Aton Resources Inc. (AAN: TSX-V) (“Aton” or the “Company") is
pleased to update investors on the latest assay results from the
Phase 2 diamond drilling programme at its advanced Rodruin gold
exploration project, located in the Company’s 100% owned Abu
Marawat Concession (“Abu Marawat” or the “Concession”), in the
Eastern Desert of Egypt.
Highlights:
- Results
are now available from a further 11 drill holes, ROD-080 to
ROD-090. Holes ROD-080 to ROD-085 were drilled in the Aladdin’s
Hill area with 2 holes twinning RC percussion holes from the 2018
RC drilling programme. Holes ROD-086 to ROD-090 were drilled to
test oxide resources at the Central Buttress Zone;
- Holes
ROD-082 and ROD-084 both intersected wide zones of mineralisation
from surface, associated with phyllic altered sediments, at
Aladdin’s Hill returning 2.99 g/t Au and 5.3 g/t Ag over a
53.4m interval (hole ROD-082), and 2.33 g/t Au and
6.6 g/t Ag over a 53.6m interval (hole ROD-084);
-
Correlation of the results from the 2 twin holes, ROD-082 and
ROD-083, with the original RC holes was good;
- 4 holes
were drilled from a single pad at the eastern edge of the CBZ, and
all returned wide intersections of mineralisation, including
1.07 g/t Au and 14.5 g/t Ag over 42.25m from
surface (ROD-088);
- 2 of the
drill holes intersected visible gold in phyllic altered oxidised
sediments, ROD-083 and ROD-087, further indicating the potential
for additional discrete zones of high grade, coarse gold bearing
mineralisation within the general Rodruin area.
“This latest tranche of drill results continues
to show the potential of the Rodruin deposit, as we work towards
establishing the maiden mineral resource estimate” said Tonno Vahk,
Interim CEO. “Aton’s focus is now very much on moving towards the
new mineral resource estimates at both Rodruin and Hamama West,
with the diamond drilling continuing at Rodruin, and the RC
resource infill programme virtually complete at Hamama. We continue
to work hand in hand with our partners at the Egyptian Mineral
Resources Authority towards the issuance of the long term mining
licence covering both deposit areas, which will give the Company
the flexibility to initially mine the oxide resources before moving
on to the longer term big prize of developing the deep sulphide
resources. We are also continuing to hold fruitful discussions with
a number of parties as we look to move this long term strategy
forwards, including drilling some of our other exciting regional
exploration prospects, and the ongoing identification of excellent
grades and thicknesses of mineralisation at surface at Rodruin is
just another important step along this road towards the full
development of the exploration potential of the Abu Marawat
Concession.”
Rodruin diamond drilling
programme
The Rodruin prospect was discovered in December
2017 by Aton geologists (see news release dated December 14, 2017),
and is located approximately 18km east of the Company’s Hamama West
mineral deposit (Figure 1). During 2018, Aton constructed a c.
4.5km access road to the prospect, and undertook a highly
successful 50 hole Phase 1 reverse circulation percussion (“RC”)
drilling programme, which returned numerous mineralised intercepts
and intersected gold mineralisation in virtually every hole (see
news release dated January 29, 2019).
The ongoing Phase 2 diamond drilling programme at
Rodruin commenced in late November 2021, and oxide zone results
reported to date include 88.25m grading 1.74 g/t Au and 9.7 g/t Ag,
from 25.75m (hole ROD-055, see news release dated March 1, 2022),
and 129.5m grading 1.00 g/t Au and 8.8 g/t Ag, over the entire
length of hole ROD-056 from its collar (see news release dated
March 7, 2022). Recent drill testing of deeper sulphide
mineralisation has returned intersections including 88.6m grading
5.76 g/t Au, 42.0 g/t Ag, 0.31% Cu and 2.40% Zn (hole ROD-071, see
news release dated May 10, 2022), and 36.9m grading 7.04 g/t Au,
47.2 g/t Ag, 0.63% Cu and 7.18% Zn (ROD-075, see news release dated
June 1, 2022).
Discussion of results
The current diamond drilling programme has been
designed with the specific objective of delineating and
establishing a maiden mineral resource estimate (“MRE”) at Rodruin.
