Aim-listed mineral exploration and development company Ariana Resources has started a drilling programme at the Dokwe North and Central areas, collectively known as the Dokwe project, in Zimbabwe.
The company has acquired an initial 1.3% interest in project owner Rockover Holdings and is undertaking a 1 500 m due diligence drilling programme while it considers further involvement in the project.
The Dokwe project, which contains about 1.3-million ounces of Joint Ore Reserves Committee-compliant measured, indicated and inferred resources, was discovered by Rockover in 2002.
It is located in a previously undefined Archaean Greenstone Belt, extending from the border with Botswana and linking up with the Bulawayo-Bubi Greenstone Belt to the west.
“This represents a compelling and unique opportunity for the company as we advance on our strategy to become a multi-asset, multi-jurisdiction gold- and copper-focused midtier mining enterprise.
"Building on the operational base we have established in Türkiye with strong and experienced local partners, we are making strides to expand our portfolio with the potential addition of the Dokwe project. This project represents a potential bulk-tonnage mining opportunity upon which a positive prefeasibility study has been delivered and which could be advanced to feasibility in the near term,” Ariana MD Dr Kerim Sener says.
He adds that the due diligence drilling programme represents an essential first step to verify the historical exploration data and to add to the company’s understanding of the opportunity before it advances discussions with Rockover.