Ariana Resources

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Ariana is an AIM-listed and PLUS-traded gold exploration and development company which aims to develop new gold mines in Turkey. Ariana is lead by an experienced board and is spearheaded by a focused Turkish management team. Current resources stand at approximately 400,000 ounces of gold in western Turkey, with two key projects under development: the high-grade Kiziltepe prospect and the heap-leachable Tavsan prospect. An exploration joint venture with European Goldfields (20% shareholders in Ariana) in northeastern Turkey is focused on the Ardala copper-gold porphyry and surrounding areas. Ariana holds a large and prospective licence portfolio from which a pipeline of new exploration targets is being generated for drill-testing utilizing an ‘in-house’ drilling team. Exploration and development success is being delivered via a strategy which integrates geoscientific knowledge and new technologies to identify and advance prospects for drill-testing. Ariana aims to develop a portfolio of licences in western Turkey which contain an aggregate of one million ounces of gold; a target which it is already on the way to achieving.

Website:
http://www.arianaresources.com/
Phone:
+44 (0)207 407 3616
Address:
Bridge House, London Bridge, London SE1 9QR.
Super Sector:
General Mining - Gold
Sector:
Mining
Industry:
Gold Mining
EPIC / Symbols:
LON:AAU

Sector: Mining

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Current Statement

 

Objective
Ariana's objective is to deliver shareholder value through the discovery of new gold deposits and the development of gold mines in Turkey.

The Company is committed to delivering value through a robust, cost-efficient and focused exploration and development strategy, which integrates geoscientific knowledge and new technologies to identify and advance and develop prospects rapidly.

Ariana is targeting the discovery of a multi-million ounce gold deposit in Turkey and intends to achieve this through a combination of acquisition, strategic partnership and full utilisation of its significant exploration expertise in Turkey.


Strategy
The Company has dedicated much of its exploration effort on the Western Anatolian Volcanic and Extensional (WAVE) Province in western Turkey. This province hosts the largest operating gold mines in Turkey and remains highly prospective for new porphyry and epithermal deposits.

Within this province Ariana has one advanced development project (Red Rabbit Project) and a further two advanced exploration projects (Ivrindi and Demirci). The region surrounding the projects is named the WAVE Project Area, with our base of operations at Sindirgi located strategically at its core. Current resources held by the Company in the WAVE Project Area stand at 401,000 oz.

In addition to containing our advanced projects, the Project Area encompasses the majority of our exploration tenements in western Turkey. The exploration and development risk to future gold resources in this region is reduced due to excellent infrastructure and established local mining operations.

Ariana envisages that an aggregate resource of 1Moz of gold can be achieved within the Project Area and our strategy is designed to build on our existing resource base via exploration and future acquisitions.

In parallel to our resource development and exploration strategy in western Turkey, Ariana has joint ventured its exploration portfolio in northeastern Turkey to European Goldfields Limited. The Company also continues to evaluate new opportunities elsewhere in Turkey for acquisition or joint venture.

 



History
Ariana Resources was established in 2002 for the purpose of exploring for, acquiring and developing economic gold deposits in Turkey. Since its formation, the company has compiled a substantial, proprietary geological database on Turkey, which it is employing to discover epithermal and porphyry-related gold deposits in the country. Turkey is an exceptional place to explore - it offers highly prospective and under-explored geology, a rapidly and positively evolving political landscape and an increasingly sophisticated investment climate.


Policy
Ariana considers that its primary responsibilities are to its stakeholders: its shareholders and employees, and the communities and environment in which it operates. More specifically, Ariana:

    * Adheres to sound corporate governance policies
    * Maintains a high standard of technical best-practice in its exploration and development activities, and adheres to international standards where applicable
    * Embraces a socially responsible and beneficial approach to health and safety, the environment and community support in its areas of operation
    * Recognises the importance of its employees and the need to attract and continue to challenge its exceptionally talented people

 

Current Operations

Why Turkey?
Native gold is found extensively in quartz veins in hydrothermally altered volcanic rocks throughout Turkey. Gold mining has played a major role in the history of Anatolia, evidence of which can be seen through shallow mine workings dating back centuries at many of the country's major gold deposits, including those at Kiziltepe. Despite this rich history in gold, the last century passed with limited investment in the sector, and as a result Turkey now represents one of the most important new exploration frontiers for gold in the world today. Ariana, having initiated its interest in the country in 2002, was one of the first companies to enter Turkey before this boom in activity. Not only have we maintained our first-mover advantage but we have also been integral to the development of the industry, due to our founder member status with the Turkish Gold Miner's Association.

