LYDIAN INTERSECTS 125m AT 1.6g/t GOLD (INCLUDING 31m AT 4.4g/t GOLD) IN BEST INTERSECTION YET FROM AMULSAR GOLD DISCOVERY IN ARMENIA  

Step-out drilling commences on targets located some 1.5km to the northwest and southeast of the current drilling grid  

TORONTO, Canada, October 1st, 2008 – Lydian International Ltd. (TSX:LYD), a diversified U.K. mineral exploration and development company, today announced  results from further drilling at its Amulsar gold discovery in Armenia.  Results from a further 18 combined diamond and reverse circulation drill holes have been returned (Table 1, Appendix).  Best results include:  

• RCA-028, 125m at 1.6/gt gold (including 31m at 4.4g/t gold),  

• RCA-030, 122m at 1.0g/t gold (including 38m at 2.6g/t gold),

• DDA-015,  83m at 1.0g/t gold.   

Drill hole locations with projections of gold-grade to surface relative to rock-chip geochemistry are provided in Figure 1 in Appendix and an interpretative cross-section illustrating the probable controls on gold mineralisation is provide in Figure 2 in Appendix.  

“These results confirm the depth extent of mineralisation at Amulsar and provide further evidence of higher-grade pods which are favourable from a mine-planning perspective,” said Tim Coughlin, Lydian’s President and CEO.  “Step-out drilling on targets to the north and south of the current drill-grid has commenced enabling us to assess the full size potential of the Amulsar system before the winter sets in”  

Amulsar is a high-sulphidation type epithermal gold project located in central Armenia.  Lydian identified the gold bearing potential of the project in mid-2006, started initial drilling in 2007, and currently is conducting a 20,000m drill program to test the bulk tonnage potential and confirm a gold resource.  The Amulsar license is 95% owned by Lydian’s wholly owned Armenian subsidiary (Geoteam CJSC).  The project is currently being explored as part of a 50/50 joint venture with Newmont Overseas Exploration Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Newmont Mining Corporation (NYSE:NEM).

About Lydian International  

Lydian is a diversified U.K. mineral exploration and development company, with expertise employing “first mover” strategies in emerging exploration environments. Currently the Company is focused on Eastern Europe developing advanced precious and base metal assets in Armenia and in Kosovo.  The two main projects are gold at Amulsar in Armenia, and zinc, lead, silver and gold at Drazhnje in Kosovo.  Lydian also has a pipeline of promising gold and base metal exploration projects in the Balkans region, and operates a 50/50 gold and copper exploration joint venture with Newmont Overseas Exploration Limited, a subsidiary of Newmont Mining Corporation in the Caucasus region.  

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 two largest shareholders are Newmont Mineral Holdings B.V. (owned by Newmont Mining Corporation), and International Finance Corporation (part of the World Bank Group).  More information can be found on Lydian’s web site at www.lydianinternational.co.uk.   

Dr Tim Coughlin, MAusIMM; is the Qualified Person overseeing Lydian's exploration programmes. Dr. Coughlin has supervised the preparation of the technical information contained in this press release.  

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. All assay work for the released results was carried out by ALS Chemex analytical laboratory in Rosia Montana, Romania, in Perth Australia, or in Vancouver, BC. Please see Lydian’s web site for more information.   

For more information, please contact:

Tim Coughlin                                
President and CEO              
+44 7717 204300                                  
tim.coughlin@lydianinternational.co.uk  

Linda Montgomery VP Investor Relations
+416 214 4654
linda.montgomery@lydianinternational.co.uk  

Forward-looking Information  

Securities regulators encourage companies to disclose forward-looking information to help investors understand a company’s future prospects. This press release contains statements about our future financial condition, results of operations and business. These are “forward-looking” because we have used what we  know and expect today to make a statement about the future. Forward-looking statements usually include words such as may, expect, anticipate, believe or other similar words. We believe the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable. However, actual events and results could be  3substantially different because of the risks and uncertainties associated with our business or events that happen after the date of this press release. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. As a general policy, we do not update forward-looking statements except as required by securities laws and regulations.