Ariana Resources
Ariana Resources is an AIM-listed gold exploration and development company focused on precious and technology metals. Ariana aims to advance mineral resource opportunities both within its primary area of operations in Turkey and across the wider European and Eastern Mediterranean regions, within which the Ariana has specific expertise.
The demand for mineral resources is ever increasing and as such Ariana aims to contribute via its projects towards technological development, energy efficiency and the global decarbonisation agenda.
- Cash-generative, dividend paying, exploration and development company. Profitable operations producing gold and silver with a low-cost base.
- Track-record of exploration success with very low cost of discovery per gold ounce. Operations driven on the basis of an innate and fundamental understanding of ESG.
- Innovative approach to the identification of new exploration project opportunities on a global scale.
News
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Asgard Metals Fund - Investment in Annamite Resources (3 May 22)
Ariana Resources plc (“Ariana” or the “Company”), an AIM-listed mineral exploration and development company with gold mining interests in Europe, is pleased to announce the third investment of the Asgard Metals Fund (“the Fund” and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ariana), which is being developed as part of its proprietary Project Catalyst Strategy. LINK . Annamite is also a member of the NR Private Market Investor Lounge – profile link.
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Western Tethyan Resources granted three licences in Kosovo (28 Apr 22)
WTR have been granted three licenses covering a total of 239km2 and located in the vicinity of the Stanterg Mine, historically the largest Pb-Zn mine in Europe. WTR is 75% owned by Ariana Resources. MORE
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EXPLORATION ALLIANCE AND INVESTMENT AGREEMENT (24 Mar 22)
Ariana Resources plc (“Ariana” or the “Company”), an AIM-listed mineral exploration and development company with gold mining interests in Europe, is pleased to announce an Exploration Alliance Agreement (the “Alliance”) and investment with Newmont Corporation (“Newmont”) regarding exploration in south-eastern Europe via Ariana’s 75%-owned Western Tethyan Resources Ltd (“WTR”). MORE
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VENUS MINERALS IPO UPDATE (21 Mar 22)
Ariana Resources plc (“Ariana” or “the Company”), the AIM-listed mineral exploration and development company with gold mining interests in Europe, is pleased to provide an update on Venus Minerals Ltd (“Venus”)*. Venus is focused on the exploration and development of copper and gold assets in Cyprus and is 50% owned by Ariana and its beneficial ownership will remain dominated by Cypriot and British shareholders. MORE
Projects
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Target Deposit Types
- Strategy developed on the basis of a probabilistic approach to maximise the odds of exploration success.
- Targeting based on the Mineral Systems Model, specifically in the context of volcanic arcs.
- Focused primarily on exploring for major precious metal deposits, particularly those that have potential scalability.
- Secondary focus on technology metals, specifically copper, which contribute to the development of a greener economy.
- Exploration focused on areas with high preservation potential, with a particular emphasis on discovering covered deposits.
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Kiziltepe gold-silver mine (Turkey)
- Average of 21,000 ounces gold per annum, production commenced in 2017.
- US$490 per ounce average cost of production (lower quartile).
- Enhanced throughput from 2021 due to capacity increase up to 400,000 tpa. steady-state.
- Further four year mine life expected at enhanced processing rate, with additional upside for further discovery.
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Tavsan gold-silver project (Turkey)
- 30,000 ounces gold per annum, expected from feasibility study.
- Production expected to commence in early 2023, following EIA related permitting and land acquisition.
- US$630 per ounce cost of production.
- Eight year mine life expected through further extension.
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Salinbas gold-silver project (Turkey)
- US$8 million already committed in cash to the project by Ozaltin Holding.
- 50,000 ounces gold per annum, over a 10 year mine life projected in scoping study.
- 1.5 million ounce gold JORC Measured, Indicated and Inferred Resource with scope for further growth.
- Au-Ag mineralisation at Salinbas lies immediately adjacent to the Ardala polyphase Au-Cu-Mo porphyry.
- Highly prospective region within the multi-million ounce Artvin Goldfield, which contains 4Moz Hot Maden project 16km to the south.
- Further drilling underway leading to further resource definition.
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Venus Minerals Limited (Cyprus; IPO planned)
- 50%: partnership with Semarang Enterprises Ltd.
- Developing advanced projects & near-term production.
- 11Mt @ 0.34% copper at the Apliki Mine development project (50:50 partnership with HCM).
- 16.6Mt @ 0.45-1.10% copper at the Magellan Project.
- Significant gold recently identified in drilling at the Magellan Project e.g. 129m @ 0.5% Cu + 0.55g/t Au.
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Western Tethyan Resources Ltd (Kosovo)
- 75%: partnership with specialist board having regional expertise and a track-record of success.
- Eastern European exploration portfolio targeting the discovery of major copper-gold mineral systems.
- 300km2 of initial licence areas applied for in Kosovo.
- Project assessments underway elsewhere across Eastern Europe.
