FOR IMMEDIAT E RELEASE Aton announces new drill results from Rodruin, including 7.93 g/t gold and 55.2 g/t silver over 19.28m
FOR IMMEDIAT E RELEASE
Aton announces new drill results from Rodruin,
including 7.93 g/t gold and 55.2 g/t silver over 19.28m
Vancouver, British Columbia, December 20, 202 2: Aton Resources Inc. (AAN: TSX -V) (“Aton” or the
“Company") is pleased to update investors on the latest drill results from the now completed 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 for a further 7 holes, ROD-111 to ROD-117, drilled at the Aladdin’s Hill NE
and Central Buttress Zones;
• Drill hole ROD-117 returned grades of 7.93 g/t Au and 55.2 g/t Ag over an interval of 19.28m
associated with heavily phyllic altered rocks in the Saddle Fault zone from 245.32m depth, including
198.5 g/t Au and 1,290 g/t Ag over a 0.63m interval;
• ROD-117 also returned a further intersection of 2.52 g/t Au and 30.0 g/t Ag over 21.2m from 157.7m,
and a base metal rich intersection grading 6.40% Zn and 0.28% Cu over 18.51m from 216.00m, both
in pyritic carbonate host rocks;
• Hole ROD-113 returned a mineralised intersection of 10.52 g/t Au and 13.1 g/t Ag over an interval
of 4.90m on a mineralised structure, from 74.65m depth;
• Hole ROD-112 returned a mineralised intersection of 2.05 g/t Au and 20.8 g/t Ag over an interval of
13.80m associated with the Saddle Fault zone from 171.35m depth, as well as a further intersection
of 0.85 g/t Au and 10.8 g/t Ag over 58.65m from 107.35m depth, again associated with pyritic
carbonate host rocks.
“These latest results continue to demonstrate the undoubted potential at Rodruin, as we continue to intercept
high grade sulphide mineralisation at depth, as well as high grade mineralisation in narrow discrete structures,
and broader zones of both gold -silver and copper -zinc mineralisation in carbonate host rocks ” said Tonno
Vahk, Interim CEO. “The distribution of and the controls on the mineralisation at Rodruin are certainly complex,
but the drilling continues to indicate broader zones of bulk lower grade mineralisation with more discrete zones
of significant high grade, coarse gold bearing mineralisation as our geologists have sta ted pretty much since
we first discovered the deposit in 2017. Now that this phase of drilling has been completed we are pushing
ahead with the maiden mineral resource estimate at Rodruin. We expect to have the final assay results in from
the programme by February next year, and the bulk composite metallurgical samples have been dispatched
for a second round of testwork in the UK. We are also excited to be starting horizontal drilling at Hamama East
in the New Year, now that the rig has been moved there, and where we hope be able to rapidly add incremental
mineable oxide resources to the Hamama West starter heap leach project. Aton continues to move ahead on
multiple fronts as we look forward to 2023, which we expect to be a breakthrough year for the Company, our
shareholders and our partners in Egypt. Best wishes for the holidays, and see you again next year!”
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). A 50 hole Phase 1 reverse circulation percussion (“RC”) drilling programme was undertaken
at Rodruin in 2018.
The Phase 2 diamond drilling program me commenced in late November 2021, and was completed on
December 10, 2022 (see new release dated December 13, 202 2). Significant intersections reported to date
include 88.25m grading 1.74 g/t Au and 9.7 g/t Ag, from 25.75m downhole depth in oxides (hole ROD-
055 at Aladdin’s Hill, see news release dated March 1, 2022), and 88.6m grading 5.76 g/t Au, 42.0 g/t Ag,
0.31% Cu and 2.40% Zn from 117.20m in sulphide mineralisation, associated with the “Saddle Fault zone”
at the Aladdin’s H ill NE area (hole ROD-071, see news release dated May 10, 2022) . The Energold/Global
Drilling rig has now been moved from Rodruin to the Hamama project, where horizontal drilling will resume
after the Christmas and New Year break, testing previously undrilled mineralisation at Hamama East.
Figure 1: Geology plan of the Abu Marawat Concession showing the location of the Rodruin project
Discussion of results
Results are now available for a further 7 drill holes, ROD -111 to ROD -117. These holes were drilled to test
mineralisation and structures at the Aladdin’s Hill NE (“AHNE”), and the Central Buttress Zone (“CBZ”). The
collar co-ordinates of these holes are p rovided in Table 1 below, and details of all mineralised intersections
are provided in Table 2.
