Lydian Commences 2012 Drilling Program at Amulsar Gold Project

25,000 meter exploration and resource definition drilling program gets underway.

TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 05/10/12 -- Lydian International Ltd. (TSX: LYD) ("Lydian" or "the Company"), a gold-focused mineral exploration and development company, is pleased to announce that it has commenced its 2012 drilling program at its Amulsar gold project in Armenia. The Company is planning to complete at least 25,000 meters of combined diamond and reverse circulation drilling in 2012. The 2012 drilling program is designed to delineate new mineralisation to extend the current resource shell both laterally and at depth. In addition, the Company plans to initiate drilling on further prospective exploration targets and carry out infill drilling to upgrade resource categories.

The Amulsar resource remains open in all directions with obvious further potential extending for at least 1,000 meter along the ridge-top towards the southeast from Arshak and down the Amulsar ridge towards the northeast at Tigranes and towards the southwest at Orontes (see Figure in Appendix).

Further drilling is required to close off Erato, particularly towards the southwest and grid drilling will be conducted in an effort to join Erato and Tigranes along an apparently northwest trending mineralised corridor.

The Company expects to use two diamond drill rigs and one reverse circulation drill rig for its planned resource and exploration drilling, and at least two further diamond drill rigs to assist the engineers with further geotechnical studies.

"We are planning for another exciting year of successful exploration and development of the Amulsar gold project, building on our discoveries," said Tim Coughlin Lydian's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Although Amulsar is an advanced gold project, with a bankable feasibility study expected to be completed around the end of this quarter, the resource is open and untested in all directions and we continue to be excited about the potential to discover new mineralisation. We are particularly interested in finding out what systematic step-out drilling at Arshak and deep drilling below Erato will reveal this year."

Gary Anthony Patrick, BSc (Chemistry/Extractive Metallurgy), MAusIMM CP, is the Qualified Person overseeing Lydian's exploration programs and has supervised the preparation of the technical information contained in this press release.


About Lydian International

Lydian is a gold-focused mineral exploration and development company with expertise employing "first mover" strategies in emerging exploration environments. Currently Lydian is focused on Eastern Europe and, in particular, developing its flagship Amulsar gold project in Armenia. Lydian also has a pipeline of promising early-stage gold and base metal exploration projects in the Caucasus regions.

Lydian's management team has a track record of success in grassroots discovery, in acquiring and developing undervalued assets, and in building companies. Lydian has a strong social agenda and a unique understanding of the complex social and political issues that characterise emerging environments. The Company's significant shareholders include the International Finance Corporation which is a member of the World Bank Group and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. More information can be found on Lydian's web site at www.lydianinternational.co.uk.


Caution regarding forward-looking information:

This news release may contain certain information that constitutes forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterised by words such as "plan," "expect," "project," "intend," "believe," "anticipate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur and include statements regarding the Company's intended planned exploration. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. These factors include the inherent risks involved in the exploration and development of mineral properties, the uncertainties involved in interpreting drilling results and other geological data, fluctuating metal prices and other factors described above and in the Company's most recent annual information form under the heading "Risk Factors" which has been filed electronically by means of the Canadian Securities Administrators' website located at www.sedar.com. The Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

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Contacts:

Lydian International Ltd.
Lucy Fowler, Investor Relations Manager
+44 (0)1534 715472 / +44 (0)7797 738777
info@lydianinternational.co.uk
www.lydianinternational.co.uk