Ariana Resources is advancing toward key milestones at its 100%-owned Dokwe gold project in Zimbabwe, with an independent mineral resource estimate and revised ore reserve statement expected later this year. The new resource estimate, prepared by AMC Consultants, incorporates approximately 11,000 meters of recent reverse circulation and diamond drilling. This data will feed into a definitive feasibility study targeted for the first quarter of 2027.
Resource and Reserve Updates
The company anticipates a revised ore reserve statement by the end of 2026, which is expected to bring Dokwe Central into reserve for the first time. Dokwe Central currently hosts about 100,600 ounces of gold at 1.41 grams per tonne, while Dokwe North accounts for nearly 1.5 million ounces of the overall 1.6 million ounce mineral resource. The May 2026 optimized pre-feasibility study increased Dokwe North’s ore reserve by 42% to 1.13 million ounces.
The new resource estimate will include extensions northeast of Dokwe North and south of Dokwe Central. Inclusion of Dokwe Central in the reserve statement would mark a significant step forward in the project’s development timeline. Ariana’s managing director, Dr. Kerim Sener, noted that the progress across the feasibility program positions the company well for the upcoming milestones.
DFS Work Progressing
Metallurgical, geotechnical, and water studies are advancing alongside resource and reserve work. Metallurgical testing is underway with strategic shareholder Xinhai in China and Independent Metallurgical Operations in Perth. Eight tonnes of samples have reached Xinhai’s Yantai laboratory, with additional testing planned in Perth.
Six geotechnical holes totaling 1,251 meters have been completed at Dokwe Central, with laboratory testing in South Africa supporting proposed open-pit design work. A 2,155-meter, 12-hole water-bore program north of Dokwe is targeting the Forest Sandstone aquifer. When Ariana reported, three holes had been completed, with the third encountering strong flows of good-quality water approximately 10 kilometers north of the project.
Read Also: Greece’s Skouries mine boosts Europe’s critical mineral supply
Knight Piésold is assessing tailings storage and site-layout options, including different tailings technologies and infrastructure positioning.
Exploration Opportunities Remain
Ariana has identified about 13 kilometers of prospective structural corridors across the project, encompassing known mineralization at Dokwe North, Dokwe Central, and Siduli. Only around 3 kilometers have been drill-tested to date. A detailed aeromagnetic survey and LiDAR program is scheduled to improve targeting across the remaining ground, with the goal of testing the untested 10 kilometers of identified shear zones.
At Dokwe North, the mineralized structural corridor extends approximately 4.5 kilometers, with at least 2.5 kilometers still undrilled. A 2,300-meter reverse circulation program is planned to test areas proposed for mine infrastructure, followed by drilling to refine geological contacts and guide future exploration.
Zimbabwe’s Gold Sector Context
Zimbabwe has a long history of gold mining but remains underexplored by modern standards. Its Archean greenstone belts share geological similarities with gold-bearing terranes in Western Australia. Gold production rose 31% to 50.6 tonnes in 2025, up from 38.5 tonnes the previous year.
The country hosts several large-scale operations, including ASX-listed Zimplats (ZIM) with a market capitalization of approximately $1.5 billion, and NYSE-listed Caledonia Mining, which operates the Bilboes gold project with 1.75 million ounces of proven and probable reserves.
