REG - Ariana Resources PLC - Asgard Portfolio Update

Ariana ResourcesAnnouncement

26/02/2025 07:00

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RNS Number : 4162Y  Ariana Resources PLC  26 February 2025

 

26 February 2025

AIM: AAU

ASGARD PORTFOLIO UPDATE

Ariana Resources plc ("Ariana" or "the Company"), the AIM-listed mineral
exploration and development company with gold mining interests in Africa and
Europe, is pleased to provide an update on the 100% owned Asgard Metals Fund
("Asgard"), highlighting some of its associated investments and developments
in the fund. Please visit www.asgardmetals.com.au
(https://asgardmetals.com.au/) for more information.

Highlights:

·   Pallas Resources recently completed a major Joint Venture Agreement
with Ivanhoe Mines in Kazakhstan, which will solely fund US$18.7 million in an
initial phase and up to US$115 million during a subsequent phase, including up
to 217,000m of drilling.

·    Increased investment in Panther Metals in Australia to circa 4.9%,
amounting to A$125,000 in shares following an agreement to extend the Asgard
consulting input for a further year to the end of 2025.

·   Investment into Annamite Resources maintained at circa 5.9% following
a review of new exploration results for the Sokdee Cu-Au-Mo project and the
acquisition of the Vangma Cu-Mo-Zn-Au Project.

·    Altai Resources completed a high-resolution magnetic survey at
Kokpekty West, expanding the project by 50% and identifying several additional
prospects for follow-up electromagnetic surveys.

Dr. Kerim Sener, Managing Director, commented:

"We are very pleased to be able to report further significant developments
within the Asgard portfolio since our last update in January 2024.

"Exemplifying the prescience of our Asgard strategy, we are excited to report
that Pallas Resources recently entered a Joint Venture Agreement with Ivanhoe
Mines, one of the world's largest copper producers. This option and Joint
Venture Agreement will target major porphyry and sediment-hosted copper
systems within predefined areas of interest in Kazakhstan's high-grade,
world-class mineral belts. The agreement initially covers the newly acquired
Aktogay West (377km(2)) Copper Project.

"In addition, we reached an agreement to extend our consulting arrangement
with Panther Metals by a further year, which has resulted in the issue of
circa 7.5 million additional shares in the company, increasing our holding to
circa 4.9% from 2.0%. In 2024, Panther completed a Scoping Study on the Coglia
Ni-Co Project using a revised Mineral Resource of 102.9 Mt @ 0.60% Ni + 370
ppm Co*. Panther also completed exploration drill testing of several priority
gold anomalies in the surrounding project area near Laverton, Western
Australia.

"Our other portfolio companies, such as Annamite Resources and Altai Resources
continue to make good progress with their planned exploration programmes and
have been successful in identifying targets for drill testing. We look forward
to updating the market with any further investments and developments in Asgard
and providing a portfolio summary in 2026."

* All Resource figures in this announcement are quoted gross with respect to
the underlying investee company.

Pallas Resources (7% owned by Asgard):

·    Pallas has formed a Strategic Alliance and Joint Venture Agreement
with Ivanhoe Mines, a leading global copper explorer and producer.

·    Pallas and Ivanhoe hold 80% and 20% respectively of the Joint Venture
with Ivanhoe committing US$18.7 million in sole-funding an Initial Phase over
two years.

·    The partnership targets major copper systems in the Chu-Sarysu Basin,
Central Kazakhstan, one of the world's largest and most well-endowed
sediment-hosted copper basins.

·    The Chu-Sarysu Basin is home to the giant Dzhezkazgan deposit (2.0Bt
at 1.1%Cu for 22MtCu), part of a total 27Mt copper endowment, with the USGS
estimating an additional 25Mt of undiscovered copper.

·    Spanning circa 15,000km², which is larger than Northern Ireland, the
Alliance targets the basin's most prospective tracts and represents one of the
most significant land packages in Kazakhstan and the largest in the basin.

·    The Alliance combines Pallas' unmatched exploration datasets and
first-mover advantage in Kazakhstan with Ivanhoe's deep expertise in
sediment-hosted copper systems, exemplified by their grassroots discovery of
the now-producing Kamoa-Kakula Complex (third largest copper mine globally).

·    On completion of the Initial Phase, Ivanhoe will spend up to US$115
million during the subsequent Phase 1, which includes up to 217,000m of
drilling.

·    Preparations are underway for the 2025 field season, anticipated to
include large-scale geophysics, reconnaissance mapping and broad geochemical
surveys.

·      For each advancing project, Pallas is granted a net smelter
return royalty and retains a fully funded equity position (at 20%), which is
free carried through completion of a Pre-Feasibility Study (minimum 1Mt
contained copper), permitting, and Ivanhoe committing US$70 million toward
construction. Pallas holds the right to a loan from Ivanhoe to fund its equity
share, with any subsequent free cash flow divided between shareholder
distributions and loan repayments.

