Tavsan Drilling Yields Up to 21.54g/t Gold, Resource Expansion Confirmed

Strong Drilling Results at Tavsan North Zone

Ariana Resources plc (ASX – AA2) has unveiled promising assay results from its ongoing diamond drilling campaign at the Tavsan Mine in western Türkiye. The 71-hole program, focused on the North Zone, has delivered high-grade gold intercepts, including standout results such as 5.10 meters at 7.23 grams per tonne (g/t) gold and 3.61 g/t silver, and a remarkable 1 meter at 21.54 g/t gold and 8.31 g/t silver. These results reinforce the continuity of mineralisation and confirm extensions beyond the current JORC resource boundaries.

The Tavsan Mine, in which Ariana holds a 23.5% stake through its joint venture with Zenit Madencilik San. ve Tic. A.Ş., has been producing gold from its Main Zone for nearly two years. The recent commencement of heap-leach operations marks a significant milestone in its production lifecycle, potentially enhancing recovery rates and operational efficiency.

Resource Expansion and Future Planning

The drilling at Tavsan North was designed not only to infill existing resource gaps but also to explore peripheral zones that had previously been untested or underexplored. The confirmation of mineralisation extending both at depth and along strike suggests that the resource base could be materially expanded. This is particularly important for mine planning and could extend the mine's life beyond the current eight-year expectation.

Dr. Kerim Sener, Managing Director of Ariana Resources, highlighted the significance of these results, noting that the data supports an expansion of both the resource and reserve base. The company anticipates completing a comprehensive JORC resource update by the third quarter of 2026, following the completion of a 15,000-meter drilling program across the Tavsan Mine region, including the Main and South Zones.

Rigorous Quality Assurance and Operational Confidence

The drilling program has been conducted with stringent quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) measures. Samples were analysed primarily at the accredited Kiziltepe Mine Laboratory, with a subset cross-checked at ALS Global in Izmir to ensure accuracy and reliability. Core recovery rates averaged 88%, and the sampling and assay protocols meet industry best practices, lending confidence to the reported results.

With a current JORC 2012 resource of 7.65 million tonnes at 1.26 g/t gold containing approximately 311,000 ounces of gold and 1.1 million ounces of silver, Tavsan remains a significant asset for Ariana. The ore reserves stand at 4.5 million tonnes at 1.40 g/t gold, underscoring the project's economic potential.

Looking Ahead

Further drilling and exploration are planned to test lateral and depth extensions, particularly in the North Zone and between currently planned pits. These efforts aim to refine resource confidence and potentially unlock additional mineralisation zones. As the company progresses towards the resource update and continues production, market participants will be watching closely for how these developments translate into operational and financial outcomes.