Elissa Resources Commences Drilling at Thor Rare Earth Project, Nevada  

Vancouver, Canada, January 11, 2012 - Elissa Resources (�Elissa� or the �Company�) (OTCQX-ELSRF, TSX.V-ELI) reports that drilling has commenced at its 100%- owned Thor heavy and light rare earth element (REE) project in Nevada. Multiple Diamond core drill holes will initially target the Lopez Trend, a 1.6-mile (2.6-km) long REE-bearing monazite structure that is coincident with a prominent magnetic anomaly.  

�The commencement of drilling at Thor is a significant milestone for the Company and the Lopez Trend is the largest zone defined at Thor to date,� said Paul McKenzie, President and CEO of Elissa Resources. �Thor has strong surface representations of nine heavy and five light rare earth elements, which correspond with strong magnetic anomalies defined by both airborne and ground geophysics.�

The Thor Project is represented at surface in nine heavy rare earth elements and five light rare earth elements including dysprosium, neodymium, yttrium and terbium in addition to lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, samarium, gadolinium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, and lutetium grading from anomalous to 10.6% (12.75% rare earth oxide). These strong surface representations of both heavy and light rare earths correspond with prominent magnetic anomalies defined by both a district-scale airborne magnetic geophysical survey and a detailed follow-up ground magnetic geophysical survey.

Thor has REE discoveries in at least nine widely separate prospect localities within three distinct and sizeable discovery zones. The property is located in southern Nevada, approximately 47 miles (76 km) south of Las Vegas and is 16 miles (28 km) east of Molycorp Minerals' (NYSE: MCP) Mountain Pass REE mine and processing facilities in the neighbouring state of California. A minimum of 5,000 ft (1,500 m) will be drilled in this first phase drill program. The Company anticipates completion of the planned drilling program in Q1-2012.

The technical information outlined in this news release, has been reviewed and approved by Mel Klohn, PGeo, Director of Elissa Resources, and a Qualified Person as defined in the current National Instrument 43-101

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About Elissa Resources Ltd.

Elissa Resources is advancing its 100%-owned Thor heavy and light rare earth element (REE) project in Nevada, 16 miles (28 km) east of Molycorp Minerals� Mountain Pass REE deposit and processing facility, California. Elissa also owns a 100% interest in the Ulysses Project located in eastern Idaho and south-western Montana, U.S.A., and has an option to earn a 100% interest on both the Sage Creek (Idaho) and St. Elmo (Nevada) gold projects.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Further Information:  Tel: +1 604 662 3692 Fax: +1 604 642 2929 info@elissaresources.com or visit www.elissaresources.com 2060 � 777 Hornby Street, Vancouver, B.C., Canada, V6Z 1T7

�Paul McKenzie�

President & CEO