Ariana Resources PLC (AIM:AAU) hailed the “substantial progress” made on its advanced Turkish gold projects, which are 23.5% owned by Ariana through its shareholding in Zenit Madencilik San. ve Tic. AS.
Gold production at the Kiziltepe gold-silver mine in western Turkey continues to perform in line with guidance, said AIM-listed Ariana, adding that an ongoing drilling programme has now completed over 11,000 metres (m) of diamond drilling.
Construction of a second gold mine at Tavsan is progressing as planned, with earthworks well advanced and site infrastructure works underway, said Ariana.
"We are highly encouraged by the simultaneous and substantial progress being made across all advanced Turkish projects in which we hold an interest through Zenit,” said Ariana managing director Dr Kerim Sener.
“Following the restructuring of our Turkish operations, Zenit has since completed over 36,000m of drilling across the projects in the past two years alone, which significantly represents over 40% of the total drilling completed in Turkey by Ariana to date.”
Drilling for up to 4,600m has just started at the Tavsan project to identify potential resource extensions.
More than 6,300m has been drilled at the Salinbas project and a second drill-rig is due to start work on-site within the current week as part of a substantially extended programme, the company said.
An Induced Polarisation/Resistivity survey is being completed across the Kiziltepe project area, while a drone magnetic survey has also started over the Kizilcukur project.
“These are the first new geophysical programmes conducted by the company on our Turkish projects since 2014,” noted Sener.
“We look forward to providing updates on these exploration programmes in Turkey in the months ahead, including resource estimation at Tavsan and drilling results,” he said.