Holes ROD-080 and ROD-081 (Figure 2) were drilled to follow up on
the previously reported high grade sulphide mineralisation
discovered northeast of Aladdin’s Hill (see news releases dated May
10, 2022 and June 1, 2022). Holes ROD-082 to ROD-085 were all
drilled to test outcropping surface mineralisation at the Aladdin’s
Hill zone (Figure 2), with 2 of the holes, ROD-082 and ROD-083,
designed as twin holes to test the results from the 2018 RC
programme. Holes ROD-086 to ROD-089 were drilled from a single pad
on the difficult to access eastern flank of the gossanous carbonate
hosted mineralisation at the Central Buttress Zone (“CBZ”), with
hole ROD-090 also designed to test this zone (Figure 3). Collar
co-ordinates of all holes are provided in Table 1.
Hole ID |
Collar co-ordinates 1 |
Dip 2 |
Grid azimuth 2 |
EOH depth (m) |
Comments |
X |
Y |
Z |
ROD-080 |
552542.7 |
2913096.0 |
733.0 |
-49.7 |
277.9 |
231.10 |
Aladdin’s Hill NE |
ROD-081 |
552504.8 |
2913101.0 |
736.3 |
-48.9 |
273.6 |
155.50 |
Aladdin’s Hill NE |
ROD-082 |
552354.6 |
2913013.1 |
786.8 |
-54.7 |
185.4 |
60.60 |
Aladdin’s Hill |
ROD-083 |
552353.3 |
2913021.8 |
787.1 |
-80.0 |
345.2 |
153.50 |
Aladdin’s Hill |
ROD-084 |
552325.8 |
2913016.5 |
790.0 |
-37.5 |
180.7 |
63.60 |
Aladdin’s Hill |
ROD-085 |
552309.8 |
2913032.2 |
783.7 |
-49.9 |
198.6 |
86.00 |
Aladdin’s Hill |
ROD-086 |
552691.4 |
2912907.1 |
765.3 |
-60.0 |
329.3 |
75.30 |
Central Buttress Zone |
ROD-087 |
552693.9 |
2912903.8 |
765.3 |
-54.8 |
007.5 |
102.30 |
Central Buttress Zone |
ROD-088 |
552690.6 |
2912908.5 |
765.3 |
-84.4 |
112.2 |
59.90 |
Central Buttress Zone |
ROD-089 |
552693.2 |
2912900.1 |
765.2 |
-50.0 |
163.3 |
56.10 |
Central Buttress Zone |
ROD-090 |
552696.2 |
2912792.4 |
776.2 |
-49.9 |
013.3 |
26.50 |
CBZ / SPZ |
Notes: 1) Collar
co-ordinates surveyed by Leica TCRA1203+ R1000 Robotic total
station 2) Collar
surveys of drill holes undertaken at c. 5-6m depth, using Reflex
EZ-Trac survey
tool 3) All
co-ordinates are UTM (WGS84) Zone 36R |
Table 1: Collar details of diamond
drill holes ROD-080 to ROD-090
ROD-080 and ROD-081
Holes ROD-080 and ROD-081 were drilled on a
westerly azimuth (Figure 2) to provide further information on the
potential orientation of the high grade blind mineralisation
previously intersected in holes ROD-071 and ROD-075 (see news
releases dated May 10, 2022 and June 1, 2022).
Both holes intersected wide zones of
mineralisation, with hole ROD-080 returning 0.83 g/t Au, 7.8 g/t Ag
and 1.35% Zn over an interval of 35.85m from 137.65m downhole depth
(see Table 2). Aton’s geologists are reviewing these results and
the associated structural data from orientated core, and further
follow-up drilling is planned in this area.
ROD-082 to ROD-085
ROD-082 to ROD-085 were drilled to test
outcropping surface mineralisation at the Aladdin’s Hill zone
(Figure 2), with 2 of the holes, ROD-082 and ROD-083, designed as
twin holes to test the results from the 2018 RC programme.
