FOR IMMEDIAT E RELEASE Aton announces the completion of diamond drilling at Rodruin , and further drill results
FOR IMMEDIAT E RELEASE
Aton announces the completion of diamond drilling
at Rodruin , and further drill results
Vancouver, British Columbia, December 13, 202 2: Aton Resources Inc. (AAN: TSX -V) (“Aton” or the
“Company") is pleased to update investors on the completion of 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:
• Diamond drilling was completed at Rodruin on December 10, 2022, with a total of 9,073 metres drilled
from 85 holes. Final assay results are now expected by February 2023;
• Results are now available for a further 20 holes, ROD-091 to ROD-110, drilled at the Aladdin’s Hill NE,
Central Buttress and GF Zones;
• 4 holes were drilled in the Aladdin’s Hill NE area, and results include 1.18 g/t Au and 11.6 g/t Ag over
an interval of 20.49m in pyritic carbonate rocks from 115.11m depth (ROD-095), and 2.48 g/t Au and
13.7 g/t Ag over 7.1m from 69.0m depth, on the Saddle Fault structure (ROD-096);
• 3 holes were drilled at the CBZ, and returned intersections including 0.54 g/t Au and 6.9 g/t Ag over
47.8m, from 17.0m depth (ROD-093);
• The remaining holes were drilled at the GF Zone and from the Central Valley, and returned mineralised
intersections including 16.25 g/t Au and 8.5 g/t Ag over 1.7m from 33.6m depth (ROD-099), 0.54 g/t
Au and 3.9 g/t Ag over 48.2m from 5.1m depth (ROD -102) and 0.51 g/t Au and 2.0 g/t Ag over
43.5m from surface (ROD-110).
“We are pleased to announce th at the diamond drilling programme has now been successfully completed at
Rodruin, with more than two and half times the number of original ly planned metres having been drilled.
Combined with the extra time on the exploration licence that we have been awarded by our partners at the
Egyptian Mineral Resource Authority this keeps Aton well on our planned track of completing new and revised
mineral resource estimates and de lineating “commercial discoveries” at Rodruin and Hamama in mid -2023”
said Tonno Vahk, Interim CEO. “Our MRE consultants, Cube Consulting , are making good progress with the
Hamama West MRE following the completion of the RC programme there in August, and once we receive the
final assays from the Rodruin drilling programme in early 2023 we expect to move rapidly ahead with the
maiden Rodruin MRE. We have also com pleted a second round of sampling at Rodruin, with the samples
expected to be dispatched from Egypt this week for a second phase of metallurgical testwork, and we will also
undertake an additional short diamond drill programme at Hamama East starting in Ja nuary. Aton continues
to work hand in hand with EMRA, and remains focussed on pushing ahead with our strategy to develop the
next commercial gold mining operations in Egypt.”
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 programme 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). Deeper sulphide mineralisation in the Aladdin’s Hill
NE area 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). The final hole, ROD-133, was completed
on December 10, 2022, with a total of 9,073 .2 metres drilled from 85 holes, including re -entries of 2 of the
2018 RC holes. It is anticipated that the final results for the programme will be received and released by the
end of February 2023. The rig is currently being de -mobilised from Rodruin to the Hamama project, where it
will complete a shor t additional programme testing previously undrilled mineralisation at Hamama East after
the Christmas and New Year break. Drilling is scheduled to resume at Hamama on January 7, 2023.
Figure 1: Geology plan of the Abu Marawat Concession showing the location of the Rodruin project
The current diamond drilling programme has been designed with the specific objective of delineating and
establishing a maiden mineral resource estimate (“MRE”) at Rodruin. The main focus of the drilling to date has
been to delineate potential oxide resourc es, which will be included in the Company’s submission to the
Egyptian Mineral Resources Authority (“EMRA”) in support of “commercial discoveries” at both Rodruin and
Hamama. This submission is scheduled for mid -2023, and is part of the process laid out in the Abu Marawat
Concession Agreement, and which is anticipated will lead to the issuance of an exploitation licence at Abu
Marawat, covering both the Rodruin and Hamama deposits.
Discussion of results
Results are now available for a further 20 drill hole s, ROD-091 to ROD-110. These holes were drilled at the
Aladdin’s Hill NE (“AHNE”), Central Buttress Zone (“CBZ”) and GF Zone (“GFZ”) areas. The collar co-ordinates
of these holes are provided in Table 1 below, and details of all mineralised intersections a re provided in
Appendix A.
