Ariana Resources Launches New Drilling Campaign at Dokwe Gold Project, Zimbabwe

Ariana Resources plc has initiated a major new exploration phase at its wholly owned Dokwe Gold Project in Zimbabwe, marking a key step toward expanding the company’s resource base in southern Africa. The program, launched with the mobilization of a drilling rig on site, focuses on high-potential gold targets identified through prior geological surveys and data modeling. The initial campaign comprises approximately 11,000 metres of Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling, aimed at testing priority zones across the Dokwe North and Central deposits as well as their surrounding extensions. The drilling operation is being conducted by Torque Africa Group, using the high-performance Thor 5000 rig, which is capable of penetrating more than 300 metres below surface, ideal for both shallow oxide and deeper sulphide targets.

This first phase will particularly emphasize the extensions of the Dokwe North and Central deposits, which together host a current JORC-compliant resource of 1.12 million ounces of gold grading 1.52 g/t. The program also includes a 26-hole, 4,000-metre sub-campaign designed to test a promising gold-in-soil anomaly located northeast of Dokwe North, an area that has shown encouraging geochemical signatures. Through this combination of infill and step-out drilling, Ariana seeks to both improve confidence in existing resources and uncover new mineralized zones that could significantly enhance the project’s overall scale and economic potential.

Drilling activities are expected to continue through the remainder of 2025, with initial assay results anticipated by year-end. The company’s systematic approach, anchored in data-driven exploration techniques, structural mapping, and advanced geochemical analysis, is aimed at de-risking the project ahead of potential feasibility-stage evaluations. Ariana’s continued investment in Zimbabwe also reflects growing confidence in the country’s mineral endowment and improving regulatory landscape, particularly as Harare seeks to revitalize its gold mining sector through greater foreign participation and modernization initiatives.

If successful, the Dokwe campaign could not only enlarge Ariana’s resource inventory but also position the company as a significant mid-tier player in Zimbabwe’s re-emerging gold industry. The project’s advancement may stimulate further exploration interest in the region, contributing to broader economic revitalization through job creation, infrastructure development, and foreign exchange earnings.

Mini-Glossary

• Reverse Circulation (RC) Drilling: A drilling method that uses compressed air to return rock cuttings to the surface, allowing for faster and cost-effective sampling compared to core drilling.
• JORC Resource: A mineral resource estimate prepared in accordance with the Australasian Joint Ore Reserves Committee (JORC) Code, an internationally recognized reporting standard.
• g/t (grams per tonne): A unit expressing the concentration of gold or other metals within ore; 1.52 g/t means 1.52 grams of gold per tonne of rock.
• Gold-in-Soil Anomaly: A geochemical zone showing elevated gold content in soil samples, often indicating underlying mineralization.
• Assay Results: Laboratory analyses that determine the metal content and grade of drill samples.
• Step-Out Drilling: Drilling beyond the known resource boundaries to test for possible extensions of mineralized zones.