Soil Survey Results

Ariana Resources PLC 16 November 2005 16 November 2005 AIM: AAU ARIANA DEFINES LARGE GOLD GEOCHEMICAL ANOMALY AT KINIK PROSPECT IN TURKEY Ariana Resources plc ('Ariana' or 'the Company'), the gold exploration company focused exclusively on Turkey, announces the discovery of a significant gold in soil anomaly at the Company's 100% owned Kinik gold prospect in Balikesir Province, western Turkey. * Substantial gold in soil geochemical anomaly identified * Presence of potentially significant gold system strongly indicated * Systematic follow-up programme to be undertaken This extensive (750m by 50m) anomaly was defined during a soil sampling programme designed to test the extent of gold mineralisation located on the Kinik prospect by reconnaissance channel sampling in 2004. In October 2005, an area covering 0.7km x 1.3km was sampled at 100m line spacing, with a total of 230 soil samples collected at intervals of between 25m and 50m. The anomaly has been defined by samples exceeding a threshold of 0.1 g/ t gold. Of the total samples, 18 (9%) returned values above 0.1 g/t. The peak soil value was 1.22 g/t Au. Future work on the Kinik prospect will include an extension of the soil grid and a systematic programme of rock-chip and channel sampling to test the continuity of the mineralised zone. Steven Poulton, Chief Executive, commented: 'We are very pleased with the results from the soil survey at the Kinik gold prospect, which strongly indicate the presence of a potentially significant gold mineralised system. 'The discovery testifies to the speed and cost effectiveness of Ariana's technology-driven exploration model. We are well positioned to make and advance further discoveries from our proprietary database, which has so far enabled the Company to build a portfolio of some 61 prospective licences across over 1,000km2 of Turkey'. Contacts: Ariana Resources plc Steven Poulton, Chief Executive Tel: 01235 511 767 s.j.poulton@arianaresources.com Mobile: 0797 408 6712 Bankside Consultants Michael Padley / Susan Scott Tel: 020 7367 8888 Editors note: About the Kinik Gold Prospect The Kinik gold prospect was discovered by the Company's in house remote sensing database and covers an area of 1,084 hectares. The prospect forms part of the Ivrindi project which covers an area of 4,826 hectares in Balikesir province, western Turkey. Kinik prospect area was identified during analysis of the Company's in-house remote-sensing database which intersected 48m of mineralisation along a road-cut. The channel contained higher grades zones of 3.21 g/t over 10m, 3.09 g /t over 5m and 1.4 g/t over 13m (using a 0.5 g/t Au cut-off) with a peak grade of 10.42 g/t Au. Previous rock-chip sampling undertaken by the Company at two separate locations 250m and 900m east and northeast, respectively, of the original channel has returned grades above 1 g/t. The Kinik gold prospect is situated in a regional-scale structural corridor which contains known occurrences of epithermal gold-silver and antimony mineralisation. The prospect area contains Late Oligocene to Mid-Miocene age, variably altered, andesitic volcanic rocks, which are juxtaposed against limestone of Permo-Triassic age. The juxtaposition of these units is caused by a series of closely-spaced, ENE-trending, north- and south-dipping normal faults related to graben formation during the Late Miocene. Sampling and Assaying Procedures All samples have been prepared by the ALS Chemex preparation facility in Izmir and analysed by fire assay for gold and multi-element ICP-AES at the ALS Chemex laboratory in Vancouver. Dr Kerim Sener, BSc (Hons), MSc, PhD, is Ariana's Exploration Director. 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 the Northern Territory of Australia. He has read and approved the technical disclosure in this regulatory announcement. About Ariana Resources Ariana is a technology-driven exploration company focused on the discovery of multi-million ounce potential epithermal gold-silver and porphyry copper-gold deposits within the Tethyan metallogenic belt of Turkey. The Company has a portfolio of prospective licences covering over 1,000km2, selected on the basis of its advanced in-house remote sensing database. Ariana's broker is Ambrian Partners Limited 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
UK 100

Latest directors dealings