 Source:
 https://www.pallasresources.com/_files/ugd/92d970_8ef0e47ae817466f8a068638ff661e49.pdf
 (https://www.pallasresources.com/_files/ugd/92d970_8ef0e47ae817466f8a068638ff661e49.pdf)

 

Panther Metals (4.9% owned by Asgard):

·    Panther completed a Scoping Study on a revised Mineral Resource of
102.9 Mt @ 0.60% Ni + 370 ppm Co, containing 614,200 tonnes of nickel and
37,700 tonnes of cobalt at the Coglia Project near Laverton, Western
Australia. This yielded an NPV(8) of A$409M, IRR 31.8% and a 3.2-year payback
from an A$776.6M ten-year mine life and low pre-production CAPEX of A$376.9M.

·    A total of 4,443m of RC drilling was completed over several drill
targets contained within the Laverton Gold Project area in 2024.

·    Drilling was completed at Burtville East, returning several wide and
high-grade gold intercepts.

·    Significant gold anomalism and continuity was confirmed along the 6km
long Comet Well target, with a few narrow and moderate-grade intercepts.

·      A technical review of the existing nickel-cobalt resource at
Coglia was completed to design a new drilling programme which would enable
full conversion to JORC Compliant Indicated status, allowing the project to
advance towards a pre-feasibility study.

 Source:
 https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02908270-6A1249429
 (https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02908270-6A1249429)

 

Altai Resources (8.3% owned by Asgard):

·    Altai Resources is dedicated to exploiting the untapped copper and
nickel potential of Central Asia, specifically targeting supergiant
copper-nickel sulphide systems.

·    New geophysical programmes were completed on the Altai tenement
package, including a high-resolution magnetic survey at Kokpekty West,
expanding the project by 50% and identifying several additional prospects for
follow-up electromagnetic surveys; a recent magnetic data inversion at
Kokpekty has further refined high-priority targets.

·    Altai has appointed Rob Stuart as a technical advisor. Rob brings 25+
years of experience in magmatic systems and geophysical exploration, including
leadership roles at BHP Billiton and Desert Metals.

·    Processing of first-pass electromagnetic data at Kokpekty revealed
two large conductors with mid-range conductivity values, warranting further
follow-up. Plans are in place to extend the geophysical surveys across 20+
intrusive targets in the portfolio.

·    The team, led by Dr. Steve Beresford, conducted extensive regional
reconnaissance, refining key geological insights and confirming new growth
targets.

·    Altai will continue its exploration strategy of combining
high-resolution magnetic and electromagnetic surveys to develop a pipeline of
drill-ready targets across its district-scale holdings.

·    Altai has leveraged its first-mover status in this emerging
copper-nickel belt, with two new licenses granted at Zaysan (81km(2)) and
Kokpekty West (142km(2)).

·    The company plans to replicate its successful exploration strategy
(high-resolution magnetic and EM surveys) to quickly delineate new drill
targets within a district-scale portfolio (>530km(2)).

 Source:
 https://www.altai-resources.com/_files/ugd/92d970_bc53526ea25e4289bba82a992e3f9900.pdf

 

Annamite Resources (5.9% owned by Asgard):

·    Annamite is a junior exploration company incorporated in Singapore in
2019, with a focus on precious and base metals in Laos, SE Asia.

·    Annamite holds two tenements, Sokdee and Vangma, totalling
approximately 185km(2). These contain a significant nine-kilometre-long
porphyry trend comprising:

•           Sokdee: three major Cu-Au-Mo anomalous zones (Mouk,
Namthom and Boundary), with adjacent high-grade Au-Ag-base metal veins in
Spine and Palm.

•           Vangma: the newly discovered, 1.5km(2) Flank Cu-Mo
target, additional targets of indeterminate type located at Milky Way (Cu-Zn),
Vangma West (Cu) and Star (Mo-Zn) and the Buffalo Creek gold zone.

·    These tenements occupy an exploration gap along the Loei Belt,
between known deposits and mines to the North in Laos and to the south in
Thailand.

 Source:
 https://www.annamite-resources.com

 

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to
constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations
(EU) No. 596/2014 as it forms part of UK Domestic Law by virtue of the
European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 ("UK MAR").

