Aton Resources Inc. (AAN: TSX-V) (“Aton” or the “Company") is
pleased to update investors on the latest results from the Phase 2
diamond drilling programme at its advanced Rodruin gold exploration
project, which is located in the Company’s 100% owned Abu Marawat
Concession (“Abu Marawat” or the “Concession”), in the Eastern
Desert of Egypt.
Highlights:
- Drill
holes ROD-074 and ROD-075 were drilled to follow up on the sulphide
mineralisation intersected in hole ROD-071, which returned 5.76 g/t
Au, 42.0 g/t Ag, 0.31% Cu and 2.40% Zn over an 88.6m interval;
- Drill
hole ROD-075 returned a mineralised polymetallic sulphide
intersection grading 7.04 g/t Au, 47.2 g/t Ag, 0.63% Cu and
7.18% Zn over a 36.9m interval, from 112.1m down hole
depth, which included a very high grade zone grading 26.8
g/t Au, 142.4 g/t Ag, 1.25% Cu and 16.8% Zn over
6.9m;
- Both
holes returned intersections of oxide mineralisation starting from
surface including 2.94 g/t Au, 6.4 g/t Ag and 5.14% Zn over
36.85m (hole ROD-074), and 1.65 g/t Au, 3.7 g/t Ag
and 5.29% Zn over 19.25m (hole ROD-075);
- These
latest drillholes continue to indicate the potential for both
surface oxide and deeper sulphide mineralisation at Rodruin.
“We are again pleased to be able to report
further high grade sulphide mineralisation from Rodruin,” said
Tonno Vahk, Interim CEO. “This latest gold-polymetallic
intersection follows up on the results we reported several weeks
ago from hole ROD-071, and has returned even higher grades of both
precious and base metals. The mineralisation at Rodruin is clearly
unusual and is structurally complex, as we have appreciated since
its initial discovery, and our exploration team are working to
piece it together. As at the Hamama and Abu Marawat deposits the
base metal credits are very significant, and we are assessing
various options to see if the copper and zinc may also be viable to
recover. Meanwhile we are continuing to push ahead with drilling
the nearer surface oxide material, with our efforts focused on the
establishment of a maiden mineral resource estimate at Rodruin. The
Ministry of Petroleum and EMRA continue to advance the mining and
exploration sector in Egypt, and we are delighted to remain at the
vanguard of this process, as we work towards our goal of the
development of multiple mines on our 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 at Rodruin, which returned numerous mineralised
intersections including 36m grading 12.47 g/t Au and 9.3 g/t Ag,
from 5m down hole depth (hole ROP-003, see news release dated
October 1, 2018).
The Phase 2 diamond drilling programme at
Rodruin commenced in late November 2021, and results reported to
date include 88.25m of oxide mineralisation 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 of oxide mineralisation 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 an 88.6m interval
grading 5.76 g/t Au, 42.0 g/t Ag, 0.31% Cu and 2.40% Zn from 117.2m
down hole depth, including a very high grade 9.9m interval from
138.1m, grading 39.4 g/t Au, 261.7 g/t Ag, 0.84% Cu and 3.55% Zn
(hole ROD-071, see news release dated May 10, 2022). Holes ROD-074
and ROD-075 were drilled to follow up directly on hole ROD-071.
Hole ID |
Collar co-ordinates 1 |
Dip 2 |
Grid azimuth 2 |
EOH depth (m) |
Comments |
X |
Y |
Z |
ROD-074 |
552453 |
2913055 |
748 |
-49.1 |
358.5 |
152.80 |
Aladdin’s Hill North sulphides |
ROD-075 |
552453 |
2913054 |
748 |
-67.0 |
357.8 |
263.80 |
Aladdin’s Hill North sulphides |
Notes: 1) Collar
co-ordinates as laid out using handheld
GPS 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-074 and ROD-075
Discussion of results
Both holes ROD-074 and ROD-075 were drilled on a
northerly azimuth on the 552450E section at Rodruin (Figure 2), and
were designed to “scissor” hole ROD-070. The holes were designed
and drilled after the visible Cu-Zn sulphide mineralisation had
been logged in hole ROD-071, but prior to the receipt of the assay
results. Hole ROD-074 was designed to test foliated and strongly
quartz-sericite-pyrite (“phyllic”) altered sediments above the
South Ridge Thrust (“SRT”). Hole ROD-075 was designed to test below
the SRT, and to follow up on the visible Cu-Zn sulphide
mineralisation logged in hole ROD-071, associated with strongly
silicified and phyllic altered sediments (Figure 3). Collar details
of the 2 holes are provided in Table 1.
