Aton reports new surface sampling results from the Zeno and Semna regional target areas
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aton reports new surface sampling results from
the Zeno and Semna regional target areas
Vancouver, British Columbia, July 31, 2023: Aton Resources Inc. (AAN: TSX-V) (“Aton” or the “Company") is
pleased to update investors with the latest results from surface sampling programmes at its Zeno and Semna
regional target areas, at the Company’s 100% owned Abu Marawat Concession (“Abu Marawat” or the
“Concession”), in the Eastern Desert of Egypt.
Highlights:
• A total of 106 selective grab samples were collected from Zeno and the Semna regional prospect
areas;
• The Semna regional samples were taken in a wide and previously unsampled area to the southeast
of the historic Semna gold mine, which has been heavily exploited by artisanal miners in recent times,
and the Zeno samples were taken from new artisanal workings where newly and/or more deeply
exposed mineralised structures had previously been sampled at or near surface;
• 34 samples were collected from the Zeno prospect area, and returned assays including 36.20 g/t Au,
15.30 g/t Au and 14.15 g/t Au . 3 more samples also returned assays greater than 10 g/t Au, and a
further 3 samples also returned assays greater than 5 g/t Au;
• 72 samples were collected from the Semna regional prospect area , and returned assays including
25.70 g/t Au, 16.55 g/t Au and 15.20 g/t Au. 4 more samples returned assays greater than 10 g/t Au,
and a further 6 samples returned assays greater than 5 g/t Au;
• The structural orientations and style of mineralisation at both prospects bear similarities to those
observed at the nearby Semna gold mine;
• This sampling programme significantly expands the area of mineralised veins and structures in the
broader Semna-Zeno area.
“We are very pleased with another set of impressive sampling results from the Semna and Zeno areas, which
significantly expands the area of known mineralisation , as well as helping us to better understand the
distribution of the mineralisation and its structural controls. The entire Semna-Zeno regional area is a very high
priority target for us, and we have now started RC drilling at Semna, and expect to start drilling at Zeno in the
middle of August” said Tonno Vahk, Interim CEO. “We continue to push ahead, and remain firmly on track to
submit our application for the mining licence at Abu Marawat in the coming weeks. We were also pleased to
have recently attended the very successful Egypt Mining Forum in Cairo, and would like to congratulate our
partners at the Ministry of Petroleum and the Egyptian Mineral Resources Authority for organising and hosting
such a great event which will surely aid in the development of the mineral exploration and mining sectors in
Egypt. We are already looking forward to next year’s event!”
Abu Marawat regional sampling programme
The Company has recently undertaken several surface sampling programmes, as part of its preparation and
planning activities for the ongoing regional RC exploration drilling programme started in May 2023 (see news
release dated May 19, 2023), and also to guide future exploration activities. Samples from the surface sampling
programme have returned assays up to and including 67.5 g/t Au from Abu Gaharish, 54.9 g/t Au from Bohlog,
and 27.6 g/t Au from Semna (see news release dated May 29, 2023), and 104.5 g/t Au from Zeno (see news
release dated June 26, 2023).
Figure 1: Geological map of the Abu Marawat Concession, showing the location of Zeno
Discussion of results
Zeno
Sampling was undertaken at the Zeno prospect area, located approximately 12 km north of the Rodruin mineral
deposit and 4 km west of the old Semna gold mine (Figure 1) . Artisanal miners have been very active in the
general Zeno area in the previous 3 years, and have excavated numerous open pit and underground workings
on what Aton believe to be potentially very high grade gold mineralised veins and structures. Previous surface
sampling by Aton of visible gold and iron oxide bearing quartz veins returned assays including 117.5 g/t Au,
100.5 g/t Au, 72.3 g/ t Au, 56.5 g/t Au and 48.3 g/t Au (see news release dated May 30, 2018) , and more
recently 104.5 g/t Au, 67.1 g/t Au and 43.0 g/t Au (see news release dated June 26, 2023).
Aton has recently completed a follow-up programme of selective grab sampling at Zeno, in areas previously
sampled in 2018 (Figure 2), but which have recently been exploited by artisanal miners. A total of 34 samples
were collected from recently mined veins and structures, or from excavations that were previously sampled at
a higher level or along strike. Selected results from the recent sampling programme are shown in Table 1, and
full assay results are presented in Appendix A.
