September 21, 2011 – Vancouver, BC – Southern Arc Minerals (TSX-V: SA) (“Southern Arc”) has received assay results from the first two holes drilled on the Mencanggah Prospect on its West Lombok Project in Indonesia. Drill holes MCG001 and MCG002 drilled at the Waterfall target (Figure 1) failed to reach their target depth; however, both holes intersected parallel subsidiary epithermal quartz vein and breccia structures (Figure 2) that returned the following encouraging intervals:

MCG001 2.30 m @ 3.96 g/t Au from 257.50 m
including 0.80 m @ 7.60 g/t Au from 259.00 m
MCG002 2.00 m @ 5.15 g/t Au from 118.70 m
including 0.20 m @ 9.80 g/t Au from 118.70 m

Based on surface mapping, the Waterfall target comprises a 1,200 metre long zone of mineralized epithermal breccias and veins, with two main parallel structures (15m average width) that are interpreted to coalesce at depth based on structural data (Figure 2).

Dr. Mike Andrews, Southern Arc’s President and Chief Operating Officer, commented: “The first drill holes at the Mencanggah prospect have returned encouraging intercepts and confirm gold mineralization at depth, albeit in splays peripheral to the main target zones. Further drilling at Waterfall is a high priority and we look forward to reporting results as the drill program advances.”

Holes MCG001 and MCG002 were halted in August following local unrest. Southern Arc has increased security at site and expects to resume drilling at Mencanggah by month end to test gold-bearing epithermal breccias with a program of approximately 30 holes to an average depth of 300 metres to complete a total of 10,000 metres by year end (Figure 1). Follow-up drilling with the objective of completing a National Instrument 43-101 compliant resource estimate for Mencanggah will continue through the first half of 2012.

Pelangan Drill Results

Southern Arc has also received assays for holes PDL028 to PDL033 drilled at the Pelangan Prospect.

PLD028 (Central Raja) 1.35m @ 1.0 g/t Au and 6.2 g/t Ag from 251.05m
PLD031 (South Raja) 3.90m @ 3.9 g/t Au from 154.70m
including 0.85m @ 11.5 g/t Au from 156.40m
PLD032 (South Raja) 13.15m@ 1.4 g/t Au from 87.20m
including 3.30m @ 2.3 g/t Au from 97.05m
PLD033 (Tanjung) 0.65m @ 1.04 g/t Au from 114.95m

Drill holes PLD029 and PLD030 at North Raja did not intersect any significant

Southern Arc has drilled more than 7,000 metres at Pelangan as part of its Phase 2 exploration program. Drilling will resume at Pelangan in late Q4-2011 with approximately 13,000 metres with the objective of completing a National Instrument 43-101 compliant resource estimate for the Pelangan Prospect in the first half of 2012.

On behalf of the Board of Directors
“John Proust”

Chairman and CEO

About Southern Arc

Southern Arc Minerals Inc. is an Indonesia- based Canadian mineral exploration company with an aggressive exploration, acquisition and growth strategy. The Company’s portfolio includes four exploration projects with epithermal gold and gold-copper 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. More information is available at www.southernarcminerals.com or by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Southern Arc Contact

Rhylin Bailie
Vice President, Communications & Investor Relations
Phone: 604-676-5241
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Qualified Person and Quality Control and Assurance

The information in this release has been compiled under the supervision of 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 Chief Geologist – Feasibility Studies, Senior Geologist and Consulting Geologist. Mr. Rowe 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 98.0%. 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 regulatoryprocess 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.

Head Office
Southern Arc Minerals Inc.
Suite 650
669 Howe St
Vancouver, BC Canada V6C 0B4
Telephone: +1-778-725-1490
Fax: +1-604-428-1124

 

Investor Relations
John Proust,
Chairman & CEO
Telephone: +1-778-725-1482

E-mail
info@SouthernArcMinerals.com