Ariana Regulatory News (AAU)

27 Apr 2006 08:30

Ariana Resources PLC27 April 2006 27 April 2006AIM: AAU KEPEZ: NEW GOLD ZONE DISCOVERY Ariana Resources plc ("Ariana" or "the Company"), the gold exploration companyfocused exclusively on Turkey, announces the discovery of a significant zone ofhigh grade (up to 9.7 g/t) gold mineralisation at its Kepez prospect withinAriana's 100% owned Sindirgi project in western Turkey. Kepez is one of fiveidentified prospects within the 224 km2 licence area. Highlights: •New gold-bearing silicified zones up to 50m wide discovered at the Kepez prospect •Peak rock-chip grades of 9.77 g/t Au and 68.1 g/t Ag •Peak rock-chip grades in a newly identified stockwork zone of 9.73 g/t and 3.56 g/t Au New Gold Zone, Kepez Prospect In April 2006, a field team from Ariana's Turkish operating subsidiary, GalataMadencilik San. ve Tic. Ltd. Sti. ("Galata") completed a programme ofreconnaissance rock-chip sampling and mapping over the Umurlar target within theKepez prospect area. Kepez hosts over 2.5km of mapped quartz veins including theKarakaya Vein, approximately 1.5km south of Umurlar, where the Company recentlyannounced (February 2006) significant channel sample intersections, including8.68 g/t Au over 16m. Rock-chip samples were collected from three silicified bodies (quartzstockworks, breccias and veins) outcropping at surface for up to 150 metres inlength, discontinuously along a total strike length of 1km and within a zone upto 50m wide. Sampling has defined the presence of gold and silver mineralisationat Umurlar, with peak grades of 9.77 g/t Au from a previously mapped area and9.73 g/t Au (including 68.1 g/t Ag) as well as 3.56 g/t Au from a newlyidentified quartz stockwork zone. The silicified nature of these areas indicateformation at a high level in the hydrothermal system and the results highlightfurther potential at depth, where grades may be expected to increase. Mappingand systematic surface sampling will be undertaken to define targets for futuredrill testing. We have recently announced the discovery of a major gold zone within theKiziltepe prospect, which is one of five identified to date within the Sindirgiproject area. Steven Poulton, Chief Executive, commented: "This is the second major announcement within a week. Our team working atKiziltepe have confirmed a significant new gold zone and we now have the returnof consistent good grades over these silicified bodies at Umurlar within theKepez prospect, which is very encouraging. With over 45km of gold-silver bearingepithermal quartz veins from only 50% of the 224 km2 Sindirgi project area, andwith new zones constantly being located, Ariana's strategy has been to definemultiple priority drill targets for resource definition. Our systematic approachis paying dividends as the considerable potential for the project area becomesincreasingly clear". Contacts: Ariana Resources plcSteven Poulton, Chief Executive Tel: 01235 511 767s.j.poulton@arianaresources.cominfo@arianaresources.com Mobile: 0797 408 6712 Bankside ConsultantsMichael Padley / Susan Scott Tel: 020 7367 8888 Editors note: About the Sindirgi Gold Project The Sindirgi gold project covers an area of 224 km2 in Balikesir Province,western Turkey. To date at least five target areas have been defined by Ariana,which include the prospects of Kiziltepe, Kepez, Karaduz, Kavakliduz andKizilcukur. Previous operators have defined over 45km of low sulphidation quartzveins on the project. Sindirgi lies approximately 100km east of the one millionounce vein-hosted Ovacik gold mine and 115km northwest of the five million ounceKisladag gold mine. Ariana acquired the Sindirgi gold project from NewmontMining Corporation (NYSE & ASX: NEM; TSX: NMC) in March 2005. Newmont retainsthe right to a royalty of up to 2.5% on future gold production from the Sindirgigold project. About the Kepez Prospect The Kepez prospect lies within a 36km2 ten-year renewable operating licencewithin the Sindirgi gold project which also contains the Kiziltepe prospect. Kepez hosts over 2.5km in strike length of gold-silver bearing low-sulphidationepithermal quartz veins, across an area of at least 2km by 1km. Individual veinsare exposed for up to 850m and widths vary between 1m and 25m. The main veintrends northward, dips to the west at 50 degrees and is hosted along the contactbetween Miocene age andesitic volcanic rocks and Cretaceous ophiolitic units.Channel sampling by Ariana (previously reported in February 2006) returned abest intersect of 8.68 g/t Au over 16m. Sampling and Assaying Procedures The Umurlar programme at Kepez consisted of the collection of 28 reconnaissancerock chip samples. Of these 19 samples returned grades less than 0.5 g/t Au (67%of the total), 3 samples between 0.5-1 g/t Au (11% of total), 3 between 1-5 g/tAu (11% of total) and 3 samples assayed above 5 g/t Au (11% of total), with apeak grade of 9.77 g/t Au. All samples have been prepared by the ALS Chemex preparation facility in Izmirand assayed by fire assay at the ALS Chemex laboratory in Vancouver. Regularstandard and blank samples are being used in the sample sequence in line withthe Company's quality control procedures. Dr Kerim Sener, BSc (Hons), MSc, PhD, is Ariana's Exploration Director. Agraduate of the University of Southampton in Geology, he also holds a Master'sdegree from the Royal School of Mines (Imperial College, London) in MineralExploration and a doctorate from the University of Western Australia. He is aFellow of The Geological Society of London and has worked in geological researchand mineral consultancy in Southern Africa and the Northern Territory ofAustralia. He has read and approved the technical disclosure in this regulatoryannouncement. About Ariana Resources 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 approximately 1,000km2, selected onthe basis of its advanced in-house remote sensing database. Ariana's broker isAmbrian Partners Limited and Beaumont Cornish Limited is the Company's nominatedadviser. 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