Ariana Resources Hits 98m at 2.85g/t Gold Advancing DFS on 1.6Moz Dokwe Project
Key Takeaways
- All assay results from Ariana Resources' 2026 metallurgical diamond drilling programme at the Dokwe Gold Project have been received, with eight tonnes of samples now dispatched to Xinhai in Yantai, China, for feasibility-grade metallurgical testwork.
- Headline intercepts include 98m @ 2.85g/t Au at Dokwe Central and 68m @ 2.03g/t Au at Dokwe North, with a high-grade hit of 1m @ 93.72g/t Au within the Central zone confirming both width and grade.
- Exploration drilling has confirmed a northeast extension of Dokwe North, with intercepts of 2m @ 17.31g/t Au and 10m @ 1.02g/t Au pointing to resource growth potential beyond the current 1.598Moz JORC estimate.
- DFS technical work programmes are fully funded through to completion in Q1 CY2027, with sterilisation drilling scheduled for Q4 2026 and a broader reserve conversion programme also planned.
- The Dokwe Gold Project is 100%-owned by Ariana Resources via its Zimbabwean subsidiary, meaning all resource and reserve upside is attributable entirely to AA2 shareholders.
Strong drilling results advance Dokwe Gold Project DFS
Ariana Resources (AIM: AAU, ASX: AA2) has reached a meaningful milestone on the critical path to completing its Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) on the 1.6Moz Dokwe Gold Project in Zimbabwe. All assay results from the 2026 metallurgical diamond drilling programme have now been received, and eight tonnes of metallurgical samples have been dispatched to Yantai, China, for feasibility-level metallurgical testwork by Hongkong Xinhai Mining Services (“Xinhai”).
The metallurgical drilling programme totalled 2,822m across 15 holes, with a separate follow-up exploration programme completing a further 1,005m across 4 holes. Ariana has confirmed that DFS technical work programmes are funded for completion during Q1 CY2027.
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What the drill results show across Dokwe North and Central
The results confirm extensive zones of both high and moderate grade mineralisation forming the core of the Dokwe North and Central deposits. The headline intercepts across both the metallurgical and exploration programmes are set out below.
Dokwe North — metallurgical programme highlights
- 24m @ 4.71g/t Au from 172m (DPD141), including 2m @ 46.95g/t Au from 172m
- 68m @ 2.03g/t Au from 160m (DPD142)
- 41m @ 1.51g/t Au from 190m (DPD148)
- 7m @ 9.75g/t Au from 47m (DPD144)
Dokwe Central — metallurgical programme highlights
- 98m @ 2.85g/t Au from 91m (DPD150), including 1m @ 93.72g/t Au from 184m
- 59m @ 1.52g/t Au from 53m (DPD152)
Exploration drilling — NE extension of Dokwe North confirmed
Four diamond drillholes targeted the eastern flank of Dokwe North. Two of these (DPD154 and DPD155) focused on following up intercepts in the RC drilling that suggested mineralisation continued northeast of the currently defined resource. Key intercepts included:
- 8m @ 1.45g/t Au from 96m (DPD154)
- 10m @ 1.02g/t Au from 282m (DPD154)
- 2m @ 17.31g/t Au from 174m (DPD155)
The other two holes (DPD156 and DPD157) returned strong pyrite mineralisation in the felsic tuff and dacite units on the eastern flank, but no significant gold results. These observations will inform the final design of sterilisation drilling planned for Q4 2026.
Dr. Kerim Sener, Managing Director, Ariana Resources
“We are very pleased to report these excellent results from our metallurgical drilling programme and the follow-up on our exploration drilling programme conducted on the eastern flank of Dokwe North. These efforts form part of the critical path programme of works for the Feasibility Study on the 1.6Moz Dokwe Gold Project.
The results collectively reinforce collectively the typically extensive widths of mineralisation encountered at Dokwe North in particular, containing high-grade zones and continuing to demonstrate material lateral extension to the northeast. Meanwhile, at Dokwe Central, the metallurgical drill holes confirm high to moderate grades over the extensive width of a near vertically plunging zone of mineralisation…”
What is a Definitive Feasibility Study — and why do these results matter?
A Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) is the most rigorous pre-production study a mining company undertakes. It determines whether a project is technically and financially viable to mine, and its conclusions directly underpin any final investment decision.
One of the most critical inputs into a DFS is metallurgical testwork. This is the process of testing how efficiently gold can actually be extracted from the ore using processing methods — a variable that heavily influences project economics. A resource can look attractive on grade alone, but if the gold is difficult to recover, the project economics change materially.
That is why the shipment of eight tonnes of ore samples to Xinhai in Yantai, China, is a tangible step forward, not an administrative one. This is feasibility-grade testwork, designed to answer exactly those recovery questions at the scale and rigour required for the DFS.
Wide, consistent intercepts like the 98m @ 2.85g/t Au at Dokwe Central and the 68m @ 2.03g/t Au at Dokwe North also matter directly to the DFS. Broad, continuous mineralisation supports robust reserve estimates and underpins the mine scheduling assumptions that flow through to project economics. The NE extension at Dokwe North adds further optionality on resource growth around an already substantial base.
Mineral Resource underpinning the project
The Dokwe Gold Project currently hosts a JORC (2012)-compliant Mineral Resource Estimate totalling 1,598,000 oz of contained gold. A JORC Resource is a concentration of minerals with reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction, classified by confidence level as Measured, Indicated, or Inferred.
| Deposit | Classification | Tonnage (kt) | Grade (g/t Au) | Contained Gold (oz) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dokwe North | Measured | 21,055 | 0.92 | 621,500 |
| Dokwe North | Indicated | 27,224 | 0.71 | 617,400 |
| Dokwe North | Inferred | 11,963 | 0.67 | 258,500 |
| Dokwe North | Total | 60,242 | 0.77 | 1,497,400 |
| Dokwe Central | Indicated | 2,107 | 1.39 | 94,300 |
| Dokwe Central | Inferred | 117 | 1.66 | 6,200 |
| Dokwe Central | Total | 2,225 | 1.41 | 100,600 |
| Project Total | Measured | 21,055 | 0.92 | 621,500 |
| Project Total | Indicated | 29,331 | 0.75 | 711,700 |
| Project Total | Inferred | 12,080 | 0.68 | 264,700 |
| Project Total | Total | 62,467 | 0.80 | 1,598,000 |
The Mineral Resource Estimate is reported in accordance with the JORC (2012) Code, using a cut-off grade of 0.2g/t Au. The Dokwe project is 100%-owned by Ariana Resources via its subsidiary Canister Resources (Pvt) Ltd in Zimbabwe. Figures presented above are both gross and net attributable to Ariana.
What comes next on the path to DFS completion
Ariana has outlined a clear programme of forward work ahead of DFS completion. Based on the announcement, the key steps are:
- Metallurgical testwork to commence at Xinhai in Yantai, China, with results to be integrated into the broader Feasibility Study programme.
- Sterilisation drilling planned for Q4 2026 to test areas identified for mining infrastructure development, informed by observations from DPD156 and DPD157.
- A more extensive drilling and exploration programme planned in the vicinity of the current Resource to assist conversion to additional Reserves and improve understanding of project upside.
- DFS technical work programmes are funded for completion during Q1 CY2027.
- Further exploration to follow up the northeast extension of Dokwe North and other identified targets.
Each of these steps represents a discrete de-risking event on the path toward a completed feasibility study, with the funded timeline through to Q1 CY2027 providing near-term visibility on expected programme delivery.
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About Ariana Resources
Ariana Resources is a mineral exploration and development company dual-listed on AIM (AAU) and ASX (AA2). Its primary asset is the 1.6Moz Dokwe Gold Project in Zimbabwe, with a DFS currently in progress. In addition to Dokwe, Ariana holds a residual investment in gold-silver production in Türkiye following a recent substantial sell-down, along with copper-gold-silver exploration and development projects in Kosovo and Cyprus. The company has a track record of creating shareholder value through its interests in active mining projects.
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