Ariana Resources PLC (AIM:AAU, ASX:AA2) has reported initial assay results from exploration drilling at its Dokwe Gold Project in Zimbabwe, revealing more encouraging data for the emerging gold project.
The results, from ongoing reverse circulation drilling, mark "a positive end to a big year for Ariana", according to managing director Dr Kerim Sener.
"We believe that Dokwe has the potential to increase in scale, and less than two months into our first exploration drilling campaign, we have shown that the Dokwe Central deposit is richly mineralised for a considerable distance beyond the current resource envelope.
"Other drilling undertaken in the vicinity has also confirmed our understanding of the geology, and we await further drilling results to determine the potential for further extensions."
The drill result, from hole DRC9, intersected mineralisation beyond the current Dokwe Central resource envelope with intercepts including 14 metres at 2.17 grams per tonne gold from 220 metres, including 6 metres at 4.5 grams per tonne.
Operations at Dokwe now pause for the year-end, to resume in early 2026.
"The year-end camp closure allows time for the team to consider the data acquired from this drilling programme to date and to complete plans for further drilling to support the feasibility programme, both RC and diamond, in the year ahead. From early next year, we expect to be undertaking more exploratory drilling with the RC rig, in addition to diamond drilling, which will be focused on obtaining suitable material for detailed metallurgical testwork," Sener added.