Turkey lies within a globally significant metallogenic zone, the Tethyan Eurasian Metallogenic Belt (TEMB). The TEMB extends from south-east Europe, through Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan and through to the Himalayas, and hosts some of the worlds largest gold and copper deposits. Within Turkey the TEMB is subdivided into the Anatolide, Pontide and Tauride metallogenic provinces. Most gold deposits in the country are of the epithermal or porphyry-related types and occur primarily in the west, within the Anatolides and in the north east, within the Pontides. The majority of deposits are of Neogene age and are hosted by volcanic rocks.

 

Red Rabbit Project

Management Quote: "The Red Rabbit project is a single integrated project comprising Ariana's principal Kiziltepe and Tavsan prospects. Both Kiziltepe and Tavsan are located in a prolific mineralised district with Measured Indicated and Inferred resources of 401,000 oz Au. Following successful trial mining, and gold pour in 2009 the Company intends to fast track this project into production by 2012."

Refined Gold from Trial Mining at Kiziltepe In 2009 Ariana combined the Kiziltepe and Tavsan projects into a single integrated development project. The aim is to fast track Red Rabbit into production by 2012, following successful trial mining and feasibility study carried out in 2009.

Red Rabbit Project Highlights:

  • June 2009: First gold pour following trial mining at the Arzu South vein at Kiziltepe. A total of 5,177 tonnes of dry ore was processed with a total gold production of 387 ounces.
  • October 2009: MoU with Proccea Construction Co. to develop Red Rabbit. Proccea have made a $500,000 USD good-will payment to Ariana, currently held in escrow pending MoU completion. Proccea will fund $8m USD for an Environmental Impact Assesment (EIA), Feasibility Study and the development of the processing plant.
  • February 2010: Positive results from an economic scoping study on Kiziltepe show the potential for one central pit on Arzu South with satellite pits at Banu, Derya, Arzu North and Kepez. (READ MORE)

          o Mine life > five years
          o Cash cost US $350-400/oz
          o Production rate 150,000 tonnes/annum
          o In pit resource 1.4--1.7 million tonnes
          o In pit grade 3.5--4.5 g/t Au 50--70 g/t Ag
          o Au recovery ~90%
          o Ag recovery ~80%
          o Strip Ratio 8:1-12-1

 

Kiziltepe Sector

Management Quote: "The Kiziltepe Sector represents a prolific mineralised district in which we have identified 186,000 oz Au equiv and also has scope for further resource upside potential. Our objective is to begin mine development in this sector following a positive scoping study which indicated an estimated production rate of 150,000 t/pa over a mine life of 5+ years"

Kiziltepe Sector Summary
The Kiziltepe Sector contains 45km of quartz veins encompassing four principle prospects which are summarised below:

  • Kiziltepe - The deposit hosts over 20km in strike length of gold-silver bearing quartz veins across an area of at least 3km by 1km. Individual veins are exposed for up to 750m and widths vary between 1m and 14m A JORC-compliant mineral resource of 186,000 oz has been calculated on four of these veins (Arzu South, Arzu North, Banu & Derya). Following a revision to the geological model for the mineralisation ("vein" and "halo), and inferred resources at Kiziltepe, the Company is targeting a total resource of vein and halo mineralisation at a 1g/t Au cut-off as being between 1.4 Mt and 1.7 Mt at gold grades of 2.5 - 3.5 g/t and silver grades of 50 g/t -70 g/t.
  • Kepez - The prospect contains 3km of gold-silver bearing quartz veins across an area of at least 2km by 0.5km. Individual veins are exposed for up to 600m and widths vary between 2m and 25m. Three main vein systems have been defined by geological mapping, rock-saw channel and rock-chip sampling, the most important of which is the Karakaya Vein. The Karakaya Vein was sampled during a rock-saw channel sampling programme conducted along the vein outcrop in 2006. RAB drilling in 2009 demonstrated that the thickness of mineralised scree cover across the vein was 3m.
  • Karakavak - 15km of gold/silver-bearing quartz veins which have not yet been drilled by the Company. This prospect bears many similarities to Kiziltepe and there is scope for resource additions from this area. Some of these veins will be drilled when the drilling schedule permits.

