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Ariana Resources has reported a 9% increase in the In-Pit Mineral Resource Estimate for its Dokwe Gold Project in Zimbabwe, bringing the total to 1.42 million ounces of gold. This update, supported by a refined geological model, further solidifies Dokwe’s position as one of Zimbabwe’s largest undeveloped gold assets.
By Ryan Chigoche
The company is now preparing for additional drilling in 2025 to refine the resource and advance the project’s development.
With a refined geological model and an enhanced resource base, the company is optimistic about Dokwe’s future as one of Zimbabwe’s largest undeveloped gold assets. This milestone comes as Ariana progresses through the feasibility stage, positioning the project for future development and long-term growth.
The updated In-Pit Measured and Indicated MRE now stands at 19.7 million tonnes at 1.54g/t gold, totaling 977,000 ounces of gold, based on a reporting cut-off of 0.6g/t Au. When considering the total resource across Measured, Indicated, and Inferred categories, the Dokwe Project holds 44.9 million tonnes at 0.98g/t Au, which equates to 1.42 million ounces of gold at a 0.3g/t Au cut-off.
This 9% increase over the July 2024 pit optimization adds significant flexibility to the project, providing Ariana with valuable options for the scheduling and staging of operations in the future.
This enhanced resource estimate sets a strong foundation for advancing the project towards its next phase of development. With the potential to build a 2Mtpa processing plant and achieve a production rate of up to 100,000 ounces of gold annually over a 10-year mine life, Ariana is moving forward with a strategic, phased approach to development.
Dr. Kerim Sener, Managing Director of Ariana Resources, emphasized the long-term vision for Dokwe, noting its position as an advanced, high-value asset at the feasibility stage.
“This is an absolutely superb result for the company and our shareholders. Dokwe is now an advanced, high-value asset at the feasibility stage, demonstrating the potential to develop into a 2Mtpa operation with a production rate of up to 100,000 ounces of gold per year over a 10-year mine life,” Dr. Sener commented.
He further explained the company’s strategy:
“As we move forward with the Feasibility Study, we’re focused on staging our development to minimize upfront capital expenditure, maximize early revenue, and maintain significant long-term optionality across the production schedule.”
“The revised optimized in-pit resource is supported by improved confidence in the underlying geological model. This outcome resulted from the work undertaken by our technical team, which dedicated several months to an extensive reappraisal of the geology and other technical details of the Dokwe deposit. I take this opportunity to thank them for their extremely valuable contributions.”
“We are looking forward to fine-tuning other elements of our Feasibility Study through 2025, including a new drilling program that we plan to commence in June. This program will involve additional drilling for metallurgical and geotechnical purposes, as well as resource confirmatory and step-out drilling.”
“Based on our current understanding of the broader exploration opportunity in the region, we fully expect Dokwe can be developed into a major mining hub in the longer term and as one of the most significant developments of its kind in Zimbabwe,” Sener said.
This updated resource estimate follows an extensive reappraisal of the geological model, which has greatly improved the estimation of the higher-grade zones within the deposit. In particular, the Dokwe North deposit, which forms a crucial part of the project, is hosted within Archaean volcanic rocks that have been folded, metamorphosed to greenschist facies, and sheared over time.
The deposit is particularly rich in gold where sub-vertical shear zones intersect with lithological contacts that dip southeast at a moderate angle. The principal host rocks for gold mineralization include dacite, tuff, and porphyry, and these zones are often characterized by coarse visible gold.
The refinement of this geological model has significantly increased confidence in the resource and solidified Ariana’s plans for future exploration.
Dr. Sener expressed his gratitude for the hard work put in by the technical team:
“I want to thank our technical team for their incredibly valuable contributions during this process. Their efforts have been instrumental in improving the geological model and enhancing the resource estimate.”
Located 110 km west of Bulawayo in the Tsholotsho District, the Dokwe Gold Project lies within the western extension of the Bulawayo-Bubi Greenstone Belt. The project encompasses both the Dokwe North and Dokwe Central deposits, which are set within a highly prospective geological region. With its robust resource base and high-quality geological environment, Dokwe is well-positioned to play a pivotal role in Zimbabwe’s gold mining future.
Looking ahead, Ariana Resources is preparing to launch a new drilling program in June 2025, which will focus on key areas such as metallurgical and geotechnical studies, as well as resource confirmatory and step-out drilling. This new phase of drilling will provide further insights into the deposit and refine the resource as the company moves towards full-scale development.
Ariana Resources is an AIM-listed mineral exploration and development company with a strong track record of generating value for its shareholders. Its diverse portfolio spans multiple regions, including a major gold development project in Zimbabwe, gold production in Türkiye, and copper-gold exploration projects in Cyprus and Kosovo.
Ariana owns 100% of the Dokwe Gold Project, which includes both the Dokwe North and Dokwe Central deposits in the Tsholotsho District near Bulawayo. As of March 2025, the project boasts a combined in-pit JORC Measured, Indicated, and Inferred Resource of over 1.42 million ounces of gold, making it the largest undeveloped gold project in Zimbabwe and a key asset in the country’s rapidly growing mining sector.