The 2 holes ROD-082 and ROD-084 which tested the
block of phyllic hosted mineralisation at Aladdin’s Hill both
returned wide intersections from surface: 2.99 g/t Au and
5.3 g/t Ag over a 53.4m interval (hole ROD-082), and
2.33 g/t Au and 6.6 g/t Ag over a 53.6m interval
(hole ROD-084), see Table 2. Hole ROD-084 intersected a 5m wide
underground mining void, which was allocated zero grade, indicating
the presence of significant high grade mineralisation at Aladdin’s
Hill, which would have been the target of the ancient miners. Holes
ROD-083 and ROD-085 also returned lower grade mineralised
intersections, associated with gossanous carbonates, including 1.56
g/t Au and 4.2 g/t Ag over a 7.25m interval also from 10.75m (hole
ROD-085).
Holes ROD-082 and ROD-083 were specifically
designed to twin holes ROP-003 and ROP-011 from the 2018 RC
programme at Rodruin (see news releases dated October 1, 2018 and
November 12, 2018).
Hole ROD-082 returned a mineralised intercept of
35.5m @ 4.27 g/t Au, 6.8 g/t Ag, 0.20% Cu and 0.14%
Zn from 4.5m downhole depth (Table 2), which correlates
favourably with the previously reported mineralised intercept of
36m @ 5.38 g/t Au, 9.3 g/t Ag, 0.20% Cu and 0.19% Zn, from 5m (see
Table 2 in news release dated October 1, 2018, as reported with a
30 g/t Au top cut). Differences in the gold grades between ROP-003
and ROD-082 are largely attributable to high grade, presumably
nuggety coarse gold bearing samples in both ROP-003 and ROD-082.
ROD-082 assayed 22.2 g/t Au between 10-11.05m (cf. ROP-003, 221.0
g/t Au between 9-10m), and 12.67 g/t Au over 4.5m from 24.7m (cf.
ROP-003, 19.24 g/t Au over 3m from 22m, including a single assay of
94.3 g/t Au), adjacent to an old narrow mining void.
The surface intersection from ROD-083 (28.4m @
0.61 g/t Au and 4.5 g/t Ag, Table 2) correlated very closely with
that from hole ROP-011 (27m @ 0.58 g/t Au and 4.0 g/t Ag,
previously reported as 11m @ 0.88 g/t Au and 4.9 g/t Ag, from 16m,
see news release dated November 12, 2018).
Furthermore, visible gold was identified at 110m
in hole ROD-083, in a mineralised zone grading 1.18 g/t Au over an
interval of 8.30m, from 108.8m downhole depth, again associated
with phyllic alteration. While the sample containing visible gold
returned an assay of only 2.80 g/t Au, this zone indicates the
potential for additional zones of high grade coarse gold bearing
mineralisation associated with phyllic alteration.
The results from these newly reported diamond
holes ROD-082 and ROD-083 very closely correlate with the grade
distribution in holes ROP-003 and ROP-011, and tend to confirm the
validity of the results from the RC programme.
Hole ID |
Intersection (m) 1 |
Au (g/t) |
Ag (g/t) |
Cu (%) |
Pb (%) |
Zn (%) |
Comments |
From |
To |
Interval |
ROD-080 |
137.65 |
173.50 |
35.85 |
0.83 |
7.8 |
0.12 |
0.02 |
1.35 |
Aladdin’s Hill NE (“AHNE”) |
incl. |
137.65 |
147.64 |
9.99 |
1.88 |
14.3 |
0.19 |
0.01 |
2.36 |
ROD-081 |
117.60 |
140.00 |
22.40 |
0.37 |
8.1 |
0.07 |
0.02 |
0.55 |
AHNE, NSA > 0.81 g/t Au |
ROD-082 |
0.00 |
53.40 |
53.40 |
2.99 |
5.3 |
0.17 |
0.09 |
0.17 |
Aladdin’s Hill (“AH”), includes 1.7m of voids/ cavities (twins RC
hole ROP-003). |
incl. |
4.50 |
40.00 |
35.50 |
4.27 |
6.8 |
0.20 |
0.12 |
0.14 |
incl. |
24.70 |
29.20 |
4.50 |
12.67 |
11.0 |
0.80 |
0.10 |
0.09 |
ROD-083 |
0.00 |
28.40 |
28.40 |
0.61 |
4.5 |
0.02 |
0.00 |
0.37 |
AH, includes 1.5m of voids/cavities (twins RC hole ROP-011).
