.1 m @ 53.53 g/t
gold, 2.25 m @ 12.13 g/t gold, 0.6 m @ 69.0 g/t gold and 2.0 m @ 9.8 g/t gold. 


To view Figure 1, please visit the following link:
http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/sa325i.pdf. 


Ongoing Drilling

A review of drill results from the Bising and Tibu Serai targets has indicated
that additional drilling is warranted in both these areas.


A further three drill holes are planned at Tibu Serai to test extensions of the
high-grade intercept observed in MCG055. Two holes will step out 40 meters
either side of MCG055 to test mineralization along strike, and one hole will
drill below MCG055 to test whether mineralization continues at depth. These
holes will allow for interpretation of potential high-grade shoot geometry and
help to determine the role of proximal cross-cutting structures in controlling
such shoots. 


At Bising three additional drill holes are in progress to infill between holes
MCG031 and MCG032 (see February 28, 2013 press release), testing an inferred
plunge to higher-grade mineralization and the continuity of the broad
mineralized intercepts identified in previous drilling. 


Southern Arc's Board of Directors has approved drilling three holes to test
high-priority porphyry targets identified in the Porphyry Prospectivity Study
carried out by industry-leading consultant Dr. Steve Garwin (see February 9,
2012 news release along with the Porphyry Prospectivity Study and associated
presentation posted on Southern Arc's website at www.southernarcminerals.com). A
PMC700 drill rig has been mobilized with the expectation of completing drill
holes up to 500 meters deep. The first two holes will test high-priority targets
based on geophysical anomalies beneath the Mencanggah lithocap, which has
encouraging geochemical and structural geological signatures.


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 focused on
gold and copper-gold exploration. 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]. 


Qualified Person 

The technical information in this document has been reviewed by Southern Arc's
Executive Vice President, Andrew Rowe, B. App. Sc. Geology, MAusIMM. Mr. Rowe
has over 20 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 better than
98.0%. Half core is cut by rock saw and is generally sampled using nominal
1-metre intervals; however, sample intervals are varied according to geological
contacts and have ranged 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 analysed by fire assay with AAS finish
and a four-acid digestion with ICP-MS 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, the need to obtain permits, the
need to work with local communities and authorities to advance the properties,
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 ability 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, including uncertainty related to drill results
and the inclusion of drill results in future resource estimates for the
property. 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. 




Table 1 - Mencanggah Prospect, Tibu Serai Target, Phase 1 Drill Hole        
 Statistics Summary                                                         
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        Sil-
                       Coordinates                           Inte- Gold  ver
Drill  Targ- Depth -------------------  Az Dip   From     To  rval  (g/  (g/
 Hole   et     (m)         E         N            (m)    (m)   (m)   t)   t)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
MCG049 Tibu                                                                 
       Serai 144.0  387975.7 9024921.1 238 -50   31.3   43.4  12.1 1.07  1.2
Inclu-                                                                     
 ding                                           34.65  38.85   4.2 2.17  1.7
                                                 78.7     82   3.3 1.21  1.2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
MCG050 Tibu                                                                 
       Serai 156.0 387821.29 9024822.7 238 -50 100.23    111 10.77 1.01  4.0
Inclu-                                                                     
 ding                                          108.85    111  2.15 3.87 17.0
Inclu-                                                                     
 ding                                           110.5    111   0.5 15.0 67.4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
MCG051 Tibu                                                                 
       Serai 178.4  387765.9 9025245.9 238 -50  114.7  123.4   8.7 1.56 0.71
Inclu-                                                                     
 ding                                           119.9  123.4   3.5 3.33  1.0
                                               136.45  145.3  8.85 0.74  0.4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
MCG052 Tibu                                                                 
       Serai 215.8  387704.6 9025293.3 238 -50 101.72 103.05  1.33 0.66  0.3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
MCG053 Tibu                                                                 
       Serai 146.5  387637.2 9025190.4 238 -50   31.4     41   9.6 0.35  0.3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
MCG054 Tibu                                                                 
       Serai 185.9  388359.9 9025311.2 238 -50  139.1  159.2  20.1 0.56  1.4
Inclu-                                                                     
 ding                                           156.6  157.7   1.1 3.11 10.9
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
MCG055 Tibu                                                                 
       Serai  97.6  388778.8 9024790.9 238 -50   48.6   73.4  24.8 4.27  0.6
Inclu-                                                                     
 ding                                            49.4   49.9   0.5 71.0  1.9
And                                              67.2   72.6   5.4 9.44  1.3
Inclu-                                                                     
 ding                                           71.75   72.3  0.55 71.0  6.8
----------------------------------------------------------------------------





FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: 
Southern Arc Minerals Inc.
Rhylin Bailie
Vice President, Communications & Investor Relations
North American toll-free: 1-855-676-5241
[e-mail]
www.southernarcminerals.com