Ariana Resources upbeat on drilling results from Salinbas

Turkey-focussed exploration and development company Ariana Resources announced the results of a recent drilling campaign completed at its wholly-owned Salinbas Gold Project in the Hot Gold Corridor on Thursday.

The AIM-traded firm reported that Salinbas-type mineralisation was identified in several holes drilled within the zone connecting Salinbas and the Ardala porphyry system, within 120 metres of the surface.

That consisted of 11 metres at 5.33 grams per tonne of gold, 47.1 grams per tonne of silver, 0.89% lead and 0.35% zinc, from 111 metres.

It also consisted of six metres at 2.29 grams per tonne of gold, 8.1 grams per tonne of silver, 0.88% copper and 0.33% lead, from 89 metres, and 12 metres at 1.01 grams per tonne of gold and 10.3 grams per tonne of silver from 39 metres.

The company said “significant” base-metal intercepts in places with precious metals were identified beneath the Salinbas mineralised horizon, notably 12m at 0.22 grams per tonne of gold, 22.8 grams per tonne of silver, 0.32% lead and 0.73% zinc.

Additional results from certain mineralised intervals were still pending from the laboratory, it added.

“We are very pleased to report our preliminary drilling results from the Salinbas Gold Project, since it became 100% held by Ariana,” said Ariana Resources managing director Dr Kerim Sener.

“These results, while only partial at this stage, demonstrate the development of a major magmatic-hydrothermal system in the vicinity of the Ardala Cu-Au-Mo porphyry.

“The latest data confirms that the mineralised part of the Ardala porphyry, which is enriched in precious and base-metals, does connect intimately with the Salinbas gold-silver zone and that the two systems should in fact be treated as one.”

Dr Sener said that was a prediction from its earlier geological modelling, and was a finding that boded “exceptionally well” for the discovery of further mineralisation in the vicinity, particularly in the immediate surrounds of the Ardala porphyry.

“This is an area, which to date, has been poorly explored.

“Consequently we continue to remain excited by the exploration upside of the project and look forward to commencing our follow-up work programmes.”