Updated developments at Turkey-focused Ariana Resources’ Kizilcukur project show that about 2 800 t of mineralised material is currently stockpiled on site, with the potential to double with limited additional trial mining in 2019.
Kizilcukur is part of the Red Rabbit Joint Venture (JV) with Proccea Construction and is 50% owned by Ariana through its shareholding in Zenit.
Bulk samples obtained from the Kizilcukur vein returned about 20 t at 4.22 g/t of gold and 284 g/t of silver.
Ariana stated on Monday that planning was under way to truck 300 t of this material, grading 4.3 g/t of gold and 239 g/t of silver, to the Kiziltepe plant site for bulk processing during the 2019 summer period.
The company also intends to expand its operations at Kizilcukur and truck the remaining 2 500 t of ore to Kiziltepe if processing of the first batch of 300 t is successful.
Meanwhile, drilling at Kizilcukur has been continuing despite adverse winter weather conditions.
MD Dr Kerim Seners commented in a news release that the bulk sampling results demonstrated that the Kizilcukur deposit had the capacity to act as a source of high-grade satellite feed to the Kiziltepe processing plant.
“We are encouraged by the results of this recent work and the current drilling programme will add confidence to the resource estimate for the Zeki pit as part of our feasibility work programme,” he elaborated.