Hole ID
Collar co-ordinates 1
Dip 2 Grid
azimuth 2
EOH
depth (m) Comments
X Y Z
ROD-111 552544 2913094 733 -59.8 301.9 246.20 Aladdin’s Hill NE (sulphides)
ROD-112 552576 2913055 726 -48.1 295.0 245.80 Aladdin’s Hill NE (sulphides)
ROD-113 552350 2913144 752 -48.3 181.3 143.80 Aladdin’s Hill NE
ROD-114 552417 2913124 739 -59.7 169.6 163.80 Aladdin’s Hill NE
ROD-115 552626 2913001 745 -55.0 180.8 71.70 CBZ
ROD-116 552585 2913124 735 -49.5 172.2 129.00 CBZ
ROD-117 552642 2913053 722 -44.0 279.3 270.60 Aladdin’s Hill NE (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-111 to ROD-117
Hole ID
Intersection (m) 1 Au
(g/t)
Ag
(g/t)
Cu
(%)
Pb
(%)
Zn
(%) Comments
From To Interval
ROD-111 46.60 54.05 7.45 2.53 12.9 0.05 0.01 0.11 Upper Thrust
126.00 127.85 1.85 1.62 8.8 0.32 0.15 8.69 Fault-controlled Au-Zn
220.00 239.45 19.45 1.04 19.5 0.07 0.02 0.40 Lower Thrust?
incl. 232.80 239.45 6.65 2.50 52.8 0.12 0.06 1.06
ROD-112 107.35 166.00 58.65 0.85 10.8 0.01 0.01 0.16 Lower carbonate unit
(below SRT)
incl. 107.35 129.60 22.25 1.60 21.7 0.02 0.03 0.29
171.35 185.15 13.80 2.05 20.8 0.23 0.03 2.93 Saddle Fault zone
(“phyllic zone”)
ROD-113 39.30 47.30 8.00 0.62 21.5 0.01 0.09 0.02 Aladdin’s Hill NE oxide
74.65 79.55 4.90 10.52 13.1 0.06 0.07 1.47 Fault-controlled Au-Zn
120.70 123.40 2.70 0.90 47.8 0.71 0.00 1.00
ROD-114 97.10 137.50 40.40 0.96 4.3 0.03 0.03 0.41 Saddle Fault zone (pyritic
breccia unit)
incl. 97.10 122.75 25.65 1.15 4.2 0.04 0.03 0.49
151.30 162.00 10.70 0.61 10.1 0.02 0.02 0.14 Pyritic carbonate
ROD-115 - - - - - - - - CBZ, NSA > 0.24 g/t Au
ROD-116 - - - - - - - - CBZ, no mineralisation
ROD-117 157.70 178.90 21.20 2.52 30.0 0.08 0.05 0.98 Lower carbonate unit
216.00 234.51 18.51 0.21 12.2 0.28 0.01 6.40 Lower carbonate unit
(Cu-Zn)
245.32 264.60 19.28 7.93 55.2 0.21 0.03 1.34 Saddle Fault zone
(“phyllic zone”)
incl. 253.62 254.25 0.63 198.5 1290 0.92 0.13 3.42
Notes:
1) Intersections calculated at a nominal cutoff grade of 0.3 g/t Au in runs of continuous mineralisation (excluding Cu-Zn zones)
2) Zones of poor (or no) recovery through ancient mining voids/workings were not sampled, and allocated zero grade
Table 2: Significant mineralised intersections from holes ROD-111 to ROD-117
Aladdin’s Hill NE area
5 holes were drilled at the AHNE area, with holes ROD -111, ROD-112 and ROD -117 testing potential deep
sulphide mineralisation (Figure 2) . Holes ROD -113 and ROD 114 were drilled primarily to test for potential
oxide zone mineralisation at AHNE. All holes intersected a variety of mineralisation types.
Figure 2: Aladdin’s Hill - Central Valley - CBZ area drill hole collar plan, showing holes ROD-111 to ROD-117
Holes ROD -111, ROD-112 and ROD -117 were drilled to follow-up on the high grade phyllic alteration
associated Au-Ag-Cu-Zn mineralisation drilled in holes ROD-071 and ROD-075 (see news releases dated May
10, 2022 and June 1, 2022 ), which is hosted in h ighly siliceous dark grey quartz -sericite-pyrite rock . This
mineralisation is now interpreted as being associated with a north -south striking structure beneath 2 shallow
NE-dipping structures – the Upper (“UT”) and South Ridge (“SRT”) Thrusts (see Figure 3, news release dated
June 1, 2022), and possibly where it intersects the interpreted NE-striking Saddle Fault zone at AHNE (Figure
2). The Saddle Fault zone is not a single, discrete structure, but appears to be a “dislocation zone” comprising
a series of several linked structures on various orientations, with an overall northeasterly strike. The high grade
phyllic hosted surface mineralisation at Aladdin’s Hill (12.47 g/t Au over an interval of 36m from hole ROP-003,
see news release dated October 1, 2018 and Figure 2 above) is also associated with the Saddle Fault zone.
