Ariana Resources PLC (AIM:AAU) said drilling at Tavsan in Turkey had intercepted several high-grade intervals spanning more than 10 metres (m) in the deeper holes in some cases.
Nearly 9,000m have now been drilled in the current campaign at Tavsan, it added, with best results including 2.52 grammes per tonne (g/t) gold over 12m from a depth of 114m and 2.1g/t over 11m from 137m.
Some 2,147 assay results have been received to date, Ariana said, with 809 remaining samples pending analysis.
Mine construction is also advancing well, it said, with the first gold production expected at Tavsan during the second quarter of 2024.
Kerim Sener, managing director, commented: "The latest drilling results from the ongoing drilling programme at Tavsan continue to demonstrate scope for expanding the Resource.
"Further drilling is underway, and we will continue to test the strike and depth continuity of mineralisation, particularly in the North Zone and North Zone Extension. We anticipate that approximately a further 5,000m of drilling is planned.
"We are currently working on revisions to our geological model based on the new data, which will ultimately contribute to a revised Mineral Resource Estimate.
“This in turn will be used to update production and development plans during Q1 2024, and we remain on track for first gold from Tavsan during Q2 2024."