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(Sharecast News) - Europe-focussed mineral exploration and development company Ariana Resources announced a drilling and resource update for the Kepez North area of the Kiziltepe Sector on Wednesday.
The AIM-traded firm said Kepez North is part of the Zenit joint venture with Proccea Construction and Ozaltin Holding, being 23.5% owned by Ariana.
It said the resource contained around 36,400 ounces of gold and 329,400 ounces of silver, making for a 97% increase in contained gold ounces over the previous resource estimate in 2020, and a 310% increase over the feasibility study resource in 2013.
The company reported a "significant" positive increase in the average grade, to 7.14 grams of gold and 64.65 grams of silver per tonne.
It also said the resource's classification was "substantially improved", to about 86% measured and 14% indicated.
A new pit optimisation study was now complete, and the area was being advanced through further permitting.
"This is a great outcome from the recent drilling undertaken in the Kepez area," said managing director Dr Kerim Sener.
"We remain highly encouraged by this area as a potential source of very high-grade mineralisation, which can complement the mill-feed of the Kiziltepe processing plant, which is located only 14 kilometres away by road."
Dr Sener said that, based on the significant increase in the resource at Kepez and the potential for identifying further extensions of the high-grade mineralisation down plunge, the joint venture had taken the decision to bring the drill rig back to the area to complete further drilling.
"This work, in addition to further mining studies and associated permitting, is being expedited in order to bring this area forward in the mining schedule.
"Importantly, the geometry of the mineralisation lends itself well to near complete resource extraction."
At 1423 BST, shares in Ariana Resources were down 0.52% at 4.83p.
9 May 2024 16:33
IN BRIEF: Ariana Resources gets Dokwe revised pre-feasibility study
Ariana Resources PLC - Precious metals exploration company focused on the Eurasian Tethyan metallogenic belt - Gets revised pre-feasibility study for the Dokwe project in Zimbabwe. Says Dokwe PFS shows post-tax net present value of USD160 million and a 13-year mine life at 60,000 ounces of gold per year. Dokwe project is part of Rockover acquisition, it adds. Managing Director Kerim Sener says: "This substantial update to the Dokwe Project PFS further underscores our assessment that the project represents a major value-accretive opportunity for the proposed enlarged Company once we complete our merger with Rockover. Notably, the revised PFS only includes the Dokwe North area and there is significant scope to enhance the economics further if Dokwe Central is included...We anticipate positive developments through further project optimisation studies of the Dokwe project, which require ongoing assessment, along with similar studies being undertaken across the rest of our project portfolio."
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