Ariana Resources Plc said Feb. 1 that it secured an operational forestry permit for the Kizilcukur project, located outside its Red Rabbit gold-silver joint venture with Proccea Construction Co., in Turkey.

The permit, which is in place until September 2022, will enable trial mining to start within the central part of the Zeki Pit during 2017.

The company will now seek a blasting permit.

Managing Director Kerim Sener said the trial mining exercise will fast-track the project via an internal feasibility study, with a view to making it a satellite source of high-grade material for the Kiziltepe operations.

Ariana retains the option to sell Kizilcukur to its joint venture company at three times the exploration cost.