Contacts:

 

 Ariana Resources plc                          Tel: +44 (0) 20 7407 3616
 Michael de Villiers, Chairman
 Kerim Sener, Managing Director
 Beaumont Cornish Limited (Nominated Adviser)  Tel: +44 (0) 20 7628 3396
 Roland Cornish / Felicity Geidt
 Panmure Liberum (Joint Broker)                Tel: +44 (0) 20 7886 2500
 Atholl Tweedie / Rauf Munir
 Zeus Capital Limited (Joint Broker)           Tel: +44 (0) 203 829 5000

 Harry Ansell / Katy Mitchell

 Yellow Jersey PR Limited (Financial PR)       Tel: +44 (0) 7983 521 488
 Dom Barretto / Shivantha Thambirajah /        arianaresources@yellowjerseypr.com (mailto:arianaresources@yellowjerseypr.com)

Bessie Elliot

 

Beaumont Cornish Limited ("Beaumont Cornish") is the Company's Nominated
Adviser and is authorised and regulated by the FCA. Beaumont Cornish's
responsibilities as the Company's Nominated Adviser, including a
responsibility to advise and guide the Company on its responsibilities under
the AIM Rules for Companies and AIM Rules for Nominated Advisers, are owed
solely to the London Stock Exchange. Beaumont Cornish is not acting for and
will not be responsible to any other persons for providing protections
afforded to customers of Beaumont Cornish nor for advising them in relation to
the proposed arrangements described in this announcement or any matter
referred to in it.

 

Editors' Note:

 

About Ariana Resources:

Ariana is an AIM-listed mineral exploration and development company with an
exceptional track-record of creating value for its shareholders through its
interests in active mining projects and investments in exploration companies.
Its current interests include a major gold development project in Zimbabwe,
gold production in Türkiye and copper-gold exploration and development
projects in Cyprus and Kosovo.

 

Ariana owns 100% of the Dokwe Gold Project ("Dokwe") in Zimbabwe. Dokwe is
made up of the Dokwe North and Dokwe Central gold deposits which are located
in the Tsholotsho District near the city of Bulawayo. The deposits have a
combined JORC Measured, Indicated and Inferred Resource of over 1.83 million
ounces of gold (as at June 2024) and the project represents the largest
undeveloped gold project in Zimbabwe.

 

The Company holds 23.5% interest in Zenit Madencilik San. ve Tic. A.S. a
joint venture with Ozaltin Holding A.S. and Proccea Construction Co. in
Türkiye which contains a depleted total of c. 2.2 million ounces gold
equivalent (as at March 2024, using a price ratio of 90 Ag to 1 Au). The joint
venture comprises the Kiziltepe Mine and the Tavsan and Salinbas projects.

 

The Kiziltepe Gold-Silver Mine is located in western Türkiye and contains a
depleted JORC Measured, Indicated and Inferred Resource of 171,700 ounces gold
and 3.3 million ounces silver (as at March 2024). The mine has been in
profitable production since 2017 and has been producing at an average rate of
c.22,000 ounces of gold per annum. A Net Smelter Return ("NSR") royalty of
2.5% on production is being paid to Franco-Nevada Corporation.

 

The Tavsan Gold Mine is located in western Türkiye and contains a JORC
Measured, Indicated and Inferred Resource of 311,000 ounces gold and 1.1
million ounces silver (as at March 2024). Following the approval of its
Environmental Impact Assessment and associated permitting, Tavsan is being
developed as the second gold mining operation in Türkiye and is currently in
construction. A NSR royalty of up to 2% on future production is payable to
Sandstorm Gold.

 

The Salinbas Gold Project is located in north-eastern Türkiye and contains
a JORC Measured, Indicated and Inferred Resource of 1.5 million ounces of gold
(as at July 2020). It is located within the multi-million ounce Artvin
Goldfield, which contains the "Hot Gold Corridor" comprising several
significant gold- copper projects including the 4 million ounce Hot Maden
project, which lies 16km to the south of Salinbas. A NSR royalty of up to 2%
on future production is payable to Eldorado Gold Corporation.

 

Ariana owns 76% of UK-registered Western Tethyan Resources Ltd ("WTR"), which
operates across south-eastern Europe and is based in Pristina, Republic of
Kosovo. The company is targeting its exploration on major copper-gold deposits
across the porphyry-epithermal transition. WTR is being funded through a
five-year Alliance Agreement with Newmont Ventures Limited (www.newmont.com)
and is separately earning-in to up to 85% of the Slivova Gold Project.

 

Ariana owns 61% of UK-registered Venus Minerals PLC ("Venus") which is focused
on the exploration and development of copper-gold projects in Cyprus, some of
which are in application, containing a combined JORC Indicated and Inferred
Resource of 16.6Mt @ 0.45% to 0.80% copper (excluding additional gold, silver
and zinc).

 

Ariana owns several investments in listed and private companies via its
Australian subsidiary Asgard Metals Pty. Ltd. ("Asgard"), which also provides
technical input into the various investee company exploration programmes.
Investments have been made in high-value potential, discovery-stage mineral
exploration companies located across the Eastern Hemisphere and within easy
reach of Ariana's operational hubs in Australia, Türkiye, UK and Zimbabwe.
Its most advanced interest is through a 2% holding of Panther Metals Limited
(ASX: PNT).

 

Panmure Liberum Limited and Zeus Capital Limited 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.

 

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