Turkey-focused miner Ariana Resources is considering increasing the mill throughput at its Kiziltepe silver and gold mine, targeting output in excess of 180 000 t/y. The company on Tuesday said that after mill availability having increased to over 95% during May, the process recoveries of gold and silver were currently trending considerably higher than feasibility study expectations and leach times were faster than predicted. Ore grade input in to the mill has been increased during ramp-up and averaged 2.5 g/t gold and 24 g/t silver in May, with further increases expected during the second half of the year.
