Ariana Resources Advances Dokwe Feasibility with $1M Metallurgical Drilling Deal

Metallurgical Drilling Contract Boosts Feasibility Progress

Ariana Resources (ASX:AA2) has formalised a A$1 million Metallurgical Sampling and Testwork (MST) agreement with Hongkong Xinhai Mining Services, marking a significant step in advancing the Dokwe Gold Project’s Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) in Zimbabwe. The contract, payable in Ariana CDIs, covers a 2,370-metre diamond drilling campaign focused on metallurgical sampling, with drill core sent to Xinhai’s Yantai laboratory in China for processing. Independent oversight by Perth-based Independent Metallurgical Operations Pty. Ltd. (IMO) ensures adherence to JORC 2012 standards.

This drilling is part of a broader three-rig diamond drilling programme currently underway at Dokwe, encompassing both metallurgical and geotechnical objectives. Two rigs are dedicated to metallurgical drilling at Dokwe North, while a third independent rig tackles geotechnical drilling at Dokwe Central. These efforts are designed to refine ore variability understanding and optimise processing routes ahead of the DFS, which is scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2027. The updated Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS), incorporating both Dokwe North and Central deposits, is expected within the current quarter.

Technical Programs Enhance Geological and Environmental Insights

Complementing the drilling, Ariana has deployed its Geotek BoxScan core scanning unit onsite, relocated from Türkiye. The BoxScan provides detailed analyses including XRF chemistry, mineralogy, magnetic susceptibility, high-definition photography, and laser-based core topography. This technology enables the team to digitise both historical and new drill core, deepening the geological model by revealing lithological controls, alteration patterns, and structural features. Managing Director Dr. Kerim Sener emphasised the value of this data in refining exploration targeting and deposit understanding.

Environmental and operational studies are also progressing. A water balance study by Wellfield Consultancy Services has synthesised extensive regional groundwater data, informing plans for geophysical surveys and test borehole drilling to secure sustainable water resources. Tailings and waste management analyses are underway with Knight Piesold UK conducting a gap analysis to optimise storage and water use. These studies address critical infrastructure and environmental stewardship aspects essential for project permitting and long-term viability.

Resource Base Supports Development Plans

The Dokwe Gold Project hosts a JORC-compliant Mineral Resource Estimate totaling approximately 1.42 million ounces of gold at a 0.3 g/t cut-off, combining measured, indicated, and inferred categories across Dokwe North and Central. At a higher 0.6 g/t cut-off, the resource stands at about 1.12 million ounces with improved grade metrics. This resource underpins the DFS and reflects the project’s scale and potential. The ongoing drilling and testwork are expected to refine these figures further, building on recent high-grade intercepts reported in earlier campaigns that suggest upside potential beyond current limits, particularly near surface oxide zones, as detailed in Ariana’s recent high-grade gold hits and drilling results announcements.

Site infrastructure has been enhanced with new core logging and storage facilities to accommodate the increased drilling activity and detailed structural logging requirements. These improvements support the high level of technical scrutiny necessary for a robust feasibility study and eventual mine development.