Both holes intersected gold-silver-zinc oxide
mineralisation from surface, as well as mineralisation associated
with the upper foliated and phyllic altered sediments, above the
SRT. Hole ROD-075 also intersected high grade
gold-silver-copper-zinc polymetallic mineralisation associated with
heavily sulphidic and siliceous, phyllic altered sediments, below
the SRT. Details of all mineralised intersections are provided in
Table 2.
Hole ID |
Intersection (m) 1 |
Au (g/t) |
Ag (g/t) |
Cu (%) |
Pb (%) |
Zn (%) |
Comments |
From |
To |
Interval |
ROD-074 |
0.00 |
36.85 |
36.85 |
2.94 |
6.4 |
0.23 |
0.02 |
5.14 |
Surface oxidemineralisation |
incl. |
0.00 |
21.50 |
21.50 |
4.65 |
6.5 |
0.31 |
0.03 |
8.04 |
|
56.60 |
63.10 |
6.50 |
0.26 |
12.0 |
0.17 |
0.05 |
7.53 |
Fault-hosted Zn |
|
102.35 |
115.90 |
13.55 |
1.15 |
5.5 |
0.04 |
0.07 |
0.36 |
Upper phyllic altered zone, above the SRT |
incl. |
110.00 |
112.00 |
2.00 |
5.02 |
3.0 |
0.02 |
0.03 |
0.22 |
ROD-075 |
0.00 |
19.25 |
19.25 |
1.65 |
3.7 |
0.49 |
0.11 |
5.29 |
Surface oxidemineralisation |
incl. |
0.00 |
14.10 |
14.10 |
2.13 |
3.3 |
0.64 |
0.12 |
7.00 |
|
73.45 |
82.60 |
9.15 |
0.96 |
10.1 |
0.28 |
0.02 |
1.40 |
Upper phyllic zone |
|
112.10 |
149.00 |
36.90 |
7.04 |
47.2 |
0.63 |
0.04 |
7.18 |
Lower phyllic/siliceous zone, below the SRT |
incl. |
112.10 |
119.00 |
6.90 |
26.8 |
142.4 |
1.25 |
0.05 |
16.8 |
|
214.40 |
221.00 |
6.60 |
0.63 |
5.2 |
0.22 |
0.12 |
2.32 |
|
Notes: 1) Intersections
calculated at a nominal cutoff grade of 0.3 g/t Au in runs of
continuous mineralisation |
Table 2: Mineralised intersections
from diamond drill holes ROD-074 and ROD-075
ROD-074
Hole ROD-074 returned an oxide intersection of
36.85m grading 2.94 g/t Au, 6.4 g/t Ag, and 5.14%
Zn from surface, associated with sheared and gossanous
silica-carbonate host rocks, again indicating the near and surface
potential of the oxide mineralisation at Rodruin. Below this
surface mineralisation the hole passed into a sequence of heavily
sheared and very talc-altered carbonate rocks, before a faulted
contact into highly foliated and phyllic altered tuffogenic
sediments, which returned a 13.55m intersection grading 1.15 g/t Au
and 5.5 g/t Ag, above the SRT. The hole ended in massive chloritic
tuffogenic sediments, after passing through another sheared contact
with the phyllic altered sediments.
ROD-075
Hole ROD-075 was drilled from the same collar
position as ROD-074, and also returned an oxide intersection from
surface grading 1.65 g/t Au, 3.7 g/t Ag, and 5.29% Zn over 19.25m,
again associated with sheared and gossanous silica-carbonate host
rocks. Below the surface mineralisation the hole passed into white
dolomitic silica-carbonate rock. The sheared contact between the
carbonate and the upper foliated and phyllic altered tuffogenic
sediments, returned a 9.15m intersection grading 0.96 g/t Au and
10.1 g/t Ag.
