First Drill Results From The Hudson Zone at Acadian's Fifteen Mile Stream Project Return Wide Mineralized Intervals

HALIFAX, Dec. 15, 2011 /CNW/ - Acadian Mining Corporation ("Acadian" or the "Company") (TSX: ADA) is pleased to provide assay results for the first 3 holes (FS11-131 to 133) drilled at the Hudson Zone, as part of the recently completed diamond drilling program at its wholly-owned Fifteen Mile Stream gold project in Nova Scotia, Canada. Significant results for these drill holes are presented in Table 1 below.

In addition, results for 5 drill holes (FS85-18 to 22) completed at the Hudson Zone in 1985 are presented in Table 2. These results include data from the sampling conducted in 1985, as well as sampling of previously un-sampled intervals by Acadian in 2010; see press releases dated March 4, March 17 and April 14, 2010.

The results of the current drilling and sampling of drill holes completed in 1985 confirms the presence of wide mineralized intervals at the Hudson Zone that compare with mineralized intervals in the Egerton-McLean Zone (Main Zone), located 700 metres to the east where a resource estimate has been established. The goal of the current program at the Hudson Zone is to produce sufficient data to enable completion of the first resource estimate for this zone.


Highlights:

- The Fifteen Mile Stream drill program included 29 holes for a total of 3,732 metres. The first 20 drill holes targeted the Main Zone; one hole was an exploration hole north-east of the Main Zone; and eight holes were drilled at the Hudson Zone located approximately 700 metres to the west. Results are pending for 1 hole (FS11-125) from the Main Zone, and 5 holes (FS11-134 to 138) from the Hudson Zone.

- The presence of the mineralized stratigraphy found in the Main Zone, which has previously been traced to the Hudson Zone, has now been confirmed by the current drilling.

- Initial results from the Hudson Zone confirm the presence of wide mineralized intervals with similar grades, as those encountered in the Main Zone:

-- 1.27 g/T over 57.8 metres in hole FS11-131; 2.8 g/T over 28 metres in hole FS11-132; 4.58 g/T over 16.5 metres in hole FS11-133.

- Prior to the current drill program, no resource estimate has been determined for the Hudson Zone. It is anticipated that sufficient data will exist to conduct the first resource estimate following completion of the current program.

- An extensive strike length measuring over 3 kilometres has been identified as having potential to host mineralization in the immediate Fifteen Mile Stream area; the current drill program tested only a small portion of this prospective region.

- Mineralized intervals at the Main and Hudson Zones are characterized by coarse gold within quartz veins and auriferous wall rock, with significant widths of continuous mineralization that support potential bulk mineable open pit resources.

- A phase two drilling program is being planned for 2012 that would include a significant infill and step-out drilling campaign, and focus on 1.) improving the classification of mineralization to the indicated status, and thus enable scoping and feasibility studies to be conducted; and 2.) testing new targets and continuing to explore the extensive area identified as having potential to host mineralization.


Table 1: Results for Drill Holes FS11-131 through FS11-133

Drill Hole 	From (m) 	To (m) 	Interval (m)** 	Gold Grade (g/T)
FS11-131 	6.50 	16.00 	9.500 	0.03
  	16.00 	47.90 	31.90 	1.81
including 	24.30 	24.70 	0.40 	39.9
and 	30.75 	47.90 	17.15 	2.12
  	47.90 	60.65 	12.75 	0.05
  	60.65 	61.60 	0.95 	3.90
  	61.60 	67.30 	5.70 	0.03
  	67.30 	73.80 	6.50 	1.65
  	73.80 	99.20 	25.40 	0.07
composite 	16.00 	73.80 	57.80 	1.27
FS11-132 	4.00 	26.80 	22.80 	0.04
  	26.80 	27.20 	0.40 	23.40
  	27.20 	55.00 	27.80 	0.03
  	55.00 	83.00 	28.00 	2.80
including 	56.55 	56.90 	0.35 	100.00*
and 	63.35 	63.95 	0.60 	20.20
  	83.00 	98.35 	15.35 	0.03
  	98.35 	103.55 	5.20 	1.26
  	103.55 	152.00 	48.45 	0.04
  	  	  	  	*cut value; uncut
value 128.5 g/T
FS11-133 	16.00 	32.50 	16.50 	4.58
including 	16.00 	17.40 	1.40 	50.60
  	32.50 	34.00 	1.50 	void
  	34.00 	42.50 	8.50 	0.18
  	42.50 	72.70 	30.20 	0.66
including 	45.20 	46.83 	4.33 	1.53
and 	67.65 	72.70 	5.05 	1.03
  	72.70 	100.00 	27.30 	0.40

** Due to the fact that the drill holes intersected folded mineralized stratigraphy, the true width of the intervals varies within a drill hole. Refer to cross sections and a plan map on Acadian's website for further information.