ROD-112 returned an intersection of 2. 05 g/t Au, 20.8 g/t Ag, 0.23% Cu and 2.93% Zn over 13.80m from
171.35m depth associated with this mineralised zone. Hole ROD -117 returned a mineralised intersection of
7.93 g/t Au, 55.2 g/t Ag, 0.21% Cu and 1.34% Zn over an interval of 19.28m associated with this zone from
245.32m depth, including 198.5 g/t Au, 1,290 g/t Ag, 0.92% Cu and 3.42% Zn over a sulphide-rich 0.63m
interval from 253.62m (Figure 3). Hole ROD-117 did not intersect this zone, and was apparently still above
the SRT at the target depth in the hole.
Figure 3: Cut HQ3 sized drill core from hole ROD-117, showing the very high grade sulphide-rich
interval between 253.62m – 254.25m
Hole ROD-111 intersected a narrow zone of shallow mineralisation on the UT structure (2.53 g/t Au and 12.9
g/t Ag over a 7.45m interval, from 46.60m depth), and another zone associated with the possible “Lower Thrust”
structure (1.04 g/t Au and 19.5 g/t Ag over a 19.45m interval, from 220.0m depth).
Holes ROD-112 and ROD-117 also intersected significant zones of Au-Ag and base metal mineralisation in a
block of strongly pyritic carbonate-silica (±talc) rock to the east of the Saddle Fault phyllic mineralisation , and
beneath the SRT . This mineralisation is effectively “blind”, occurring beneath the UT and the SRT, and is
almost certainly the precursor of the widespread gossanous carbonate mineralisation outcropping at surface
at the Aladdin’s Hill NE, CBZ, and GF Zo ne areas. Intersections include 0.85 g/t Au and 10.8 g/t Ag over a
58.65m interval, from 107.35m depth (ROD-112) and 2.52 g/t Au and 30.0 g/t Ag over a 21.20m interval, from
157.70m depth (ROD-117). An additional 19.28m interval in ROD-117 returned grades of 6.40% Zn, 0.28%
Cu, and 0.21 g/t Au and 12.2 g/t Ag from 216.00m depth in the same carbonate unit.
Hole ROD-114 also intersected a wide mineralised zone, which returned grades of 0.96 g/t Au and 4.3 g/t Ag
over a 40.40m interval from 97.10m depth, associated with a distinctive breccia unit containing large clasts of
sheared pyritic carbonate, thought to be associated with the Saddle Fault zone. Hole ROD -113 intersected a
narrow high grade oxide zone structure, which assayed 10.52 g/t Au and 13.1 g/t Ag over a 4.90m interval,
from 74.65m depth.
The mineralisation in the AHNE area is complex , o ccurs in se veral different host rock units, shows clear
structural controls on its distribution , and the high grade mineralisation drilled in hole ROD -117 is associated
with intense phyllic alteration. The area is structurally complex with at least 2 , possibly 3, shallow NE-dipping
thrust faults, and a series of N -S and NE striking faults which appear to control the distribution of the higher
grade zones at AHNE. The high grade intersection reported herein from hole ROD-117 indicates the continuity
of the high grade mineralisation previously intersected in holes ROD -071 and ROD -075 (see news releases
dated May 10, 2022 and June 1, 2022), and the depth potential of this zone. The existence of significant
thicknesses of “blind” carbonate hosted mineralisation beneath the SRT is very encouraging . The blind
mineralisation, along with the intense hydrothermal alteration hosting the high grade “phyllic” style
mineralisation at AHNE, as well as throughout the general Rodruin area, can be considered indicative of the
potential for significant further undiscovered mineralisation at Rodruin.
Central Buttress Zone
2 holes were drilled at the CBZ, ROD -115 and ROD-116, to investigate structure, and to test for potential
gossanous carbonate hosted mineralisation (Figure 2). Neither hole intersected significant mineralisation, with
only limited widths of carbonate intersected in hole ROD-115, and none in hole ROD-116.
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 u sing 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 Mar awat 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 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 Javier Orduña BSc (hons), MSc, MC SM,
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 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 uncertai nties. 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
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