GEOPHYSICAL RESULTS ON RED RABBIT

28 July 2011 AIM / PLUS Markets: AAU GEOPHYSICAL RESULTS ON RED RABBIT Ariana Resources plc ("Ariana" or "the Company"), the gold exploration and development company focused on Turkey, is pleased to announce positive results from a comprehensive geophysical programme completed across satellite prospects at the Kiziltepe Sector of its Red Rabbit Gold Project in western Turkey.  This programme of work was designed to establish continuity of vein systems, using geophysical techniques (IP/resistivity) that are particularly effective in this environment. Highlights: * Extensive geophysical programme carried out over the Kepez West and Karakavak prospects * Results of programme indicate numerous high priority drill targets, located on several linear high chargeability and resistivity anomalies * Large high resistivity and chargeability anomalies identified at the Kepez West prospect indicate a probable sulphide-rich zone that lies near to surface * Two main gold-bearing quartz veins at the Karakavak prospect are connected by a sub-surface structure which provides a total of 1.7km of untested strike length * Drill targets to be refined and drill programme planning underway Dr. Kerim Sener, Managing Director, commented: "Due to the positive results obtained from earlier geophysical programmes undertaken at Kiziltepe, we have now completed programmes at the satellite prospect areas of Kepez West and Karakavak.  Results from these programmes have indicated numerous chargeability and resistivity anomalies, which we understand to represent near surface, mineralised quartz veins and related alteration.  It is our aim to further expand the Kiziltepe resource base by following up and drilling these new targets over the next year." Details of Geophysical Programme The geophysical programme was undertaken over two prospects located within the Sindirgi Gold Corridor, a north-east trending mineralised zone extending from the Kiziltepe prospect in the southwest to the Kizilcukur prospect in the northeast.  The geophysical results reported here are from the Kepez West and Karakavak prospects which are 5 and 8km away respectively from Kiziltepe (Figure 1).  The geophysical programme was carried out over these two areas, totalling approx. 5km².  Several mineralised veins previously identified at surface were covered by the programme, in order to provide an internal control on the geophysical methodology. Data was collected from 9 north-south oriented Induced Polarisation (IP) / resistivity profiles, which were spaced 400m apart and designed to coincide directly with existing geochemical data lines where available (total length surveyed is approx. 15.7km).   A pole-dipole array was used with a 30m electrode spacing, using a Zonge GGT-3 transmitter and a Scintrex IPR-12 receiver operating in the time domain. Figure 1: Overview map showing positions of satellite prospects and geophysics lines in relation to the planned Kiziltepe mine locality.  Note the location of the Kizilcukur prospect relative to the Joint Venture licences in the vicinity of Kiziltepe. Initial results show several high chargeability and high resistivity anomalies identified in the two-dimensional inversion models, which are interpreted to coincide with mineralised vein systems and their related alteration.  Zones with resistivities greater than 150 Ohm.m and chargeabilities greater than 12mV/V were identified as explicit high resistivity and chargeability anomalies respectively. At Kepez West, in situ outcrop is limited due to centuries of agricultural re- working of the rock outcrops.  Surface gold grades from quartz float and subcrop are encouraging (approx. 10 g/t Au in places) and analysis of these and the local geology suggest that there are several obscured vein systems in this location.  The results of the geophysical programme show a series of E-W trending resistivity anomalies, which are likely to represent mineralised quartz veins.  The high resistivity areas coincide with low chargeability to the west and high chargeability to the east, suggesting a substantial increase in disseminated sulphide minerals to the east. At Karakavak, high resistivity and chargeability anomalies in the ophiolitic host rock to the northwest indicate a probable sulphide-rich and partially silicified body that lies near to surface.  Several narrow and high resistivity areas in the centre of the programme area suggest that two main gold-bearing quartz veins at the prospect, Vein 11 and Vein 12, are connected by a sub- surface structure which may be mineralised (Figure 2).  This is reinforced by previous mapping of surface float in the region, and will be confirmed by a drilling programme.  Connecting Vein 11 and 12 with a sub-surface vein would provide a total of 1.7km of mineralised strike-length.  Small trial pits opened over Vein 12 have confirmed its surface width and grade satisfactorily. Further interpretation of the geophysical data in parallel with geological and geochemical datasets will be undertaken while planning a new drilling programme, to ensure that robust exploration criteria have been established. Figure 2: Example cross-section of resistivity data from the Karakavak prospect.  Among several obvious resistivity features, note the probable high- angle buried vein target at ca. 1000m along the profile. Contacts: Ariana Resources plc Tel: +44 (0) 20 7407 3616 Michael Spriggs, Chairman Kerim Sener, Managing Director Beaumont Cornish Limited Tel: +44 (0) 20 7628 3396 Roland Cornish / Felicity Geidt Fairfax I.S. PLC Tel: +44 (0) 20 7598 5368 Ewan Leggat / Laura Littley St Brides Media & Finance Ltd Tel: +44 (0) 20 7236 1177 Hugo de Salis / Susie Geliher Editors' note: Dr Kerim Sener, BSc (Hons), MSc, PhD, is the Managing Director of Ariana Resources plc.  A graduate of the University of Southampton in Geology, he also holds a Master's degree from the Royal School of Mines (Imperial College, London) in Mineral Exploration and a doctorate from the University of Western Australia.  He is a Fellow of The Geological Society of London and has worked in geological research and mineral consultancy in Southern Africa and Australia. He has read and approved the technical disclosure in this regulatory announcement. About Ariana Resources Ariana is an exploration and development company focused on epithermal gold- silver and porphyry copper-gold deposits in Turkey.  The Company is developing a portfolio of prospective licences selected on the basis of its in-house geological and remote-sensing database, on its own in western Turkey and in Joint Venture with European Goldfields Limited in north-eastern Turkey. European Goldfields owns 51% of this joint venture and, as the operator, is fully funding all exploration work on the JV properties until delivery of a feasibility study. The Company's flagship assets are its Sindirgi and Tavsan gold projects which form the Red Rabbit Gold Project.  Both contain a series of prospects, within two prolific mineralised districts in the Western Anatolian Volcanic and Extensional (WAVE) Province in western Turkey.  This Province hosts the largest operating gold mines in Turkey and remains highly prospective for new porphyry and epithermal deposits.  These core projects, which are separated by a distance of 75km, are presently being assessed as to their economic merits and now form part of a Joint Venture with Proccea Construction Co.  The total resource inventory of the Company stands at 448,000 ounces of gold equivalent. Ariana also has a strategic investment in Tigris Resources Limited (www.tigrisresources.com), a private Jersey-based exploration company, which is focused on the exploration of copper and gold deposits in southeastern Turkey. Ariana retains 15% of Tigris Resources Limited. Fairfax I.S. PLC are 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 Geophysical Results on Red Rabbit: http://hugin.info/138153/R/1534034/467437.pdf This announcement is distributed by Thomson Reuters on behalf of Thomson Reuters clients. The owner of this announcement warrants that: (i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and other applicable laws; and (ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein. Source: Ariana Resources plc via Thomson Reuters ONE [HUG#1534034]
UK 100

Latest directors dealings