Ariana Resources PLC (AIM:AAU) has started infill and extension drilling at the Kizilcukur project in the Kiziltepe sector in Turkey after a recent airborne magnetic survey.
New potential gold mineralisation zones were identified along strike of the known veins through the survey and by analysing the historical core.
Kerim Sener, Ariana’s managing director, said up to 3,000 metres of drilling is planned via the step-by-step programme.
“Ultimately, we expect to define a high-grade reserve at this satellite project capable of being mined by open-pit methods and then trucked to the Kiziltepe processing plant.
“The current global Mineral Resource Estimate across measured, indicated and inferred categories is c. 21,100 oz gold (Au) and 0.62 Moz silver (Ag) contained metal across three main veins at an overall average grade of about 2.6 g/t Au and 75 g/t Ag.
“The new drilling programme has been designed to provide further confidence to the resource prior to conversion to a reserve, in addition to testing certain vein extensions."
Kiziltepe is 23.5% owned by Ariana in partnership with local groups Zenit, Proccea Construction and Ozaltin Holding.