Mariana Resources (LON:MARL) released its maiden mineral resource estimate for the Hot Maden gold-copper project in eastern Turkey.
Hot Maden is estimated to contain 4.71mln tonnes of ore grading 10 grams per tonne and 2% copper, for a gold equivalent grade of 13.4 grams and a total indicated resource of just over 2mln ounces.
It was just one of a number of important milestones reached by companies in the mining sector this week.
In production news, Orosur Mining (LON:OMI, TSE:OMI) produced 53,485 ounces of gold during the year to 31st May, smack in the middle of the guidance given of 50,000-to-55,000 ounces.
During the period the company managed to cut central costs to US$2.9mln, down 17% on the year and down 45% over the past two years.
Meanwhile, Canada-based miner Rambler Metals & Mining (LON:RMM, CVE:RAB) has completed its 11th shipment of high grade copper concentrate from its port facility in Newfoundland.
Around 5,250 wet metric tonnes (wmt) of copper and gold concentrate was shipped from Goodyear's Cove in Newfoundland, it said.
Elsewhere, SolGold's (LON:SOLG) 12th hole at the Cascabel copper gold project has exhibited encouraging visible copper mineralisation, which increased with depth, the firm said as it updated on progress.
The hole is now at 647.6 metres and drilling continues at the hole in the Alpala central zone- one of three porphyry targets the firm has identified along the Alpala structural zone.
Sunrise Resources (LON:SRES) will start drilling on its Bay State silver project in Nevada next week, after it signed a contract with Boart Longyear to undertake the work.
Given that access to the drilling sites has already been secured and drill pads put in place, the drilling itself is scheduled to start first thing Monday 24th August.
As Sunrise began drilling, Aureus Mining (LON:AUE, TSE:AEU) held a ceremonial opening and first gold pour at its New Liberty mine in Liberia.
The ceremony was attended by the President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and the minister for Lands, Mines and Energy, Patrick Sendolo.
In other news, Rare Earth Minerals (LON:REM) marked another milestone at the Yangibana project in Australia - the granting of a mining lease.
REM bought a 30% free carried interest to bankable feasibility study in the project four years ago and its partner with 70% is owner and operator Hastings Rare Metals (ASX:HAS).
Asiamet Resources (LON:ARS), formerly Kalimantan Gold, has provisionally agreed amendments with the Indonesian government to the contract of work (CoW) covering its KSK copper project.
After a period of negotiation, Asiamet has now signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Government of the Republic of Indonesia (GOI), and items contained within the MOU will be incorporated as an amendment to the CoW.
In finance news, Sula Iron & Gold (LON:SULA) has raised around £400,000 to fund an initial drilling programme at its Ferensola project in Sierra Leone.
Directors backed the move, with chief executive Nick Warrell and Howard Baker agreeing to subscribe £12,500 and £12,000 for 2.08mln and 2mln new shares respectively.
Finally, Sirius Minerals (LON:SXX) said a customer for its nutrient-rich polyhalite fertiliser has tripled its order.
The unnamed Fortune 500 company now wants 1.5mln tonnes of the material a year when the York Potash Mine opens.
The supply contract is for an initial seven years, which reveals a long-term commitment to Sirius and its product. And there is the option for two additional five year periods.