Management has established a field office and staff housing facilities at Sindirgi to help focus efforts and to enable fast-track development of the project. Local support for the project is significant and the Company employs certain staff from the Sindirgi area.

Franco Nevada Corporation (TSX: FNV) retains the right to a royalty of up to 2.5% on future gold production from the Kiziltepe Sector. (READ MORE)


Tavsan Sector

Management Quote: "The Tavsan Sector presents an opportunity to develop a small-footprint, low-strip ratio, heap-leach gold mine. Current JORC compliant resources stand at 215,000 ounces gold equivalent."

Summary
The Tavsan Sector encompasses three principle prospects which are summarised below:

  • Tavsan - 4km of outcropping gold mineralised jasperoid containing an initial JORC resource of 215,000 oz Au equivalent.
  • Evciler - 2km of anomalous geochemistry associated with mineralised jasperoid, which has not been tested by drilling.
  • Caldibi - 2km of outcropping jasperoid which has not been tested by surface sampling or drilling.

Management has established a field office at the nearby town of Balikoy to help focus efforts and to enable efficient development of the project. Local support for the project is significant and the Company has employed support staff from Balikoy.

Teck Cominco Limited (NYSE & TSX: TCK) retains the right to a royalty of up to 2% on future gold production from the Tavsan Project. (READ MORE)

Managment

Michael Spriggs, BA (Hons) MA MSc - Chairman

Michael has 37 years' mining sector experience having graduated from Oxford University with a BA (Hons) in 1964 and an MA in 1968. He obtained an MSc in Geology and Mineral Sciences from the University of Leicester in 1969. He worked for a number of major mining groups, including Anglo American, Falconbridge and Rio Tinto. Michael spent 11 years with the mining team of the UK investment bank SG Warburg (now UBS) from 1986-97. He was appointed Head of the South African Mining Equities Research Team and was subsequently appointed Director of Corporate Finance. Between 1997 and 2004 he was a partner at College Hill, the UK public relations consultancy, as head of the Mining Team. He is presently a consultant to Lothbury Financial Services, the public relations consultancy. He is a Committee Member of the Association of UK Mining Analysts, a Member of The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining and is a Chartered Engineer. Michael serves on the Company's Audit Committee and is chairman of the Company's Remuneration Committee.
    
Kerim Sener, BSc (Hons) MSc DIC PhD - Managing Director

Kerim graduated from the University of Southampton with a first-class BSc (Hons) degree in Geology in 1997 and from the Royal School of Mines, Imperial College, with an MSc in Mineral Exploration in 1998. After working for Independence Gold Mining Pvt. Ltd. (Lonmin Zimbabwe) he completed a PhD at the University of Western Australia. During his PhD, in 2000-2003, he worked with ASX-listed Northern Gold NL in the Northern Territory and on a variety of exploration consultancy projects in Western Australia. In 2009, he completed his military service in Turkey. He is a Fellow of The Geological Society of London, Member of The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining, Member of the Chamber of Geological Engineers in Turkey and a member of the Society of Economic Geologists. He is a non-executive director of ASX-listed Genesis Resources Limited in Australia.
    