Hole ID
Collar co-ordinates 1
Dip 2 Grid
azimuth 2
EOH
depth (m) Comments
X Y Z
ROD-091 552509.5 2913100.4 736.1 -68.8 227.1 207.3 Aladdin’s Hill NE sulphides
ROD-092 552648.6 2912965.7 774.3 -64.8 359.0 181.3 Aladdin’s Hill NE sulphides
ROD-093 552652.8 2912964.4 774.4 -53.9 110.3 84.3 CBZ (ROP-047 twin)
ROD-094 552623.0 2912965.0 770.6 -54.6 179.8 57.2 CBZ
ROD-095 552501.3 2913139.8 746.8 -68.0 180.0 232.5 CBZ
ROD-096 552442.3 2913032.0 760.3 -59.4 298.0 96.6 Aladdin’s Hill NE (Saddle Fault)
ROD-097 552525.8 2913015.1 757.5 -47.3 298.5 206.1 Aladdin’s Hill NE (Saddle Fault)
ROD-098 552777.5 2912881.0 723.0 -75.1 34.2 52.5 GF Zone
ROD-099 552817.5 2912794.9 724.7 -44.4 346.4 40.3 GF Zone
ROD-100 552792.1 2912826.8 726.7 -89.4 57.2 33.2 GF Zone
ROD-101 552776.8 2912839.9 729.7 -45.5 19.2 84.8 GF Zone
ROD-102 552777.5 2912836.9 729.5 -45.0 58.7 91.0 GF Zone
ROD-103 552762.3 2912871.0 733.0 -55.6 95.3 67.2 GF Zone
ROD-104 552777.6 2912838.5 729.6 -54.3 60.2 55.3 GF Zone
ROD-105 552741.4 2912989.5 713.0 -53.8 46.2 64.1 Central Valley (ROP-043 twin)
ROD-106 552741.7 2912982.5 712.9 -42.2 148.7 67.0 GF Zone
ROD-107 552776.5 2912924.8 700.4 -54.0 185.5 37.9 GF Zone
ROD-108 552776.6 2912926.6 700.7 -88.8 254.6 34.5 GF Zone
ROD-109 552778.9 2912925.0 700.2 -44.7 153.7 39.7 GF Zone
ROD-110 552791.4 2912792.7 743.2 -52.5 320.2 66.9 GF Zone
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-091 to ROD-110
Aladdin’s Hill NE area
Holes ROD-091 and ROD-095 (Figure 2) were drilled to test for potential deeper sulphide mineralisation at
AHNE. Both holes intersected multiple zones of Au-Ag (±Zn) mineralisation in a wide, heavily pyritic carbonate
unit. Mineralised intersections included 1.18 g/t Au and 11.6 g/t Ag over a 20.49m interval from 115.11m depth
(hole ROD-095).
Holes ROD-096 and ROD -097 were drilled to test for mineralisation on the interpreted NE -striking “Saddle
Fault” structure at AHNE (Figure 2). ROD -096 returned a mineralised oxide intersection of 2.48 g/t Au and
13.7 g/t Ag over 7.1m from 69.0m depth associated with this structure. Hole ROD -097 returned a mineralised
sulphide intersection of 0.90 g/t Au and 4.7 g/t Ag over a 14.38m interval from 150.0m depth associated with
a distinctive strongly pyritic breccia unit.
Figure 2: Aladdin’s Hill area drill hole collar plan, showing holes ROD-091 and ROD-095 to ROD-097
Central Buttress Zone
3 holes were drilled at the CBZ, ROD -092 to ROD -094, to test for potential gossanous carbonate hosted
mineralisation (Figure 3). Hole ROD-093 was designed as a “twin hole” to test the results from the 2018 RC
programme.
Hole ROD-093, twinned with ROP-047, returned a mineralised intersection of 0.54 g/t Au and 6.9 g/t Ag over
a 47.8m interval, from 17.0m depth. Hole ROD-092 was completed predominantly in unmineralised and heavily
oxidised sediments, but returned some sub-grade but Ag-rich mineralisation from oxidised slates. Hole ROD -
094 was drilled mostly in weakly weathered barren white carbonates. Both holes ROD-092 and ROD-094 were
drilled sub-parallel to the generally weakly mineralised western margin of the CBZ.
GF Zone
Holes ROD-098 to ROD-110 were drilled to test mineralisation at the GFZ, with hole ROD-105 being drilled as
a twin to RC hole ROP-043 in the Central Valley (Figure 3). The GFZ is another body of gossanous carbonate
hosted oxide mineralisation, similar to and located to the east of the CBZ. The 2018 RC drilling indicated it to
be generally lower in grade than the oxide mineralisation at the CBZ and Aladdin’s Hill.
All holes intersected the GFZ mineralised gossanous carbonates as expected, although the drilling indicates
the zone to be somewhat more faulted and disrupted than is apparent at surface. Mineralised intersections
returned from this programme include 16.25 g/t Au and 8.5 g/t Ag over a 1.7m interval from 33.6m depth (ROD-
099), 0.54 g/t Au and 3.9 g/t Ag over a 48.2m interval from 5.1m depth (ROD -102), 0.68 g/t Au and 6.6 g/t Ag
over a 26.25m interval from 9.55m depth (ROD-109) and 0.51 g/t Au and 2.0 g/t Ag over a 43.5m interval from
surface (ROD-110). The drilled GFZ mineralisation hosts numerous voids and cavities, many of which appear
to be ancient mine workings, which are also mapped and apparent at surface, and the lower assay grades
returned in this part of programme are considered to be somewhat surprising.
