Ariana Resources Drills 2,411m at Dokwe, Confirms Fault Offsets and Mineralisation

Exploration Progress at Dokwe

Ariana Resources plc has provided a detailed update on its exploration drilling at the 100% owned Dokwe Gold Project in Zimbabwe. The company has completed 2,411 metres of reverse circulation drilling, more than halfway through its planned 4,000-metre campaign. This phase focuses on near-term resource growth opportunities, particularly at the Dokwe Central area.

Geological observations from the drilling have revealed strong silicification, pyritization, and shearing, key indicators of gold mineralisation. These findings have confirmed the presence of faulted and offset extensions of the known deposit, validating Ariana’s geological models. The drilling has also intercepted mineralised zones beyond the current resource envelope, suggesting potential for lateral and depth extensions.

Innovative Data Integration

The exploration team is leveraging real-time portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) and magnetic susceptibility measurements to refine geological interpretations as drilling progresses. This approach allows for adaptive targeting, ensuring each metre drilled maximises value. Additionally, the detectORE™ technology is employed for rapid on-site gold indication screening, enhancing the efficiency of sample analysis.

To date, 880 samples have been dispatched to Antech Laboratory in Zimbabwe for assay, with more samples pending. The company expects to receive initial assay results before the end of the year, which will be critical to confirming the extent and grade of mineralisation encountered.

Resource Estimate and Economic Potential

Ariana’s announcement includes a comprehensive JORC-compliant Mineral Resource Estimate for Dokwe North and Dokwe Central. The combined Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resource stands at approximately 1.93 million tonnes grading 1.61 grams per tonne gold, equating to around 100,000 ounces of contained gold. This resource supports a positive mining scenario, with pit optimisations conducted at a gold price of US$2,750 per ounce.

The Dokwe Central deposit features a steeply plunging orebody within sheared metavolcanic rocks, comprising two main zones, the North Zone and the meta-dolerite-hosted South Zone. Recent drilling has confirmed the faulted offset of mineralisation and suggests the South Zone remains open to the south and at depth, presenting further exploration upside.

Outlook and Next Steps

Based on encouraging geological results, Ariana is considering extending the current drilling programme with additional holes planned. The company is awaiting assay results to guide these decisions and will provide updates accordingly. Meanwhile, metallurgical testwork assumptions support conventional processing methods, with oxide material amenable to carbon-in-leach processing and transitional sulphides likely processed via flotation and high-intensity leaching.

Environmental and regulatory processes are underway to convert exploration claims into mining leases, a necessary step towards development. Ariana confirms no material changes to prior resource estimates and continues to advance its understanding of the deposit through integrated geological and geochemical data.