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Asgard Metals Fund (International)
- Taking positions in predominantly listed exploration companies.
- Investing in potentially high-value discovery-stage opportunities, showing early development potential.
- Projects selected on the basis of a proprietary Project Catalytic Strategy.
- Selected projects receiving ≤ A$500,000 in capital and time, including expert assistance from the Ariana team.
- Investments timed optimally for maximum value accretion over near-term horizons.
- Track-record of success with 100-fold increase of value in investments to date.
- Current investments: Panther Metals Ltd, Pallas Resources
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Development Partners
Özaltın Holding A.Ş. – A private conglomerate active in Turkey and several other countries, in the construction, transportation, energy, tourism and agriculture sectors. Recent large-scale construction projects include hydroelectric dams, with installed annual power production capacity of 5.5 billion KWh and the Istanbul-İzmir Motorway Project of which it is a 22-year consortium partner.
Proccea Construction Co. – A private engineering, procurement, construction and management company providing construction, infrastructure and industrial services to public and private clients. The company specialises in the design, installation and operation of heap leach, carbon-in-leach (“CIL”) and carbon-in-pulp (“CIP”) processing plants globally.
- What Makes Us Different?
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Operations
- Expansion of operations in Turkey to develop multi-million ounce gold projects.
- Strong production growth targets.
- Proprietary “Project Catalyst Strategy” in place.
Financials
- Profitable, organically self-funding exploration & development.
- Strong cash position (US$23M), minimal investee debt.
- Developing a strategy for long-term dividend stream.
Risk
- Down-side risk backstopped by current mining operational cash-flow.
- Exposure to exploration up-side at limited risk to shareholders.
- Exploration & development focused on stable jurisdictions.
Environmental & Social
- Sustainable & profitable mineral exploration strategy.
- Measuring success on real environmental metrics.
- Committed to improving the communities within which we operate.
- Active Commitment to ESG
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- Production focus on countries utilising green-energy – Including countries committed to developing a renewables augmented grid.
- Industry leading CO2 per ounce – 0.32 tonnes of CO2 per ounce of gold vs global average of 0.80 t/oz Au.
- Carbon Reduction – Economy only air-travel is kept to a minimum. Ongoing commitment to carbon reduction programmes.
- Renewables – Solar energy / geothermal heating systems used across offices. Vehicle fleet to be converted to hybrid-EVs in the next 5 years.
- Reforestation programmes – Commitment in all areas of operation, including the voluntary planting of new trees and rewilding programmes through charitable organisations.
- Social & Community – Active community engagement and support programmes, in addition to supporting charitable local education enterprises.
- Market Performance
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Ariana consistently beat market performance of gold and gold focused ETF’s such as VanEck and Sprott Gold over the past few years.
- Ariana’s share price performance has materially outpaced its peers over several years.
- Prudent capital management and minimal dilution, enabled market funding to cover 15 years of operational and exploration needs.
- Increase in share price since commencing commercial production in July 2017 (at H2 ‘21).
- Increase in market capitalisation since IPO, demonstrating the growth and maturity of projects with time (at H2 ‘21).
- Technological Advantage
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- Early-adopter of cutting-edge technologies. Driven by in-house specialists in the geosciences.
- Taking advantage of advances in remote-sensing and geophysics.
- Team qualified in UAV operations and aerial surveying.
- Extensive expertise in portable XRF geochemical data collection and analysis.
- Geotek BoxScan platform implemented for drill sample and exploration sample analysis.
- Digital data logging directly in to cloud-based systems.
Management Team
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Michael de Villiers B. C. PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANT (SA) MIOD
CHAIRMAN – Corporate Financier – 30 years experience as financial manager at mining and chemicals operations in Africa, Eastern Europe and the United Kingdom; previously CFO of Eurasia Mining plc, Finance Director of Mercator Gold (now ECR Minerals plc), Oxus Gold plc and Navan Mining plc.
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Kerim Sener BSc (Hons) MSc DIC FGS PhD
MANAGING DIRECTOR – Exploration Geologist – 22 years experience in Africa, Australia and Europe; responsible for directing the discovery of over 4.3Moz of gold in Eastern Europe since 2007, with Ariana Resources and Genesis Resources (ASX). Non- exec Chairman of Panther Metals plc (LSE).
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Chris Sangster BSC (HONS) ARSM GDE FIMMM
NON-EXECUTIVE – Mining Engineer – 35 years experience in Africa, Canada and the United Kingdom. Previously General Manager of Caledonia Mining Corporation, Vice President Mining Services of KCM plc in Zambia. Co-founded Scotgold Resources (AIM/ASX).
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William Payne BA (HONS) ACA
NON-EXECUTIVE – Chartered Accountant – 30 years experience initially with KPMG in London, later becoming a partner in top 20 accountancy practice Wilkins Kennedy LLP, prior to their absorption in to Azets, in which he remains as regional CEO.