Dokwe Drilling Begins: Can Ariana Resources Expand Its Gold Footprint in Zimbabwe?
Ariana Resources has initiated a 4,000-metre drilling campaign at its Dokwe Gold Project in Zimbabwe, aiming to expand the existing resource beyond one million ounces of gold. Early assay results are expected before year-end, with potential for program expansion.
- 4,000m reverse circulation drilling underway at Dokwe Gold Project
- Initial 26-hole campaign targets four key areas for resource expansion
- Over 1 million ounces of gold currently defined within 10% of 12km shear zone strike
- Potential metallurgical drilling planned at Dokwe Central
- Initial assay results expected before the end of 2025
Drilling Commences at Dokwe Gold Project
Ariana Resources plc has officially commenced a significant reverse circulation (RC) drilling program at its Dokwe Gold Project in Zimbabwe, a site already known to host more than one million ounces of gold. The initial phase involves 26 holes totalling approximately 4,000 metres, targeting four distinct areas identified through recent soil geochemistry surveys and historical data.
Exploration Focus and Potential
The Dokwe project’s mineralisation is concentrated along major shear zones, which extend over a 12-kilometre strike length. To date, only about 10% of this strike length has been drilled, containing the known resource of over one million ounces. This leaves a substantial portion of the shear zones untested, suggesting considerable upside potential for resource growth. The current drilling campaign aims to test these underexplored zones, including the Dokwe North Extension and areas near Dokwe Central, as well as prospects like Sinkwe and Siduli Pan, which have shown promising historical intercepts.
Strategic Metallurgical Work and Feasibility Study
Alongside exploration drilling, Ariana Resources is considering expanding the program to include metallurgical drilling, particularly at Dokwe Central. This work is crucial for understanding the ore’s processing characteristics and will feed into the ongoing feasibility study. Managing Director Dr. Kerim Sener highlighted that the initial RC drilling results will guide the scope of future activities, including diamond drilling for geotechnical purposes, ensuring a cost-effective approach to project development.
Resource Estimates and Compliance
The company reiterated its JORC-compliant mineral resource estimates, which remain unchanged since the last update in March 2025. The resource includes measured, indicated, and inferred categories, with grades ranging from approximately 0.8 to 1.7 grams per tonne of gold. Ariana Resources confirmed that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning these estimates continue to apply, maintaining transparency and regulatory compliance.
Looking Ahead
Initial assay results from the drilling campaign are anticipated before the end of the year, which will be a critical milestone for investors and stakeholders. Depending on these results, Ariana Resources may expand the drilling program to further delineate the resource and advance metallurgical studies. The company’s dual listing on AIM and ASX, along with its diversified portfolio including projects in Türkiye, Kosovo, and Cyprus, positions it well to leverage discoveries at Dokwe.
Bottom Line?
The next few months will be pivotal as assay results could unlock significant new value at Dokwe, shaping Ariana Resources’ development trajectory.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the initial drilling assays confirm significant new gold zones beyond the current resource?
- How might metallurgical drilling results influence the feasibility study and project economics?
- What is the timeline and budget outlook for potential follow-up drilling and development phases?