Michael de Villiers, B. Comm. MIOD Professional Accountant - Non-Executive Director and Company Secretary
Michael qualified as a Professional Accountant with Ernst & Young in Cape Town. Michael gained his experience as financial manager at mining and chemicals operations in Namibia, Botswana, Ghana, Bulgaria and the United Kingdom. He is currently Finance Director of AIM-listed Mercator Gold plc, Norseman Gold plc and is CFO of Eurasia Mining plc, and was previously the Finance Director of Oxus Gold plc and Navan Mining plc. Michael serves on the Company's Remuneration Committee and is chairman of the Audit Committee.

William Payne, BA (Hons) ACA - Non-Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer
William studied Accountancy at Exeter University before training and qualifying as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG in London. He left after 5 years there to become a partner in W H Payne and Co. in 1991. In 2003 he became a partner in top thirty accountancy practice Wilkins Kennedy at their London office. He has a wide diversity of clients, and roles range from audit and assurance to planning, reporting and compliance. He is head of the firm's Property and Construction Group, and is responsible for several outsourced accounts and administration functions. William is also a director of a number of companies, including a company listed on the London PLUS Markets.

Click here for information on Ariana's Management

Click here for information on Ariana's Staff

Corporate Information

Public Relations: Lothbury Financial
Website: http://www.lothburyfinancial.com/
Address: Mercury House, Triton Court
14 Finsbury Square
London
UK EC2A 1BR
Telephone: +44 (0) 207 011 9411
Fax: +44 (0) 207 011 9429
   
Nominated Adviser: Beaumont Cornish Limited
Website: http://www.beaumontcornish.co.uk/
Address: 2nd Floor, Bowman House
29 Wilson Street
London
UK EC2M 2SJ
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7628 3396
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7628 3393   
     
Brokers: Loeb Aron & Co. Limited
Website: http://www.loebaron.co.uk/
Address: Georgian House
63 Coleman Street
London
UK EC2R 5BB
Telephone: +44 (0) 207 628 1128
Fax: +44 (0) 207 638 0756   
     
Brokers: Alexander David Securities Limited
Website: http://www.ad-securities.com/
Address: 10 Finsbury Square
London
UK EC2A 1AD
Telephone: +44 (0) 0207 448 9820
Fax: +44 (0) 0207 256 9567
  
Registrars: Computershare Investor Services plc
Website: http://www-uk.computershare.com/
Address: PO Box 82
The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road
Bristol
UK BS99 7NH
Telephone: +44 (0) 870 703 0028
Fax: +44 (0) 870 703 6116

Contact Information

UK - Registered Office:
Ariana Resources plc
Bridge House
London Bridge
London
UK SE1 9QR
   
UK - Management Office:
Ariana Resources plc
Basepoint Crawley
Metcalf Way
Crawley, West Sussex
UK RH11 7XX
Telephone: +44 (0) 207 407 3616
Fax: +44 (0) 207 403 1605
   
Turkey - Registered Office:
Galata Madencilik San. ve Tic. Ltd. Sti.
AK Plaza
Yasam Cad. No:7/22
Sogutozu, Ankara
Turkey 06520
   
Turkey - Technical Office:
Galata Madencilik San. ve Tic. Ltd. Sti.
Farabi Sokak No: 7/5
Çankaya
Ankara
Turkey 06680
Telephone: +90 (0) 312 468 1365
Fax: +90 (0) 312 468 1385

Major Shareholders

Major shareholders (>3%) as of 26 May 2011

Shareholders

Shares (M)

%

Management

7.87

3.10

European Goldfields Limited

28.27

11.27

Bruce Rowan Esq

24.40

9.72

The Bank of New York Nominees Ltd

24.24

9.66

SF T1ps Smaller Companies Gold Fund

17.69

7.05

Starvest plc

15.06

6.00

TD Waterhouse Nominees Ltd

14.33

5.71

Barclayshare Nominees Ltd

12.76

5.08

JIM Nominees Ltd

10.20

4.07

LR Nominees Ltd

9.30

3.70

HSDL Nominees Ltd

7.73

3.08

Subtotal

171.85

68.44

Private / Other Institutions

79.07

32%

Total shares in issue

250.92

100 %

 

Updated from Ariana Resources website 14.09.11

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