Resource Estimate
Ariana Resources PLC
10 May 2007
10 May 2007
AIM: AAU
INITIAL JORC RESOURCE AT KIZILTEPE
Ariana Resources plc ('Ariana' or 'the Company'), the gold exploration company
focused on Turkey, is pleased to announce the completion of the Company's first
independent resource estimate for the Kiziltepe gold prospect, at its flagship
Sindirgi Project in Balikesir Province, western Turkey.
Highlights
•SRK Consulting (UK) Ltd ('SRK') estimates a JORC compliant mineral
resource of 99 koz Au + 1,820 koz Ag (for 135 koz Au equivalent)
•Resource based on two veins which comprise only 5% of the mapped veins at
the property
•Mineralisation is open at depth and along strike and additional targets
require further drill-testing in 2007
•SRK recommends initiation of a formal scoping study to evaluate
production options at Kiziltepe
SRK has completed a 3D model and mineral resource estimate in compliance with
the JORC code for certain gold bearing quartz veins at the Kiziltepe prospect.
SRK commented, 'Ariana has completed over 4,150m of drilling and 250m of channel
sampling at surface .... and has ensured a high quality of sample preparation
and laboratory results. These have resulted in grade and density data which can
support a JORC compliant resource estimate.'
Four mineralised structures have been incorporated in the 3D geological model,
namely: Arzu South, Arzu North, Vein 4 and Banu Vein. The majority of the
current resource is located within Arzu South, the central part of which has
been drilled and channel sampled sufficiently enough to support an Indicated
Mineral Resource. The southern and northern parts of Arzu South and a small part
of Arzu North comprise the Inferred Mineral Resource. Much of Arzu North, Vein 4
and Banu Vein have not been modelled as part of the mineral resource due to
lower drill data density and grades.
At Arzu South, SRK has provided a detailed interpretation of the drillcore
intersections to produce a geological model consisting of multiple vein
segments, many of which have been delineated robustly by Ariana's drilling. Over
the 800m strike length in consideration at Arzu South, ten mineralised vein
segments have been modelled, with vein widths typically between 1.5 and 5m.
SRK has placed a depth limit of approximately 125m to the model, as most drill
intersections are above this level and it is unlikely that material below this
level would be taken by an open pit. A 3 g/t Au cut-off grade has been applied
to the resource blocks which measure 25 x 25m in the plane of the modelled
structures. The parts of the model which are above cut-off grade are generally
continuous and, within these, higher grade features appear to plunge to the
southeast.
SRK Mineral Resource Statement
Classification Vein Tonnage Grade Metal *
(Kt) (Au g/ (Ag g/t) (kg Au) (kg Ag)
t)
Indicated Arzu South 200 5.8 98 1,160 19,600
(C)
Inferred Arzu South 70 4.0 70 280 4,900
(N)
Inferred Arzu South 180 8.0 160 1,440 28,800
(S)
Inferred Arzu North 50 4.0 65 200 3,250
* Equivalent to 135,400 oz gold equivalent. The gold equivalent is calculated on
the basis of a 50:1 Ag:Au price ratio (this price ratio fluctuates and is
dependent on market conditions).
SRK considers there to be good potential to upgrade the Inferred Mineral
Resources to Indicated Mineral Resources at Arzu South by additional drilling.
In addition to this, the Arzu South vein system has some potential to be
extended at depth, and considerable potential to be extended along strike. Depth
extension drilling must now focus on the potential down-plunge continuation of
zones of high metal accumulation.
Further, SRK considers there to be reasonable potential to define, by further
drilling, higher grade zones within other veins and to delineate additional
mineralised structures on the property, which have not yet been found in outcrop
due to field clearing.
In addition to undertaking further drilling, SRK has also recommended an
evaluation of options for the extraction of the current resource by undertaking
a scoping study. Some options that will be considered as part of the scoping
study include:
1) A low-cost heap leach on site;
2) A small-scale milling and gravity / cyanidation plant, ultimately producing
dore on site;
3) A trucking operation delivering mineralised material or concentrate to an
operating gold mine for toll treatment or direct sale.
