Ariana Resources has unveiled significant gold mineralisation extensions at its Dokwe Gold Project in Zimbabwe, following the completion of a 5,659m RC drilling program. The results support an updated JORC resource and ongoing feasibility efforts.
- Gold mineralisation extends 150m beyond Dokwe North resource
- Key shallow intercepts suggest mining amenability
- Drilling confirms extensions at Dokwe Central and Sinkwe Prospect
- Follow-up diamond drilling planned for resource update
- 5,659m drilled across 31 holes in 2025-2026 program
Drilling Confirms Resource Growth Potential at Dokwe
Ariana Resources (ASX:AA2) has wrapped up its 2025-2026 reverse circulation (RC) drilling campaign at the 100%-owned Dokwe Gold Project in Zimbabwe, delivering assay results that confirm gold mineralisation extending at least 150 metres beyond the current resource envelope at Dokwe North. This extension remains open along strike, prompting the company to target a JORC resource update in the second half of 2026.
Key intercepts at Dokwe North include 22m at 1.49 g/t Au from 111m and 8m at 1.20 g/t Au from 65m, occurring at shallow depths within oxidised dacite; a geological setting favourable for mining and processing. Extensions were also identified at Dokwe Central, with intercepts such as 2m at 4.67 g/t Au from 174m, and at the nearby Sinkwe Prospect, which continues to show promise for shallow gold mineralisation.
Geological Insights and Structural Controls
The drilling has refined Ariana's understanding of the structural geology controlling mineralisation across the project. At Dokwe North, gold is hosted within a NE-SW trending shear zone characterised by intense deformation, silicification, and pyrite mineralisation. The recent drilling confirmed the continuity of these features northeastwards beyond historical limits, with parallel lodes showing similar structural behaviour.
Dokwe Central drilling revealed that a northwest-oriented fault offsets mineralisation by up to 100m, but gold zones continue beyond this structural break, some falling within the current pit design. At Sinkwe, fault offsets appear to influence the distribution of mineralisation, underscoring the need for additional drilling to delineate these zones further.
Programme Completion and Next Steps
The 2025-2026 RC program comprised 31 holes totalling 5,659 metres, with all assay results now received. Ariana plans to follow up with diamond drilling to test mineralisation continuity and source material for feasibility study testwork. This aligns with the company's broader push to advance the Dokwe project towards production readiness, complementing recent metallurgical drilling contracts and technical programs underway. The company’s focus is on refining resource estimates and integrating Dokwe Central into future reserves.
Dr. Kerim Sener, Managing Director, highlighted the significance of confirming oxide-zone mineralisation extensions, which are more amenable to straightforward mining and processing. He also noted the importance of the structural interpretations in guiding future exploration and resource development strategies.
Resource Estimate and Metallurgical Outlook
The current Dokwe Mineral Resource Estimate stands at approximately 1.4 million ounces of gold at a grade near 1 g/t Au, inclusive of measured, indicated, and inferred categories. The updated geological model and drilling results provide a platform for resource growth and optimisation. Metallurgical testwork indicates favourable recoveries, with oxide material expected to be processed via conventional carbon-in-leach (CIL) methods.
These developments build on Ariana’s recent progress, including a $1 million metallurgical drilling deal to support feasibility studies, and high-grade intercepts reported earlier in the year, reinforcing the project’s upside potential. The company’s systematic approach to exploration and resource definition at Dokwe is increasingly positioning it as a significant gold asset in Zimbabwe’s mining landscape.
With the drilling campaign now complete and assay data in hand, Ariana is poised to update its JORC resource and advance feasibility work, setting the stage for further value creation.
Investors should watch for upcoming resource updates and diamond drilling results, which will be critical in defining the project’s scale and economic viability. The interplay of structural geology and mineralisation continuity remains a key focus area for exploration teams.
Meanwhile, Ariana’s broader strategic moves, including securing metallurgical drilling contracts and refining pit optimisation parameters, underscore a methodical progression towards production, albeit with the usual uncertainties inherent in exploration-stage projects.
These findings dovetail with Ariana’s recent high-grade gold intercepts and its ongoing metallurgical drilling initiatives, such as the $1M metallurgical drilling deal, illustrating a coherent advancement of the Dokwe project.
Bottom Line?
Ariana’s drilling results at Dokwe highlight tangible resource growth, but the true scale and economic impact hinge on forthcoming diamond drilling and updated resource modelling.
Questions in the middle?
- How will the upcoming diamond drilling refine continuity and grade confidence at Dokwe?
- What impact will the structural faulting at Dokwe Central have on mining plans and resource classification?
- To what extent will metallurgical testwork confirm processing assumptions for oxide and sulphide zones?