Ariana Resources plc (LON:AAU) saw its shares jump higher on Wednesday as the group said it produced record amounts of gold from its Kiziltepe mine in Turkey in the three months to June as its ramp-up continued.
Kiziltepe, a joint venture with Turkish firm Procea, produced 7,171 ounces (4,866 oz), a 47% increase quarter-on-quarter.
READ: Ariana Resources continues to expect full-year gold production figures “to be in line with expectations”
Ariana said it is now looking to ‘deliver positively’ against its 2018 production guidance of 20,000 ounces.
Production was boosted by a rise in ore processed to 49,325 tonnes at an average head grade of 4.77 g/t gold, while 70,400 tonnes was mined at an average grade of 4.18 g/t gold.
Kerim Sener, managing director, said it was the mine’s best quarter to date and had exceeded the feasibility study projection by more than 90%.
“The tonnage of ore mined has exceeded 70,000 tonnes during the period and grades remain substantially above 4 g/t gold.
“This production rate has ensured a very healthy stockpile position representing over four months of mill feed.
Sener added the processing plant’s performance so far suggest it can manage 200,000 tonnes per annum or 33% above the designed rate.
In early morning trading, Ariana shares were up 5.35 at 1.5p.
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