Ariana Resources (LON:AAU) has received a mining permit for a potential satellite deposit close to Kiziltepe in Turkey, where it is building its first mine with partner Proccea.
Kerim Sener, Ariana’s managing director, said the permit will enable it to complete trial mining at Kizilcukur and asses if it is a potentially mineable satellite resource.
“The identification of satellite resources to the Kiziltepe Mine is an important part of our strategy to extend the life of mine and to provide options within our mining schedule."
Kizilcukur is 22km northeast of Kiziltepe and Ariana said it may potentially be another source of ore for that mine.
The licence is 100% owned by Ariana, though it will pay a 2% net smelter royalty on commercial production.
The permit covers an area of 51 hectares and expires in 2022, with the possibility for extension, while land access and forestry permits are also already in place for exploration.
A JORC Inferred resource of 162,000 tonnes at 2.39 g/t gold and 48.5 g/t silver was established in 2013, but Ariana had been shallow drilling recently to test the near-surface potential along areas drilled previously
This work is now complete and sampling is ongoing.