Arian's initial strategy is to:

• Obtain advanced and low-cost (acquisition cost) silver projects and rapidly build up resources in the ground. Arian is focusing its exploration efforts in one of the richest known silver-bearing districts in the world - the Zacatecas State of Mexico.
• Focus on short-term silver production. Arian is in the process of acquiring undervalued silver projects with the potential for profitable production at US$4.50 or less, and a resource potential in excess of 50,000,000+ ounces of silver.
• Focus on projects with prior exploration and production history, thereby reducing risks and capital costs.
• Arian's forward-looking strategy is to:
• Develop projects towards production through a combination of company development and/or Joint Venture (JV) and acquisition opportunities.
• Building shareholder leverage to silver through expanding silver resources and reserves, and eventually production per share.

Calicanto Group

Phase one, 3,000 metre drill programme began on the Calicanto group of properties in December 2006 and was completed in April 2007. 

Arian is continuing to advance two underground declines along the Calicanto and San Buenaventura structures. The Calicanto decline is currently 95 metres in and the San Buenaventura decline is 80 metres in. Run-Of-Mine (ROM) material is being stockpiled before being treated in a nearby milling facility which will indicate both head grade and recovery. Mapping and sampling is ongoing as the decline is advanced along strike.

Some of the better results from the initial phase of the Calicanto exploration campaign include >10,000 g/t Ag and 10.9 g/t Au over 1.2 m, 1,720 g/t Ag and 1.92 g/t Au over 1.7 m, 649 g/t Ag and 2.37 g/t Au over 1 m, 533 g/t Ag and 1.12 g/t Au over 2 m, 407 g/t Ag and 2.08 g/t Au over 2 m and 383 g/t Ag and 5.7 g/t Au over 1.1 m. These samples were taken from veins which are part of a wider (4.5 - 5 m) zone of stockwork mineralisation. 

For more information about the Calicanto project please click here.

San Jose Project

The San José Project, covering some 6,300 ha and 100% owned by Arian, is located about 55 km from Zacatecas City. A past producing silver, lead and zinc mine, San José is now producing on one of the three of currently demarcated mining blocks. Production will initially utilize contract mining and milling, producing up to 500 tonnes per day (tpd), with a view to, subject to sourcing additional mill capacity, increasing to 1,500 tpd. 

Given that the current NI 43-101 compliant (A.C.A. Howe International, Aug. 15, 2008) Indicated resource of 2,196,000 Mt grading 127.71 g/t Ag, 0.51% Pb, and 0.88% Zn for approximately 9.02Moz Ag, 11,200t Pb and 19,200t Zn. and the Inferred resource of 11,190,000 Mt grading 93.84 g/t Ag, 0.39% Pb, and 0.83% Zn for approximately 33.76Moz Ag, 43,400t Pb and 93,200t Zn. These resources cover seven delineated blocks situated within only 10% of the known strike length of the San Jose Vein ("SJV").

Arian will use the cash flow from the mining operation to further explore in detail the western strike (~12 km) of the SJV, including infill drilling on the current resource blocks and also some strike length extension drilling to the east. 

The mine has one main vertical shaft extending nearly 400 m and three smaller vertical shafts, all located on the SJV. There is also as a large modern underground haulage ramp extending over 3 km strategically positioned in the footwall of the SJV.

The 2009 scoping study/Preliminary Economic Assessment by A.C.A. Howe indicated robust economics for the San Jose Mine at US$14/oz silver. Since then Arian has remodelled the mining plan using a different approach - same mining technique, but different milling scenario (producing a concentrate rather than a smelter doré) as well as a higher silver price at US$18/oz and above, reflective of current and forecasted direction for silver. The results show a great deal of flexibility that maintains positive cash flow and profitable operations at the same ore grade or even at a lower ore grade cut-off due to the higher value of the contained metals.

For more information about the San Jose project please click here.

San Celso & Ojocaliente District

The San Celso property covers numerous historical workings over a number of high grade silver epithermal veins. Three main veins are exposed on the property. Arian has rehabilitated two workings to over 100 metres depth in order to access the workings and undertake detailed mapping and sampling. 

Sampling has returned bonanza grades from the vein systems, in places up to 4 metres in thickness. Historical workings have only explored the oxide portions of these veins above the water table. Geological mapping has identified additional structures on, or trending on to Arian's property.

For more information about the San Celso project please click here.

Jim Williams - Chief Executive Officer

Jim Williams is a professional geologist with more than 20 years worldwide experience for a variety of minerals. For the past six years Mr Williams has been evaluating silver (and gold) projects in Mexico and is very familiar with both epithermal and VMS systems. Mr Williams is a Fellow of the UK IMMM, a CEng and a CGeol. He is also a Eur. Ing., and a Euro. Geol. In addition, he is involved with various project financings, and is conversant with the US, Canadian and UK financial 'circuits' and this has been demonstrated over the past ~ six years. Mr Williams holds BSc, MSc and DIC degrees in geology and exploration.

Tony Williams - Chairman

Tony Williams has 30 years experience in the international mining industry, having been involved in projects in the Americas, Australia, Africa and Europe and the former Soviet Union. Mr Williams holds a number of directorships in public and private companies engaged principally in mining finance and mineral exploration.

James Crombie - Non-executive Director

Mr. Crombie holds a degree in Mining Engineering from the Royal School of Mines, London. He has over 24 years of mining experience including management in various gold and diamond projects and as a Mining Analyst, Investment Banker and Corporate Financier. Mr Crombie is on the board of, and has been Chief Executive Officer of, several listed mining companies.

James Cable - Non-executive Director

James Cable is a financial director with extensive experience at board level in quoted and enterpreneurial private companies. He has significant international and commercial experience gained in the Middle East, Africa, Far East and Europe in several business sectors including oil and construction. He has been a chartered accountant for 30 years. He is also Financial Director of an AIM listed mining company.

Tom Bailey - Non-executive Director

Tom Bailey qualified as a solicitor in 1975 and worked as an in-house lawyer for a number of years with Citibank and Chase Manhattan before returning to private practice to establish a law firm which ultimately became one of the top 500 law firms in London. Mr Bailey was the senior partner of his firm specialising in commercial law. Mr Bailey has for a number of years carried out consultancy work for various companies and now acts as consultant legal advisor to a number of companies.

Fri Dec 23, 2011

Capital Structure and Major Shareholders

The authorised share capital of the Company is unlimited with no par value.

The Company's capital structure as of the date below consists of:

Issued share capital 301,189,112

Share options outstanding

2,000,000 at GB£0.12/Cdn$0.25 expiring 4 June 2013

1,325,000 at GB£0.055/Cdn$0.10 expiring 16 July 2014

14,860,000 at GB£0.4925/Cdn$0.79 expiring 18 January 2016

300,000 at GB£0.30/Cdn$0.48 expiring 6 June 2016 18,485,000

Fully diluted 319,674,112

The Company's major shareholders as of the date below are:

Sprott Asset Management 16.97%

In accordance with the AIM Rules (Rule 26), in so far as the Company is aware, the percentage of the Company's issued share capital that is not in public hands is 19.5%

Last updated on May 17, 2011. Updated from company website 16/01/2012.