Ortac Resources launches new drilling programme at Kremnica gold project

Ortac Resources (LON:OTC), the AIM listed mineral exploration company working on projects in Europe, has kicked off exploration work at its prospective precious and base metals licences in south-eastern Slovakia. Ortac’s initial focus in the region is on the Cejkov exploration licence, where exploration will seek to verify the geological interpretation of data collected to date and assess the resource potential of the licence. In total, Ortac holds nine licences in the region, spanning 200 sq km.

Ariana Resources (LON:AAU) , the gold exploration and development company operating in Turkey, said this morning that it had finalised a resource estimate and scoping study report for the Kiziltepe sector of its flagship Red Rabbit project. The assessment was carried out by mining industry consultancy Wardrop and will eventually form part of a wider, ongoing pre-feasibility study of Kiziltepe.

Conroy Gold Natural Resource (LON:CGNR), the AIM listed resource company exploring and developing gold and other natural resource projects in Ireland, has begun an infill drilling programme at its Clontibret gold target in County Monaghan. This move follows the completion of a scoping study by Wardrop Engineering which yielded positive results on both technical and financial grounds and its recommendation that infill drilling should proceed.

AIM quoted mining company Highland Gold Mining (LON:HGM) has announced positive results from its ongoing exploration programme at Unkurtash in Kyrgyzstan.

Castillian Resources Corp V.CT announced January 17 assay results from the 21 drillholes of a 5,951-metre program on its Hope Brook Gold Project in Newfoundland. The drilling intersected multiple zones of gold mineralization in a new near-surface target zone in the Mine Zone-240 Connector Target, located approximately 900 metres southwest of the former Hope Brook open pit. Highlights include (including results released December 11):

Horizonte Minerals (LON:HZM), the AIM and TSX quoted exploration and development company working in Brazil, has begun a 3,000m diamond drilling programme at its Falcao gold project in the southern part of the Carajas mining district in northern Brazil, in joint venture with industry giant AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE:AU).

International Northair Mines Ltd V.INM announced January 15 assay results from 10 drillholes from the Las Carolinas Zone at its La Cigarra Silver Project in Chihuahua State, Mexico. Highlights include

By Kevin Michael Grace Victoria Gold Corp (V.VIT) announced November 27 it had signed a binding terms sheet to sell its interest in the Big Springs Gold Property in Elko County, Nevada, for US$6 million to MRG Copper LLC, a US subsidiary of Big Springs Project Pty Ltd, which is concurrently being acquired by Kimberley Rare Earths Ltd. The transaction will close in February 2013, subject to completion of due diligence.