Sample ID Project E N Sample type Au
(ppm)
Ag
(ppm)
Cu
(ppm)
Pb
(ppm)
Zn
(ppm)
AHA-45616 Zeno 555097 2924519 Grab 14.15 2.5 112 9 892
AHA-45622 Zeno 555309 2924030 Grab 11.20 2.2 387 10 301
AHA-45625 Zeno 554711 2924464 Grab 13.40 2.6 527 7 294
AHA-45640 Zeno 555265 2923672 Grab 36.20 4.2 2 9 1
AHA-45644 Zeno 555014 2924404 Grab 15.30 1.6 8 4 10
AHA-45645 Zeno 554940 2924426 Grab 10.20 1.5 13 7 25
Table 1: Selected surface sampling results from Zeno
Figure 2: Zeno prospect – sample location plan (recent imagery showing artisanal mining activity)
The mineralisation has been worked extensively in both ancient and recent times in the Zeno area and appears
to consist predominantly of narrow (typically <2m) quartz veins and quartz veined shear zones, typically hosted
within grey to pinkish coarse grained granodiorites. Some of the individual veins and workings can be traced
for 300m or more. Previous sampling has indicated that the mineralisation is hosted within both the quartz
veins and their altered and sheared wall rock. In places the veins appear to pinch and swell with some of the
underground workings reaching up to 5m width in places (see news release dated May 30, 2018).
Of the 34 samples taken during the current programme 6 (18% of the samples) returned assays greater than
10 g/t Au (see Table 1), 9 (26%) returned assays greater than 5 g/t Au, and 28 in total (82%) returned assays
greater than 1 g/t Au.
The current sampling programme has confirmed that gold is hosted in both quartz veins and their surrounding
altered and sheared wall rocks in typically narrow zones, that sometimes pinch and swell. In some locations
multiple veins were observed to coalesce together and anastomose, returning higher grades of gold
mineralisation where the shearing is more intense.
The veins are typically steep, and occur in multiple orientations, however there appears to be a dominant
orientation striking approximately east -southeast to east -northeast throughout the area, with the veins and
shear zones generally dipping between about 60° to sub -vertically to the south. There are also a number of
approximately north to north-northeast striking structures and veins that generally dip to the east, one of which
previously returned a gold grade of 104. 5 g/t Au (see news release dated June 26, 2023 ). A different north
striking structure returned a grade of 36.20 g/t Au during this phase of sampling, and Aton plans to drill these
potentially high grade structures during the upcoming RC drill programme.
The current sampling programme has considerably expanded the mineralised area and understanding of the
mineralisation at the Zeno prospect. It has also confirmed the presence of multiple high grade gold bearing
veins and structures, up to several hundreds o f metres long, throughout the general area . The style and
structural setting of the Zeno mineralisation bear s distinct similarities to that at the Semna gold mine,
approximately 4 km to the east.
Semna (regional)
An additional programme of selective grab sampling and mapping was completed in the regional Semna area,
where extensive exploitation of mineralised veins and structures has again been carried out by artisanal miners
in recent years. The area sampled in the current programme is located between 1.5 km – 4 km southeast of
the old British-era Semna gold mine (Figure 1), and had been largely been previously unsampled by Aton.
A total of 72 samples were collected in the current programme (Figure 3). In addition, 2 QAQC samples, one
blank and one duplicate sample, were inserted into the sample run sent for assaying . Selected results from
the sampling programme are shown in Table 2, and full assay results are presented in Appendix A.
Sample ID Project E N Sample
type
Au
(ppm)
Ag
(ppm)
Cu
(ppm)
Pb
(ppm)
Zn
(ppm)
AHA-45541 Semna (regional) 559969 2923599 Grab 13.45 6.0 2220 11 3070
AHA-45558 Semna (regional) 560013 2922952 Grab 13.50 6.1 3670 26 278
AHA-45560 Semna (regional) 559679 2922722 Grab 10.25 2.4 601 11 28
AHA-45571 Semna (regional) 560023 2922623 Grab 10.30 2.1 746 4 18
AHA-45586 Semna (regional) 561046 2922169 Grab 16.55 70.9 762 3000 582
AHA-45601 Semna (regional) 559847 2922376 Grab 25.70 17.1 555 6 32
AHA-45605 Semna (regional) 560023 2922102 Grab 15.20 22.7 146 1710 227
Table 2: Selected surface sampling results from the Semna regional area
Figure 3: Semna regional area prospect – sample location plan
The mineralisation worked in recent times in the Semna re gional prospect area appears to consist
predominantly of narrow (typically < 1m) quartz veins and quartz veined , carbonate altered shear zones,
typically hosted within dark green fine grained diorites. The veins and shear zones mapped and sampled are
predominantly moderate to steeply dipping to the southwest, and returned assays up to 25.70 g/t Au (AHA-
45601). Other north-south striking structures, reminiscent of the Zeno and main Semna gold mine are as,
returned assays of up to 16.55 g/t Au (AHA-45586). Some of the individual veins and workings can be traced
for 200m or more with minor apparent strike slip offsets . This sampling programme has indicated that
mineralisation is hosted within both the quartz veins and their altered and sheared wall rocks.
Of the 72 samples taken in the current programme 7 (1 0% of the samples) returned assays greater than 10
g/t Au (see Table 1), 1 3 (18%) returned assays greater than 5 g/t Au, and 42 in total (58%) returned assays
greater than 1 g/t Au.
The current sampling programme has considerably expanded the area of known mineralisation away from the
historic Semna gold mine, and has confirmed the presence of multiple previously unidentified high grade gold
bearing veins and structures, up to several hundreds of metres long, throughout the regional Semna area.