Below the SRT hole ROD-075 passed immediately
into a very high grade semi-massive sulphide zone which
graded 26.8 g/t Au, 142.4 g/t Ag, 1.25% Cu and 16.8% Zn
over 6.9m from 112.1m down hole depth. The mineralisation
continued below the semi-massive zone, grading 7.04 g/t Au,
47.2 g/t Ag, 0.63% Cu and 7.18% Zn, over the full 36.9m mineralised
interval. All assay results from this intersection are
provided in Appendix A. The zinc grades are particularly elevated,
with a single 1.15m sample (AHA-38409) returning an assay of 32.9%
Zn. This polymetallic mineralisation is associated with a unit of
grey to dark grey, highly siliceous, quartz-sericite-sulphide
altered rock, similar to that in hole ROD-071. After passing
through an apparently structurally controlled zone of replacive
carbonate the hole entered a zone of paler grey, foliated and
mostly unmineralised but strongly quartz-sericite-sulphide altered
rock. The hole was again terminated after passing into green
chloritic tuffogenic sediments, again with a structural contact to
the strongly phyllic altered sediments above.
Discussion
The high grade sulphide mineralisation
intersected in hole ROD-075 confirms, and is clearly from the same
zone as that seen in hole ROD-071, and occurs within a
fault-bounded block of highly altered sediments (see also news
release dated May 10, 2022). The mineralisation is structurally
controlled on a larger scale, although there are no obvious
structural controls seen within the actual mineralised zone itself,
and the sulphide mineralisation appears to be pervasive and
possibly replacive in origin. The block of altered rock which hosts
the high grade sulphide mineralisation is open at depth and along
strike, and is effectively ‘blind’ as it is located directly under
both the SRT and Upper Thrust structures (Figure 3).
Following the completion of drill hole ROD-071
core orientation equipment was ordered, with a view to orientating
core going forwards. Core orientation had not been previously
carried out due to the drilling having been undertaken entirely on
oxidised and very broken near surface material that was not
amenable to orientation. Subsequent to the completion of hole
ROD-075 the drill rig was moved back to testing near surface oxide
mineralisation, pending the arrival of the core orientation
equipment onsite and a fuller geological appraisal of the
mineralisation intersected in holes ROD-071 and ROD-075.
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.
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
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.
Appendix A – Assay results of the
ROD-075 Au-Ag-Cu-Zn sulphide intersection
Sample No. |
From (m) |
To (m) |
Interval (m) |
Au (g/t) |
Ag (g/t) |
Cu (ppm) |
Pb (ppm) |
Zn (ppm) |
AHA-38401 |
110.30 |
111.25 |
0.95 |
0.04 |
1.6 |
117 |
18 |
1365 |
AHA-38402 |
111.25 |
112.10 |
0.85 |
0.20 |
19.7 |
2300 |
29 |
1885 |
AHA-38403 |
112.10 |
113.15 |
1.05 |
10.8 |
162.0 |
9820 |
1225 |
140000 |
AHA-38404 |
113.15 |
