EXPLORATION & DEVELOPMENT

Ariana ups Kepez gold resource by 270%

Ariana Resources (AIM:AAU) has increased its JORC gold resource estimate for the Kepez prospect at the 50%-owned Kiziltepe mine in Turkey by 270%.

Staff reporter
The Kepez prospect can potentially be mined as a series of satellite pits to Kiziltepe (pictured)

The Kepez prospect can potentially be mined as a series of satellite pits to Kiziltepe (pictured)

The updated global resource was 371,000 tonnes at 2g/t Au and 14g/t Ag for 23,900 ounces of gold and 164,300oz of silver, which was up from the previous gold estimate of 8,800oz.

The company said the prospect demonstrated the potential to be mined as a series of satellite pits to Kiziltepe, which is part of the wide Red Rabbit joint venture project with Proccea Construction.

It added that potential resource extensions were represented by a number of drill holes, including 9.6m at 3g/t gold and 119g/t silver, and 6m at 2.7g/t gold and 16g/t silver from near surface.

Ariana managing director Dr Kerim Sener said the resource update could potentially add at least a year of production from the satellite area and several months of high-grade production from Kepez North, which has an indicated resource of around 60,000t at 4.6g/t gold and 34.7g/t silver.

He added that this part of the resource had also shown good metallurgical characteristics from previous bulk test work.

"We envisage this area being developed as a series of shallow openpits, developed as satellites to the Kiziltepe mining operations, within short trucking distance from the processing plant.

"In addition, we believe there is scope to enhance this resource further and additional drilling is being planned by the joint venture accordingly. The proximity of this area to the Kiziltepe operations makes such satellite operations highly viable," he said.

Ariana was recently granted an extension on the environmental impact assessment for the Kepez North area and is currently carrying out the mining permit application process.

 

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the farming sector, brought to you by the Kondinin team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the farming sector, brought to you by the Kondinin team.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Investor Sentiment Report 2024

Survey revealing the plans, priorities, and preferences of 120+ mining investors and their expectations for the sector in 2024.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Mining Equities Report 2023

Access an exclusive, inside look on the quarterly mining IPOs and secondary raisings data and mining equities performance tables with an annual Stock Exchange Comparisons supplement.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence World Risk Report 2023 (feat. MineHutte ratings)

A detailed analysis of mining investment risks across 121 jurisdictions globally, built on 11 ‘hard risk’ metrics and an industrywide survey.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Global Leadership Report 2023: Social licence

Gain insights into social licence trends and best practices from interviews with 20+ top mining company executives and an industrywide survey.