Sample processing and analytical procedures
Samples were collected in the field by Aton’s exploration teams. The selective grab samples were collected
manually, and were mostly, but not entirely, collected in situ, with some samples collected from the artisanal
miners’ residual rock dumps and ore piles, for example.
The samples were weighed and crushed to -4mm onsite at the Rodruin sample prep facility, and split to a
nominal c. 250-500g sample size. The coarse crushed reject samples are retained onsite.
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. The reject pulps were returned from ALS, and
are also retained onsite.
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).
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 sou th 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 o f
precious and base metal mineralisation. Abu Marawat is
447.7 km 2 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 Paul Angus BSc (hons), PgD, MIMMM,
FGS, Senior Exploration Geologist of Aton Resources Inc.
Mr. Angus 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 VAHK
Interim CEO
Tel: +1 604 318 0390
Email: [email protected]
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: Surface sample results
Sample ID Project E N Sample
type
Au
(ppm)
Ag
(ppm)
Cu
(ppm)
Pb
(ppm)
Zn
(ppm)
AHA-45615 Zeno 555107 2924564 Grab 0.47 <0.2 4 3 21
AHA-45616 Zeno 555097 2924519 Grab 14.15 2.5 112 9 892
AHA-45617 Zeno 555062 2924515 Grab 6.31 1.6 61 10 234
AHA-45618 Zeno 555124 2924467 Grab 1.94 1.0 8 9 9
AHA-45619 Zeno 555090 2924312 Grab 7.90 0.6 58 4 24
AHA-45620 Zeno 555267 2924436 Grab 1.63 0.3 123 5 39
AHA-45621 Zeno 555312 2924058 Grab 2.46 0.7 29 4 32
AHA-45622 Zeno 555309 2924030 Grab 11.20 2.2 387 10 301
AHA-45623 Zeno 555580 2924043 Grab 4.21 0.4 1115 2 4
AHA-45624 Zeno 555184 2924131 Grab 1.18 0.9 140 5 117
AHA-45625 Zeno 554711 2924464 Grab 13.4 2.6 527 7 294
AHA-45626 Zeno 554713 2924464 Grab 3.83 0.7 120 6 213
AHA-45627 Zeno 554639 2924415 Grab 2.45 0.2 84 7 23
AHA-45628 Zeno 554622 2924412 Grab 0.77 <0.2 29 4 8
AHA-45629 Zeno 555055 2924221 Grab 4.94 0.5 24 4 55
AHA-45630 Zeno 555033 2924219 Grab 0.36 0.2 13 3 5
AHA-45631 Zeno 555113 2924189 Grab 2.85 0.5 5 6 16
AHA-45632 Zeno 555242 2923802 Grab 1.11 0.4 249 6 601
AHA-45633 Zeno 555239 2923775 Grab 1.14 1.2 327 7 261
AHA-45634 Zeno 555075 2924082 Grab 4.10 1.6 913 8 25
AHA-45635 Zeno 554875 2924160 Grab 0.13 <0.2 18 3 13
AHA-45636 Zeno 555019 2923865 Grab 3.39 0.2 13 6 37
AHA-45637 Zeno 555150 2923710 Grab 1.78 0.3 3 4 9
AHA-45638 Zeno 555104 2923755 Grab 1.31 0.2 132 6 7
AHA-45639 Zeno 555266 2923658 Grab 6.20 1.2 12 9 50
AHA-45640 Zeno 555265 2923672 Grab 36.20 4.2 2 9 1
AHA-45641 Zeno 554700 2924596 Grab 0.66 0.3 13 2 6
AHA-45642 Zeno 554697 2924598 Grab 1.32 0.5 400 5 23
AHA-45643 Zeno 554914 2924451 Grab 1.81 0.2 3 4 9
AHA-45644 Zeno 555014 2924404 Grab 15.30 1.6 8 4 10
AHA-45645 Zeno 554940 2924426 Grab 10.20 1.5 13 7 25
AHA-45646 Zeno 554872 2924473 Grab 4.42 1.6 24 4 102
AHA-45647 Zeno 554808 2924422 Grab 3.73 0.4 15 11 27
AHA-45648 Zeno 554844 2924386 Grab 0.07 <0.2 8 4 49
AHA-45541 Semna (regional) 559969 2923599 Grab 13.45 6.0 2220 11 3070
AHA-45542 Semna (regional) 560046 2923656 Grab 0.43 <0.2 31 8 82
AHA-45543 Semna (regional) 560004 2923686 Grab 5.79 12.3 43 590 135
AHA-45544 Semna (regional) 559974 2923708 Grab 5.62 2.8 23 119 149
AHA-45545 Semna (regional) 559987 2923802 Grab 0.04 <0.2 13 6 11
AHA-45546 Semna (regional) 559885 2923593 Grab 1.20 1.4 91 315 77
AHA-45547 Semna (regional) 559854 2923443 Grab 1.39 0.6 26 23 67