Acquisition of Surface Rights

Ariana Resources PLC 18 July 2007 18 July 2007 AIM: AAU ACQUISITION OF SURFACE-RIGHTS: KIZILTEPE PROSPECT Ariana Resources plc ('Ariana' or 'the Company'), the gold exploration company focused on Turkey, is pleased to announce the acquisition of surface-rights on part of the Arzu South Vein at the Kiziltepe Prospect. Highlights • Three blocks of land purchased for a total of 28,775m2 • Surface-rights over half of the Arzu South Vein have been secured • Necessary operational and environmental permits are in place • Bulk-sampling of the Arzu Vein to be initiated by September 2007 The Company has completed the purchase of three registered blocks of agricultural land which lie above the indicated resource at the Arzu South Vein. The land acquired totals 28,775m2 and covers half of the total exposed Arzu South vein system. A payment of 31,900 YTL (approx. £12,300) has been made to the original land-owners, representing a cost of approximately 43 pence per metre squared. The deeds have been transferred to our operating subsidiary in Turkey (Galata Madencilik San. ve Tic. Ltd. Sti.). The acquisition of surface-rights complement the mining, forestry and other permits the Company has already secured for part of the Kiziltepe prospect. The purchased land provides the Company with secure surface-rights over an important part of the Arzu vein system. This is significant as approximately 100 tonnes of material is scheduled to be extracted from the vein by bulk-sampling in September 2007, which will involve modification of the ground surface. This trial-mining will help to derive important operational data for a scoping study and provide adequate material for second-stage metallurgical test-work. Dr. Kerim Sener, Managing Director, commented: 'The acquisition of the surface-rights represents an important step for the Company towards achieving its objective of establishing an operation at Kiziltepe. Towards the end of the year we will initiate bulk-sampling from an area of the Arzu vein system as part of our planned scoping study. The purchase of overlying agricultural land and our existing forestry permits provide us with the ability to undertake this trial mining.' 'We would also like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to the people of Sindirgi, who encourage our activities at Kiziltepe. The purchase of the land took only ten days to conclude, a feat made possible by this invaluable support. The acquisition demonstrates that Ariana has both the capability and the necessary community backing to achieve its longer term aims at Kiziltepe.' Contacts: Ariana Resources plc Michael Spriggs, Chairman Kerim Sener, Managing Director Tel: 0207 407 3616 info@arianaresources.com Beaumont Cornish Limited Tel: 0207 628 3396 Roland Cornish Bankside Consultants Michael Padley / Louise Davis Tel: 0207 367 8888 Editors' note: About Ariana Resources Ariana is a dynamic exploration company focused on the discovery and development of epithermal gold-silver and porphyry copper-gold deposits with multi-million ounce potential within the Tethyan metallogenic belt of Turkey. The Company has a portfolio of prospective licences covering 1,820km2, selected on the basis of its advanced in-house remote sensing database. The Company's flagship asset is the 235km2 Sindirgi Gold Project, which targets a series of prospects, within a prolific mineralised district in western Turkey. The project hosts over 45km of gold-silver bearing epithermal quartz veins. Ambrian Partners Limited and King & Shaxson Capital Limited are joint brokers to the Company and Beaumont Cornish Limited is the Company's nominated adviser. For further information on Ariana you are invited to visit the Company's website at www.arianaresources.com. Ends This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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