114.30 |
1.15 |
23.6 |
155.0 |
19490 |
708 |
80900 |
AHA-38407 |
114.30 |
115.45 |
1.15 |
90.6 |
351.0 |
26580 |
224 |
120500 |
AHA-38408 |
115.45 |
116.8 |
1.40 |
9.57 |
45.4 |
8630 |
64 |
111000 |
AHA-38409 |
116.8 |
118.00 |
1.15 |
12.65 |
62.7 |
2390 |
191 |
329000 |
AHA-38412 |
118.00 |
119.00 |
1.00 |
14.4 |
94.9 |
8410 |
987 |
250000 |
AHA-38413 |
119.00 |
120.25 |
1.25 |
1.65 |
32.4 |
3830 |
93 |
61400 |
AHA-38414 |
120.25 |
121.30 |
1.05 |
1.04 |
51.9 |
7280 |
155 |
114500 |
AHA-38415 |
121.30 |
122.50 |
1.20 |
0.65 |
15.0 |
1720 |
124 |
30900 |
AHA-38416 |
122.50 |
123.55 |
1.05 |
0.75 |
6.6 |
952 |
119 |
26700 |
AHA-38417 |
123.55 |
124.60 |
1.05 |
1.26 |
12.1 |
1145 |
530 |
57800 |
AHA-38418 |
124.60 |
125.65 |
1.05 |
0.91 |
8.7 |
1085 |
272 |
53600 |
AHA-38419 |
125.65 |
126.40 |
0.75 |
1.04 |
9.9 |
1885 |
111 |
27600 |
AHA-38420 |
126.40 |
127.35 |
0.95 |
4.02 |
23.5 |
8090 |
258 |
97300 |
AHA-38421 |
127.35 |
128.65 |
1.30 |
4.32 |
14.2 |
2420 |
250 |
49200 |
AHA-38422 |
128.65 |
129.40 |
0.75 |
4.00 |
21.8 |
3740 |
220 |
61900 |
AHA-38424 |
129.40 |
130.40 |
1.00 |
0.67 |
7.9 |
1620 |
102 |
15500 |
AHA-38425 |
130.40 |
131.40 |
1.00 |
1.63 |
6.5 |
2340 |
163 |
58800 |
AHA-38426 1 |
131.40 |
132.55 |
1.15 |
0.02 |
-0.2 |
103 |
11 |
1380 |
AHA-38427 |
132.55 |
133.85 |
1.30 |
4.76 |
34.8 |
8770 |
1265 |
41500 |
AHA-38429 |
133.85 |
134.75 |
0.90 |
1.59 |
32.5 |
8310 |
920 |
110000 |
AHA-38432 |
134.75 |
135.65 |
0.90 |
2.39 |
25.9 |
5630 |
237 |
74200 |
AHA-38433 |
135.65 |
136.55 |
0.90 |
2.89 |
42.7 |
6130 |
346 |
138000 |
AHA-38434 |
136.55 |
137.50 |
0.95 |
1.76 |
38.2 |
13090 |
648 |
85500 |
AHA-38435 |
137.50 |
138.45 |
0.95 |
4.41 |
84.9 |
13420 |
670 |
99400 |
AHA-38437 |
138.45 |
139.40 |
0.95 |
11.2 |
99.5 |
15140 |
517 |
84600 |
AHA-38438 |
139.40 |
140.25 |
0.85 |
1.79 |
50.3 |
7340 |
429 |
70100 |
AHA-38439 |
140.25 |
141.15 |
0.90 |
6.09 |
24.1 |
5220 |
1045 |
30100 |
AHA-38440 |
141.15 |
142.15 |
1.00 |
2.34 |
10.9 |
3460 |
70 |
3980 |
AHA-38441 |
142.15 |
143.20 |
1.05 |
3.24 |
13.0 |
4910 |
347 |
11400 |
AHA-38444 |
143.20 |
144.20 |
1.00 |
0.92 |
1.7 |
484 |
75 |
1005 |
AHA-38445 |
144.20 |
145.25 |
1.05 |
0.76 |
4.7 |
1655 |
91 |
819 |
AHA-38446 |
145.25 |
146.20 |
0.95 |
1.98 |
8.5 |
3200 |
83 |
704 |
AHA-38447 |
146.20 |
146.65 |
0.45 |
6.18 |
82.0 |
18510 |
296 |
42200 |
AHA-38448 |
146.65 |
147.80 |
1.15 |
2.31 |
35.0 |
4130 |
213 |
52200 |
AHA-38450 |
147.80 |
149.00 |
1.20 |
1.24 |
7.3 |
778 |
131 |
18950 |
AHA-38451 |
149.00 |
150.20 |
1.20 |
0.59 |
2.1 |
564 |
49 |
5290 |
AHA-38452 |
150.20 |
151.00 |
0.80 |
0.37 |
6.8 |
1235 |
374 |
1665 |
Notes: 1) 131.40-132.55m:post-mineralisation
intermediate dyke |
Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ba4ddd74-9afe-43af-a046-e691a2b67cb7
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d7f0d424-713f-4344-98f8-f70bf2d52adc
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/471b9c4a-93f0-4bbe-9db9-1c7113c0818b
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