Southern Arc Minerals Inc. (TSX Venture: SA) is pleased to announce the results of preliminary surface sampling at its J3 and J6 Prospect areas, both located on Sumbawa Island, Indonesia.

J3 Prospect

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 drainage sampling in 1987 and subsequently targeted by detailed geochemical and geophysical programs. Au-Ag±base metal mineralization was identified from a contact zone of a flat lying silicified limestone and an altered volcaniclastic sediment unit. Newmont's channel sampling from a mineralized 2.7 m thick limestone bed averaged 6.75 g/t Au with a maximum of 12.0 g/t Au and 121 g/t Ag. This anomalous outcrop is situated on the eastern edge of a 1.8 x 1.3 km zone of widespread anomalous Au soil geochemistry. The most significant anomaly, within this zone comprises a 700 x 200 m NW trending zone of >50 ppb Au in soil. This is interpreted as an erosional window through unaltered limestone cover re-exposing the mineralized limestone/volcanic contact. Moderate base metal, As, Sb and Mo soil anomalies as well as IP and resistivity anomalies are associated with elevated gold soil geochemistry throughout the area.

Preliminary orientation surveys by SA personnel during November to December 2006 relocated the Newmont discovery outcrop referred to above which SA geologists have named "Hitam Manis" (HM, Indonesian for "Black Sweet"). Outcrop sampling and mapping of the main silicified zone (interpreted as jasperoid ledges) and the peripheral alteration envelope, reported significant high grade Au-Ag channel samples. From 14 rock samples submitted, 6 samples assayed >1.0 g/t Au, including 216.0 g/t Au and 330 g/t Ag over 3.0 metres, 64.0 g/t Au and 52 g/t Ag over 3.0 metres and 10.40 g/t Au & 50 g/t Ag over 3.3 metres respectively (Figure 1) .

Immediately south of HM, a possible fault offset of similar jasperoidal material returned a value of 33.6 g/t Au and 17 g/t Ag over 2.5m. Assay results from additional surface rock chip sampling peripheral to HM confirm the widespread Au anomalism previously defined by Newmont. Significant rock chip values including 10.1 g/t Au and 14.3 g/t Au have been reported as far as 720 m northwest and 635 m west of HM respectively. Several pods of jasperoid outcrop and subcrop have been mapped up to 2,500 m west of HM coinciding with Newmont's Au-As-Sb soil anomalies.

The 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 receptive flat-lying carbonate basinal horizons. 

J6 Prospect

The J6 Prospect is located approximately 4 km west of J3. Mineralization here comprises auriferous base-metal veins hosted within hydrothermal breccia bodies and volcaniclastic and pyroclastic rocks. Trenching of quartz stockwork zones by the previous operator returned anomalous results including 110m @ 1.09 g/t Au (includes 25m @ 2.46 g/t Au). Scout diamond drilling (seven holes totaling 651.3 m) in 1998 by Newmont intersected erratic quartz base-metal sulfide (pyrite-galena-sphalerite-chalcopyrite) sheeted veins and stockworks, with significant intersections of 8.41 g/t Au over 3.9m, 20.8 g/t Au over 0.70m and 10.2 g/t Au over 1.73m.

The current geologic mapping and sampling program over J3 is gradually moving westwards towards J6 and may in time prove a genetic relationship between the two prospects. SA anticipates that following completion of surface evaluation, including limited costeaning and a ground IP-resistivity survey, that preliminary scout diamond drilling if warranted will commence late in the next quarter. 

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 23 years of international mineral exploration experience including 21 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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