Drill hole descriptions: Hole FS11-130 was an exploration hole drilled north-east of the Main Zone. This hole did not intersect any mineralized intervals and was not sampled. Holes FS11-131 and 132 are located on section 12400, and hole FS11-133 is located on section 12350. All three holes cut the hinge zone and both limbs of the fold, and intersect the mineralized stratigraphy.


Table 2: Results for drill holes FS85-18 through FS85-22 that were completed in 1985; includes data from original sampling and infill sampling by Acadian in 2010.

Drill Hole 	From (m) 	To (m) 	Interval (m)** 	Gold Grade (g/T)
FS85-18 	3.66 	15.58 	11.92 	9.08
Including 	6.10 	6.28 	0.18 	100.00*
and 	9.88 	9.97 	0.09 	52.11
  	15.58 	43.27 	27.69 	0.15
  	43.27 	60.45 	17.18 	1.04
including 	53.88 	60.45 	6.57 	2.41
  	60.45 	152.40 	91.95 	0.08
including 	102.90 	103.08 	0.18 	22.63
  	  	  	  	*cut value; uncut
value 711 g/T
FS85-19 	6.10 	9.14 	3.04 	0.67
  	9.14 	39.37 	30.23 	0.02
  	39.37 	70.82 	31.45 	1.42
  	70.82 	90.53 	19.71 	0.03
FS85-20 	4.57 	27.25 	22.68 	0.40
  	27.25 	41.90 	14.65 	0.02
  	41.90 	41.93 	0.03 	883.54 (uncut)
  	41.93 	54.86 	12.93 	0.05
  	54.86 	76.20 	21.34 	0.63
including 	65.56 	75.59 	10.03 	0.94
and 	69.19 	69.22 	0.03 	49.03
FS85-21 	3.00 	12.90 	9.90 	0.04
  	12.90 	21.03 	8.13 	1.06
  	21.03 	48.61 	27.58 	0.08
  	48.61 	62.21 	13.60 	2.05
including 	56.85 	57.45 	0.61 	20.71
  	62.21 	73.20 	10.99 	0.03
FS85-22 	4.57 	39.01 	34.44 	0.05
  	39.01 	39.08 	0.07 	65.14
  	39.08 	47.73 	8.65 	0.03
  	47.73 	47.76 	0.03 	404.57 (uncut)
  	47.76 	58.09 	10.33 	0.04
  	58.09 	76.20 	18.11 	0.82

** Due to the fact that the drill holes intersected folded mineralized stratigraphy, the true width of the intervals varies within a drill hole.

Drill hole FS85-18 and FS85-20 are located on section 12450, FS85-19 is on section 12425, FS85-21 is on section 12475, and FS85-22 is located on section 12500.


Reporting Protocols

For the purpose of reporting, grades used to calculate composites for the current drill program are capped at 100 g/T gold. This cap grade was arbitrarily chosen and will be used for this drill program until all assays are completed and geostatistics can be used to establish an appropriate top cap grade. In order to properly disclose grades which may bias composites, any sample which returns >20.0 g/T is reported separately below the interval which contains it. Voids reflecting underground workings were assigned a zero grade.


Analytical techniques and sampling protocols

All samples from the current program have been prepared and assayed using the Screen Fire Assay Method (Screen Metallics Gold, Double Minus) at ALS Chemex. General details of the Screen Fire Assay Method can be found on the ALS Chemex website and the Acadian website; however we note that in contrast to the usual 1000 g sample, a full metallic screen of the entire pulverized sample was performed for the Acadian samples. Additional details on sampling protocols, including QA/QC, are also available on the Acadian website. (refer to Responsibilities section under the Corporate Tab).


Qualified Person

Richard Horne, M.Sc., P.Geo., Chief Geologist of Acadian, is a Qualified Person as that term is defined in National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release.


Forward Looking Statement

Certain information regarding Acadian contained herein may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements may include estimates, plans, expectations, opinions, forecasts, projections, guidance, or other statements that are not statements of fact. Although Acadian believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Acadian cautions that actual performance will be affected by a number of factors, many of which are beyond Acadian's control, and that future events and results may vary substantially from what Acadian currently foresees. Discussion of the various factors that may affect future results is contained in Acadian's Annual Information Form dated March 31, 2011, which is available at www.SEDAR.com. Acadian's forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.


About the Corporation

Acadian is a Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada based company with five advanced gold projects, all of which host National Instrument 43-101 compliant resources. The Corporation also owns barite properties on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. Acadian's primary focus is centered on exploration and development of its core gold deposits in Atlantic Canada, namely the Fifteen Mile Stream and Beaver Dam Projects.

For additional information on Acadian's properties and activities, please visit our web site at: www.acadianmining.com.

No regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the contents of this news release.



For further information:

Grant Ewing, President and Chief Executive Officer
(902) 444-7779 or Toll Free: (877) 444-7774
mail@acadianmining.com
Halifax, Nova Scotia