Lydian Improves Crusher Design to Help Cost Reductions and Reduce Mining Footprint at Amulsar Gold Project Armenia

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Dec. 17, 2012) - Lydian International Ltd. (TSX:LYD) ("Lydian" or "the Company"), a gold-focused mineral exploration and development company, today announced that a crushing circuit trade off study has been completed to improve previous design studies carried out in the Feasibility Study (see press release September 7, 2012) and to look at alternative scenario's in which a larger and single crusher scenario may have advantages. Amulsar is a feasibility level high-sulfidation style, heap-leach gold project with reported CIM compliant Proven and Probable reserves of 2.29M Oz Gold at 0.8 g/t and 9.98M Oz Silver at 3.3 g/t and a resource of 0.2M Oz Gold at 1.0 g/t in Measured and Indicated category and 1.1M Oz Gold at 0.9 g/t in Inferred category.

Lydian has decided to examine an alternative option of utilizing a processing rate of 10 Mtpa from the commencement of operations as the base case production scenario. For this SNC-Lavalin was commissioned to conduct a crushing circuit trade-off study to evaluate the capital cost implications of constructing a single gyratory crusher as opposed to twin jaw crushers installed in phases as modeled in the original feasibility study released in September 2012.

Ten different crushing and screening plant configurations were assessed and compared. The options study examined various sizes and numbers of equipment used in each of the three crushing and associated screening stages. A preferred configuration consisting of one primary gyratory crusher, two secondary double-deck screens, two secondary cone crushers, three tertiary double-deck screens and three tertiary cone crushers was selected.

The advantages of the revised crushing circuit include:

An increased maximum feed size to the primary crusher (gyratory) now 1260mm as opposed to 700mm previously, reducing cost and downtime associated with handling oversize material on the ROM stockpile.

An increase in maximum throughput, now 1800tph as compared to 1565tph which ensures a robust plant with suitable catch up and sprint capability to be able to provide flexibility during the winter weather conditions, making more certain a consistent annual production rate of 10 Mtpa.

Construction and commissioning is completed at the outset of the project with no interruptions in Year 3 of the mine to facilitate installation of the second phase of the crushing circuit, known as the ramp-up period.

A more compact footprint resulting in reduced time and cost associated with foundation preparation for construction.

Estimates completed to feasibility level (+/-15%) including contingency indicate that this crushing circuit will be cost neutral in comparison to that proposed in the feasibility study, while providing increased capacity and significant operational benefits.

Lydian intends to refine this design over the coming months in conjunction with updates to the resource model. Further cost reductions may be achievable once the final crusher location is determined as site civil works including excavation and back fill may not be as intensive as previously envisaged.

The information in this news release was compiled and reviewed by Dr Tim Coughlin, BSc (Geology), MSC (Exploration and Mining), PhD (Structural Geology), FAusIMM; CEO and President of Lydian International Ltd and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

Lydian employees are instructed to follow standard operating and quality assurance procedures intended to ensure that all sampling techniques and sample results meet international reporting standards. Drill core is cut on-site and rock-chips are split to ensure representative sampling. Half core and remaining rock-chips are stored on-site. On-site personnel log and track all samples prior to sealing and shipping. Quality control is monitored by the insertion of blind certified standard reference materials and blanks into each sample shipment. All resource sample shipments are sealed and shipped to ALS Chemex, an independent third party. All assay work for the released results was carried out by ALS Chemex at its analytical laboratory in Rosia Montana, Romania. ALS Chemex's quality system complies with the requirements for the International Standards ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 17025:1999. Analytical accuracy and precision are monitored by the analysis of reagent blanks, reference material and replicate samples. More information can be found on Lydian's web site at www.lydianinternational.co.uk.

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.