Figure 3: Central Buttress/GF Zone area drill hole collar plan, showing holes ROD-092 to ROD-094, and
ROD-098 to ROD-110
Sample processing and analytical procedures
Drill core was logged by Aton geolog ists, 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 usin g 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 Marawa t 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 dis tinct
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, 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 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 condi tions; 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 - Drilling Intersections
Hole ID
Intersection (m) 1 Au
(g/t)
Ag
(g/t)
Cu
(%)
Pb
(%)
Zn
(%) Comments
From To Interval
ROD-091 79.00 97.20 18.20 0.47 6.6 0.03 0.01 0.31 Aladdin’s Hill NE - pyritic
carbonate
118.00 130.10 12.10 0.47 5.8 0.02 0.01 1.28 Pyritic carbonate
136.60 147.50 10.90 0.86 8.2 0.01 0.00 0.33 Pyritic carbonate
193.80 201.10 7.30 1.04 5.3 0.08 0.03 1.65 Pyritic carbonate (Lower
Thrust contact)
ROD-092 77.50 111.20 33.70 0.34 45.6 0.03 0.10 0.20 Central Buttress Zone
incl. 99.20 111.20 12.00 0.49 4.8 0.04 0.12 0.25
ROD-093 17.00 64.80 47.80 0.54 6.9 0.03 0.01 0.30 Central Buttress Zone
incl. 32.70 61.80 29.10 0.69 8.0 0.02 0.01 0.28
70.30 83.36 13.06 0.25 4.5 0.01 0.00 0.11
ROD-094 47.20 53.50 6.30 0.40 11.3 0.08 0.07 0.70 Central Buttress Zone
ROD-095 59.40 63.30 3.90 0.69 4.5 0.07 0.02 1.15 Aladdin’s Hill NE- Upper
Thrust Zone
115.11 135.60 20.49 1.18 11.6 0.01 0.02 0.25 Pyritic carbonate
incl. 118.00 130.23 12.23 1.64 14.7 0.02 0.00 0.26 Pyritic carbonate
144.60 155.60 11.00 0.46 9.9 0.09 0.06 4.14 Pyritic carbonate
188.00 193.70 5.70 0.60 5.6 0.01 0.00 0.09 Pyritic carbonate
210.20 227.54 17.34 0.67 10.9 0.02 0.01 0.11 Pyritic carbonate (Lower
Thrust contact)
ROD-096 69.00 76.10 7.10 2.48 13.7 0.25 0.35 0.69 Saddle Fault
ROD-097 150.00 164.38 14.38 0.90 4.7 0.04 0.02 0.93 Saddle Fault
ROD-098 13.50 26.14 12.64 0.79 11.4 0.01 0.09 0.36 GF Zone
ROD-099 33.60 35.30 1.70 16.25 8.5 0.04 0.00 0.14 GF Zone
ROD-100 0.00 9.70 9.70 0.72 1.4 0.01 0.00 0.05 GF Zone
ROD-101 12.30 35.30 23.00 0.50 3.7 0.03 0.05 0.21 GF Zone
incl. 12.30 26.60 14.30 0.61 4.2 0.04 0.08 0.28
52.67 61.00 8.33 0.46 3.8 0.01 0.00 0.06
ROD-102 5.10 53.30 48.20 0.54 3.9 0.03 0.02 0.19 GF Zone
incl. 5.10 17.60 12.50 0.90 5.4 0.06 0.01 0.16
and incl. 29.20 44.50 15.30 0.64 3.6 0.01 0.01 0.12
ROD-103 22.20 27.50 5.30 0.54 9.0 0.01 0.04 0.22 Includes 0.6m of ancient
mining voids/cavities
ROD-104 9.50 38.80 29.30 0.49 2.5 0.01 0.04 0.15 GF Zone
ROD-105 4.10 35.70 31.60 0.42 5.5 0.01 0.01 0.07 GF Zone
ROD-106 25.60 37.25 11.65 0.39 2.7 0.01 0.01 0.06 GF Zone
45.60 50.00 4.40 0.56 4.2 0.04 0.01 0.19
ROD-107 14.45 25.00 10.55 0.52 9.6 0.01 0.02 0.16 GF Zone
Hole ID
Intersection (m) 1 Au
(g/t)
Ag
(g/t)
Cu
(%)
Pb
(%)
Zn
(%) Comments
From To Interval
ROD-108 - - - - - - - - NSA > 0.48 g/t Au
ROD-109 9.55 35.80 26.25 0.68 6.6 0.02 0.04 0.27 GF Zone
ROD-110 0.00 43.50 43.50 0.51 2.0 0.01 0.00 0.10
GF Zone, includes 6.85m
of ancient mining
voids/cavities
52.95 62.90 9.95 0.43 3.6 0.08 0.00 0.57 Below South Ridge
Thrust?
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