Kerim Sener, Managing Director, commented:
'This is the first independent resource statement published by the Company and
it confirms the potential of the Kiziltepe prospect. As Arzu South is only one
of several identified targets, we consider there to be significant scope to
further expand the resource.'
'We are very encouraged by the results to date and further drilling is planned
to define the full potential of the prospect. We aim to proceed with the
recommendation of SRK to evaluate our production options at Kiziltepe, and as a
first step we have commenced formal test work to define the metallurgical
characteristics of the mineralisation.'
'The drilling results from our initial exploration programme have produced
positive results on a number of our prospects and we expect to be in a position
to increase our mineral resource base in due course.'
Contacts:
Ariana Resources plc
Michael Spriggs, Executive Chairman Tel: 07887 998252
Kerim Sener, Managing Director Tel: 07709 011954
info@arianaresources.com
Beaumont Cornish Limited Tel: 020 7628 3396
Roland Cornish
Bankside Consultants
Michael Padley / Susan Scott Tel: 020 7367 8888
Editors' note:
About the Kiziltepe prospect
The Kiziltepe prospect is located within a ten-year renewable operating licence
that forms part of the Company's 100% owned 235km2 Sindirgi gold project in
Balikesir Province, western Turkey.
Kiziltepe lies approximately 100km east of the one million ounce vein-hosted
Ovacik gold mine and 115km northwest of the five million ounce Kisladag gold
mine. The prospect hosts over 20km in strike length of gold-silver bearing
low-sulphidation epithermal quartz veins across an area of at least 3km by 1km.
Individual veins are exposed for up to 700m and widths vary between 1m and 14m.
The main veins trend northwest, dip to the northeast and are hosted within
Miocene age dacitic volcanic rocks.
Ariana acquired the Sindirgi Gold Project from Newmont Mining Corporation (NYSE
& ASX: NEM; TSX: NMC) in March 2005. Newmont retains the right to a royalty of
up to 2.5% on future gold production from the Sindirgi gold project.
Ahead of commencing the drilling programme, Ariana obtained all necessary
environmental and forestry approvals from the provincial government in Balikesir
and the State Government in Ankara.
Sampling and Assaying Procedures
Ariana's sampling of drill core and surface samples conforms to industry
best-practice. Laboratory sample preparation, assaying procedures and chain of
custody are appropriately controlled. Preparation of samples is undertaken by
ALS Chemex in Izmir and assayed for gold by 30g fire assay at the ALS Chemex
laboratory in Romania. Routine re-assaying of samples assaying greater than 10 g
/t Au and 100 g/t Ag has also been completed by ALS Chemex. Standard, blank and
duplicate samples are being used in the sample batches in line with the
Company's quality control procedures. Quality control checks have determined
excellent performance of blanks and standards, and duplicate samples have shown
very high correlations. The Company maintains an archive of half core samples
and a photographic record of all cores for future reference.
Statement of Qualification
Martin Pittuck, MIOM3, C.Eng, a Principal Resource Geologist at SRK with over 10
years experience in Mineral Resource estimation for gold deposits, has overseen
the preparation of this estimate. He is considered to be a competent person for
the purposes of reporting Mineral Resources in accordance with the terminology
and guidelines given in the JORC Code.
About Ariana Resources
Ariana is a dynamic exploration company focused on the discovery of epithermal
gold-silver and porphyry copper-gold deposits with multi-million ounce potential
within the Tethyan metallogenic belt of Turkey. The Company has a portfolio of
prospective licences covering 1,755km2, selected on the basis of its advanced
in-house remote sensing database.
The Company's flagship asset is the 235km2 Sindirgi gold project, which targets
a series of prospects, within a prolific mineralised district in western Turkey.
The project hosts over 45km of gold-silver bearing epithermal quartz veins.
Ambrian Partners Limited and King & Shaxson Capital Limited are joint brokers to
the Company and Beaumont Cornish Limited is the Company's nominated adviser.
For further information on Ariana you are invited to visit the Company's website
at www.arianaresources.com.
Ends
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