News Release No. 07-09

Southern Arc Minerals Inc. (TSX Venture: SA) is pleased to announce the results of additional surface sampling at its J3 Prospect located on Sumbawa Island, Indonesia. 

The J3 Prospect is situated in the southeastern corner of SA's Taliwang property, approximately 12 km north of Newmont's Batu Hijau porphyry Cu-Au mine. J3 was discovered by Newmont during first pass regional exploration in 1987 and was targeted during subsequent geochemical and geophysical programs. Au Ag mineralization was identified from a contact zone of a shallow westward dipping silicified limestone and an altered volcaniclastic sediment unit. Preliminary outcrop sampling at the "Hitam Manis" (HM) zone by SA personnel was previously reported in news release NR 07 02, dated February 07, 2007. 

Hitam Manis

Recent channel samples from the northern area of the HM zone include: 

5.0m (3.6 m) @ 6.78 g/t Au & 123 g/t Ag
5.0m (3.6 m) @ 1.31 g/t Au & 13 g/t Ag
2.3m (1.6 m) @ 3.14 g/t Au & 44 g/t Ag
4.9m (3.4 m) @ 18.09 g/t Au & 39 g/t Ag
5.3m (3.8 m) @ 1.3 g/t Au & 6 g/t Ag

(True thickness of the mineralised bed is shown in brackets)

The four best contiguous diagonal sections result in a weighted average of 7.93 g/t Au & 57 g/t Ag over a rock face averaging 3.5 m high and approximately 12 m wide.

A portable diamond rock saw has been used to representatively channel sample the extremely hard jasperoid surfaces. Most of the channel samples have been cut diagonally across the mineralised jasperoid bed in order to sample across both the full thickness of the unit and to include prominent mineralized, sub-vertical fracture sets. Some of the previously reported high grade samples were re-sampled in this manner. Location of the channel samples are shown in Figure 1. 

In the same area as described in the preceding paragraph, selected diagonal cuts and a composite sample were taken along the face of a NW trending fault trace and returned high grade channel samples of 4.0m @ 139.6 g/t Au & 93 g/t Ag, and 3.0m @ 58.4 g/t Au & 136 g/t Ag. A composite sample of eight contiguous diagonal cuts averaged 10.47 g/t Au & 54g/t Ag over a vertical face with dimensions 1.75 m high and 14.0 m long. While the company is comfortable with these assays results we have no way of determining the third dimensions of these higher grades zones without subsurface (drill) samples.

Additional channel sampling of a NE to N curving jasperoid ledge (3m high ? 120m long) situated approximately 350 m southeast from the zone of higher grades resulted in surface intersections of:

1.0m (0.7m) @ 3.12 g/t Au & 18 g/t Ag
2.0m (1.4m) @ 2.57 g/t Au & 182 g/t Ag
2.0m (1.4m) @ 2.52 g/t Au & 18 g/t Ag
3.5m (2.5m) @ 2.43 g/t Au & 35 g/t Ag
2.0m (1.4m) @ 2.36 g/t Au & 171 g/t Ag
1.5m (1.1m) @ 2.36 g/t Au & 5 g/t Ag

(True thickness of the mineralised bed is shown in brackets)

The J3 Prospect geological and geochemical signatures indicate the potential for carbonate replacement Au-Ag mineralization, with a model of steeply-dipping fault/fracture structures channeling Au-Ag rich hydrothermal fluids into flat-lying receptive carbonate horizons. 

Southern Arc personnel have already established a survey grid over the area of interest, and excavated a number of trenches to check the continuity and dip of the HM jasperoid and its wall rock relationships. Additional trenches have delineated other jasperoid ledges to the southeast. An area of approximately 60,000 m² has thus far been outlined as containing the bulk of the jasperoid outcrops and the trench exposures (Figure 1). Further geologic mapping and trenching is in progress away from this central area, particularly towards the south and west where the down dip continuation of the mineralised horizon is likely to occur.

An orientation dipole-dipole IP survey will commence over the HM zone and surrounding areas in mid-April, whilst a preliminary diamond drill program is currently being developed. 

Qualified Person and Quality Control and Assurance

The information in this release has been compiled under the supervision of Southern Arc's Vice President of Exploration Hamish Campbell, B.Sc.Geology, MAusIMM. Mr. Campbell has over 22 years of international mineral exploration experience including 20 years in Indonesia, during which he has held such positions as Exploration Manager, Senior Geologist and Consulting Geologist. Mr. Campbell has sufficient experience relevant to the style of mineralization under consideration and qualifies as a Qualified Person as defined in terms of NI 43-101.

On behalf of the Board of 
Southern Arc Minerals Inc.

"John Proust"

President and CEO

Southern Arc Minerals Inc.
Suite 1500, Box 1078, 885 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC V6C 3E8 Canada
Telephone: (604) 676-5241
Fax: (604) 676-5246
Website: www.southernarcminerals.com

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