Visible gold at 110m |
78.30 |
88.50 |
10.20 |
0.70 |
7.7 |
0.12 |
0.00 |
0.57 |
108.80 |
117.10 |
8.30 |
1.18 |
3.3 |
0.04 |
0.06 |
0.07 |
ROD-084 |
0.00 |
53.60 |
53.60 |
2.33 |
6.6 |
0.29 |
0.05 |
1.13 |
AH, includes 5.1m ancient mining void between 18.0 - 23.1m |
incl. |
0.00 |
18.00 |
18.00 |
0.96 |
9.7 |
0.39 |
0.06 |
3.20 |
and incl. |
23.10 |
53.60 |
30.50 |
3.54 |
5.9 |
0.29 |
0.05 |
0.10 |
incl. |
28.50 |
40.70 |
12.20 |
6.36 |
8.5 |
0.49 |
0.07 |
0.10 |
ROD-085 |
10.75 |
18.00 |
7.25 |
1.56 |
4.2 |
0.02 |
0.11 |
0.67 |
Aladdin’s Hill |
22.00 |
33.40 |
11.40 |
0.31 |
4.3 |
0.01 |
0.01 |
0.29 |
ROD-086 |
0.00 |
37.20 |
37.20 |
0.77 |
12.3 |
0.01 |
0.02 |
0.11 |
Central Buttress Zone |
ROD-087 |
9.70 |
58.65 |
48.95 |
0.81 |
13.9 |
0.01 |
0.05 |
0.15 |
Central Buttress Zone (abundant visible gold at c. 88m) |
86.30 |
97.05 |
10.75 |
2.43 |
14.2 |
0.01 |
0.00 |
0.09 |
ROD-088 |
0.00 |
42.25 |
42.25 |
1.07 |
14.5 |
0.01 |
0.02 |
0.15 |
Central Buttress Zone |
incl. |
16.30 |
34.10 |
17.80 |
2.01 |
18.9 |
0.01 |
0.03 |
0.24 |
ROD-089 |
0.00 |
6.00 |
6.00 |
1.32 |
10.4 |
0.27 |
0.02 |
0.60 |
Central Buttress Zone |
22.70 |
52.70 |
30.00 |
1.06 |
12.5 |
0.04 |
0.03 |
0.12 |
ROD-090 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
CBZ, NSA > 0.65 g/t Au |
Notes: 1) Intersections
calculated at a nominal cutoff grade of 0.3 g/t Au in runs of
continuous
mineralisation 2) Zones
of poor (or no) recovery through ancient mining voids/workings were
not sampled, and allocated zero grade |
Table 2: Mineralised intersections
from diamond drill holes ROD-080 to ROD-090
ROD-086 to ROD-090
Holes ROD-086 to ROD-090 were drilled to test
the eastern margin of the CBZ carbonate-hosted mineralisation
(Figure 3).
All 4 holes drilled from the single pad (ROD-086
to ROD-089) intersected wide zones of mineralisation, returning
intersections including 37.2m grading 0.77 g/t Au and 12.3 g/t Ag
from surface (hole ROD-086, Table 2), 48.95m grading 0.81 g/t Au
and 13.9 g/t Ag from 9.7m (hole ROD-087), 42.25m grading
1.07 g/t Au and 14.5 g/t Ag from surface
(hole ROD-088), and 30.0m grading 1.06 g/t Au and 12.5 g/t Ag from
22.7m (hole ROD-089). These results continue to confirm the
potential of the CBZ to host a substantial block of oxide Au-Ag
mineralisation, starting from surface.
Hole ROD-087 also intersected a deeper zone of
phyllic and carbonate altered meta-sediments which returned a
mineralised interval grading of 2.43 g/t Au and 14.2 g/t Ag over
10.75m, from 86.3m depth (Table 2). Abundant visible gold was
observed in the core at 87.8m and 88.3m, associated with narrow
quartz and quartz-carbonate veinlets in heavily phyllic altered
meta-sediments (Figure 4), again indicating the potential for
localised high grade coarse gold bearing zones at Rodruin.
