By Agencies

Aim-listed mineral exploration and development company Ariana Resources has started a drilling programme at the Dokwe North and Central areas, collectively known as the Dokwe project, in Zimbabwe.

The company has acquired an initial 1.3% interest in project owner Rockover Holdings and is undertaking a 1 500 m due diligence drilling programme while it considers further involvement in the project.

The Dokwe project, which contains about 1.3-million ounces of Joint Ore Reserves Committee-compliant measured, indicated and inferred resources, was discovered by Rockover in 2002.

It is located in a previously undefined Archaean Greenstone Belt, extending from the border with Botswana and linking up with the Bulawayo-Bubi Greenstone Belt to the west.

Commenting on the development, MD Dr Kerim Sener said; “We are excited to report the commencement of our highly anticipated due diligence drilling programme on the Dokwe Gold Project in Zimbabwe, as previously announced to the AIM market on 13 November.

“This represents a compelling and unique opportunity for the company as we advance on our strategy to become a multi-asset, multi-jurisdiction gold and copper-focused mid-tier mining enterprise.

“Building on the operational base we have established in Turkiye with strong and experienced local partners, we are making strides to expand our portfolio with the potential addition of the Dokwe Gold Project.”

He added; “This project represents a potential bulk-tonnage mining opportunity upon which a positive pre-feasibility study has been delivered and which could be advanced to feasibility in the near term.

“At this stage, we see potential at Dokwe to identify further resources in the vicinity and to develop a multi-decade mining opportunity in Zimbabwe. This due diligence drilling represents an essential first step to verify the historical exploration data and to add to our understanding of the opportunity before we advance discussions with Rockover with respect to the asset.”