Ariana Regulatory News (AAU)

21 Sep 2005 07:00

Ariana Resources PLC21 September 2005 21 September 2005AIM: AAU EXPLORATION UPDATE ON EASTERN TURKEY Ariana Resources plc ("Ariana" or "the Company"), the gold exploration companyfocused exclusively on Turkey, announces the commencement of initialreconnaissance exploration across its portfolio of licences in the Van Provinceof Eastern Turkey. * Exploration focused on several targets across 127km2 of licences in Eastern Turkey * Region considered prospective for epithermal gold and porphyry copper-gold deposits * Remote sensing programme continuing with new licence applications anticipated The initial reconnaissance programme consists of mapping, stream-sediment androck-chip sampling on several remote-sensing targets, which are up to 2km longand 1km wide, in order to prioritise areas for more detailed follow-upexploration. The generative exploration programme is continuing with the analysis ofadditional satellite-data (ASTER) scenes covering eastern and north easternTurkey being completed by NPA Group of the UK. Results from this programme arebeing integrated into the Company's proprietary in-house GIS data platform inorder to generate further targets. Licence applications will be made on thosetargets which exhibit characteristics of large and potentially mineralisedhydrothermal systems. Steven Poulton, Chief Executive, commented: "Eastern Turkey represents a new and prospective exploration frontier for thediscovery of world-class epithermal gold and porphyry copper-gold deposits. Withfirst mover advantage, Ariana has established a significant land holding over anumber of prospective remote-sensing anomalies. "Ariana continues to make progress, with the recently announced scoping study atthe Kiziltepe prospect and targets being defined for new licence applications inthe East of Turkey. Additionally, preparations are being made to commenceexploration at Kinik, one of many prospects within the Company's portfolio ofover 1,000 km2 of prospective licence areas." Contacts: Ariana Resources plcSteven Poulton, Chief Executive Tel: 01235 511 767s.j.poulton@arianaresources.com Mobile: 0797 408 6712 Bankside ConsultantsMichael Padley / Susan Scott Tel: 020 7367 8888 Editors' Note: About Eastern Turkey The Van region of Eastern Turkey has seen sustained economic growth in recentyears and is very supportive of inward investment. The terrain of the VanProvince is mountainous but with generally good road access. There is littlevegetation and snow cover is typical from November through to April. The geology of north eastern and eastern Turkey is dominated by the Pontidemetallogenic belt and the western extension of the Zagros metallogenic belt(ZMB) respectively. Both belts form part of the larger Tethyan metallogenicbelt, which is considered prospective for epithermal gold, porphyry-relatedcopper/gold and Carlin-style gold deposits. The ZMB hosts a number of significant deposits including, in neighbouring Iran,the 2.8 million ounce Zarshuran sediment-hosted gold deposit and the Sar Cheshmecopper porphyry deposit. About Ariana Ariana is a technology-driven exploration company focused on the discovery ofmulti-million ounce potential epithermal gold-silver and porphyry copper-golddeposits within the Tethyan metallogenic belt of Turkey. The Company has aportfolio of prospective licences covering over 1,000km2, selected on the basisof its advanced in-house remote sensing database. Ariana's nominated broker isAmbrian Partners Limited and Beaumont Cornish Limited is nominated adviser. Mike Etheridge, BSc (Hons), PhD, is a non-executive director of the Company andis a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists. He has over 30 years'experience in geological research and mineral consultancy and served as aDirector of SRK Global from 1978-2001 and as Chairman (SRK Australasia) from1998-2004. He is a Competent Person with respect to the technical disclosure inthis regulatory announcement, which he has read and approved. For further information on Ariana you are invited to visit the Company's websiteat www.arianaresources.com. Ends This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange