Ark Mines Ltd. confirmed that it has identified a historical mineral resource estimate (MRE) based on the 2004 JORC code for its Gunnawarra Nickel Cobalt Project, North Queensland, and the recently completed 2,000 metre drill program will allow the Company to expand the scope of the resource and convert it to 2012 JORC status. Ark has been drilling in an area formally known as `the Pod'. On 21 August 2008, Metallica Minerals Limited reported an Inferred Resource for the Pod of 280,000 tonnes at 0.73% nickel (Ni) and 0.05% Cobalt (Co)1. Based on a review of Metallica's historical data by Ark's technical team, the Company has determined that Metallica only drilled to a depth of 32 metres, and of the 56 holes drilled, many were abandoned due to poor recovery.

It is likely that the type of drill rig Metallica used was not sufficiently equipped to drill the laterites and extend to the necessary depths. For its first phase drill program at Gunnawarra, Ark deployed a larger air rig with air boosting capability which was able to significantly expand the footprint of `the Pod', drill the areas of previous poor recovery which encountered mineralisation and to drill up to depths of 60 metres in the laterites, almost twice the depth from which the historical resource is defined. It is anticipated that the deposit is still open to the South East.

As previously reported, all assays have been dispatched to NAL in Pine Creek, with results expected in May.