Hole ROD-090 was drilled entirely in sediments
and failed to intersect significant mineralisation (Table 3), but
did intersect a 3.4m wide void, possibly ancient mining workings,
on the South Ridge Thrust structure. Gossanous meta-sediments above
this void returned a single assay result of 0.65 g/t Au over a
single metre.
Sample processing and analytical
procedures
Drill core was logged by Aton geologists, and
marked up for cutting and sampling at the Rodruin core farm.
Samples were typically selected over nominal 1m intervals, but as
determined by the logged lithologies. The core was half-cut by Aton
staff at the onsite Rodruin sample preparation facility.
The split half-core samples were collected and
bagged up in cloth bags, weighed and crushed to -4mm onsite, and
split to a nominal c. 250-500g sample size. The coarse crushed
reject samples are retained onsite at the Rodruin sample prep
facility.
QAQC samples are inserted at a rate of
approximately 1 certified reference material (or “standard” sample)
every 30 samples, 1 blank sample every 15 samples, and 1 duplicate
split sample every 15 samples.
The c. 250-500g dried, crushed and split samples
were shipped to ALS Minerals sample preparation laboratory at Marsa
Alam, Egypt where they were pulverised to a size fraction of better
than 85% passing 75 microns. From this pulverised material a
further sub-sample was split off with a nominal c. 50g size, which
was shipped on to ALS Minerals at Rosia Montana, Romania for
analysis.
Samples were analysed for gold by fire assay
with an atomic absorption spectroscopy (“AAS”) finish (analytical
code Au-AA23), and for silver, copper, lead and zinc using an aqua
regia digest followed by an AAS finish (analytical code AA45). Any
high grade gold samples (>10 g/t Au) were re-analysed using
analytical code Au-GRA21 (also fire assay, but with a gravimetric
finish). Any high grade Ag and base metal samples (Ag >100 g/t,
and Cu, Pb and Zn >10,000ppm or >1%) were re-analysed using
the ore grade technique AA46 (also an aqua regia digest followed by
an AAS finish).
About Aton Resources Inc. Aton
Resources Inc. (AAN: TSX-V) is focused on its 100% owned Abu
Marawat Concession (“Abu Marawat”), located in Egypt’s
Arabian-Nubian Shield, approximately 200 km north of Centamin’s
world-class Sukari gold mine. Aton has identified numerous gold and
base metal exploration targets at Abu Marawat, including the Hamama
deposit in the west, the Abu Marawat deposit in the northeast, and
the advanced Rodruin exploration prospect in the south of the
Concession. Two historic British gold mines are also located on the
Concession at Sir Bakis and Semna. Aton has identified several
distinct geological trends within Abu Marawat, which display
potential for the development of a variety of styles of precious
and base metal mineralisation. Abu Marawat is 447.7 km2 in size and
is located in an area of excellent infrastructure; a four-lane
highway, a 220kV power line, and a water pipeline are in close
proximity, as are the international airports at Hurghada and
Luxor.
Note Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements
Some of the statements contained in this release
are forward-looking statements. Since forward-looking statements
address future events and conditions; by their very nature they
involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results in each
case could differ materially from those currently anticipated in
such statements.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation
Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.
Qualified person The technical
information contained in this News Release was prepared by Javier
Orduña BSc (hons), MSc, MCSM, DIC, MAIG, SEG(M), Exploration
Manager of Aton Resources Inc. Mr. Orduña is a qualified person
(QP) under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for
Mineral Projects.For further information regarding Aton Resources
Inc., please visit us at www.atonresources.com or contact:TONNO
VAHKInterim CEOTel: +1 604 318 0390 Email:
info@atonresources.com
Photos accompanying this announcement are available
at:https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/80bda39e-925a-430c-a938-56fc5e78d59fhttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5300a76d-0bce-4684-a482-a8dc63c6f5e8https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/95c298fc-8aac-40f8-aa4d-36cefe19be8dhttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e57f4f5a-a108-4d1b-8da3-d8e2303b8f0a
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