Ariana Resources PLC (AIM:AAU) has been granted three exploration licences in Kosovo covering a total of 239 sq km and in the vicinity of the Stanterg Mine, historically the largest lead-zinc mine in Europe.
Subsidiary Western Tethyan Resources, which is 75% owned by Ariana, has been awarded the licences with a further three awaiting approval.
WTR is currently completing a comprehensive pXRF soil-sampling programme across all licences on a 250x500m grid, said the statement.
Kerim Sener, Ariana Resources managing director, said: "This is an excellent result for Western Tethyan.
“Securing the first three of six licence applications in Kosovo at the start of the field season could not have come at a better time.
"These initial licences all show evidence of gold, silver and base-metal mineralisation from historical sampling.
“We are aiming to advance these projects rapidly to the drilling stage within their first year.”