FOR IMMEDIAT E RELEASE Aton drills high grade gold mineralisation at Semna , including 14.63 g/t Au over an interval of 12 metres
B
FOR IMMEDIAT E RELEASE
Aton drills high grade gold mineralisation at Semna ,
including 14.63 g/t Au over an interval of 12 metres
Vancouver, British Columbia, October 13, 2023: Aton Resources Inc. (AAN: TSX-V) (“Aton” or the “Company")
is pleased to update investors on the first results from the recent reverse circulation percussion (“RC”) drilling
at the Semna prospect, located within i ts 100% owned Abu Marawat Concession (“Abu Mara wat” or the
“Concession”), in the Eastern Desert of Egypt.
Highlights:
• 21 holes were drilled at the Semna prospect, for a total of 3,662m, during the recently completed RC
drilling programme;
• Preliminary results of 4m composite sampling are now available for the first 17 holes, SMP -001 to
SMP-016, with 9 of the holes of targeting the Main Vein zone;
• 8 out of the 9 holes targeting the Main Vein zone intersected moderate to high grade gold
mineralisation;
• Significant mineralised intersections from the Semna Main Vein zone included 14.63 g/t Au over a
12m interval (hole SMP-016); 29.8 g/t Au over a 4m interval (hole SMP-003); 7.03 g/t Au over a
4m interval (hole SMP-007) and 6.27 g/t Au over a 4m interval (hole SMP-006);
• Drilling and underground mapping indicates that the mineralisation along the Main Vein zone appears
to be generally quite consistent, and is open both along strike and continues at depth beneath the
underground workings of the early twentieth century British mine at Semna.
“I am pleased to be able to provide the first set of preliminary drill results from the Semna prospect, which was
our primary target from the recent RC drilling programme ” said Tonno Vahk, Interim CEO. “We have long
regarded Semna as one of the most promising exploration targets on the Abu Marawat Concession, and we
are delighted with th is first set of preliminary composite sample results from t he first phase of RC drilling at
Semna. The drilling has indicated that the high grade orogenic style gold mineralisation at Semna continues
at depth beneath the old mine stopes, and is also open along strike. These results further indicate the potential
of the Abu Marawat Concession to host multiple deposits with a variety of mineralisation styles, and Aton
continues to look forward to developing the Concession over the long term.”
Semna Prospect
The Semna prospect is located approximately 27km east-northeast of the Hamama West deposit and 13km
north-northeast of the Rodruin deposit, and is accessed via desert tracks from either Hamama, Rodruin or the
Abu Marawat deposit to the north (Figure 1). The Semna area has a long history of gold mining, during both
ancient and modern times. There was archaeological evidence in the area suggesting that mining took place
during the early Arab, P tolemaic, and New Kingdom periods, and possibly dates back as far as the Old
Kingdom period, over 4,500 years ago. In modern times, Semna was exploited between 1904 and 1906 by
two British companies, the Eridia (Egypt) Exploring Company Limited and the Fatira (Egypt) Exploring
Company Limited, which worked the Main Vein on two underground levels. By about 1908 however, the British
gold mining industry in Egypt had been almost totally eclipsed by the discovery of oil, and was more or less
moribund. There was also some further development work carried out at Semna in the 1950’s by a subsidiary
of the Egyptian Phosphate Company. It has been reported that the Semna mine had the widest vein exploited
during the British era of mining in Egypt, which reached up to 6m width in places, and the British companies
reported mining grades of over 2 ounces per ton. Reports from the British Mining Journal from 1905 indicated
that some remnant pillars within the ancient Pharaonic-era stopes assayed up to 5.5 ounces per ton of gold.
Figure 1: Geology plan of the Abu Marawat Concession, showing the location of the Semna prospect
The mineralisation at Semna appears to be mainly hosted in a granodiorite body that has been intruded into a
package of mafic to intermediate composition metavolcanic rocks. M etasediments with BIF horizons outcrop
to the west and north of the main Semna mine area. Small bodies of outcropping pink granites, possibly related
to the Younger Granite suite, outcrop approximately 750m south of the old mine workings. There are 4 distinct
mineralised zones – the Main Vein and the South Vein zones have been the primary focus of historic mining,
but there are also workings develope d on the North Vein and the Central Vein zone s (see Figure 2). The
mineralisation is strongly structurally controlled, and is hosted in a series of steeply south-dipping shear zones
that contain the gold-bearing quartz veins. These sub-parallel quartz veins strike approximately east-west and
dip 60-75° to the south, but the dip and strike is quite variable within each vein, and the veins noticeably pinch
and swell. The auriferous quartz veins carry variable amounts of accessory sulphide minerals, and are typically
quite gossanous and rich in iron oxides at surface, as a response to weathering. Levels of copper are elevated,
notably in the Main and North Vein zones.
Figure 2: Semna gold mine drill hole collar plan
In 2017, Aton carried out a surface sampling programme at Semna, reporting up to 5.17 g/t Au over a 9.7m
interval from surface channel sample profile s, and individual assays of up to 10.8 g/t Au from grab samples
(see news release dated November 22, 2017). This year Aton has reported additional surface grab sample
results from the immediate Semna mine area including 27.6 g/t Au, 24.0 g/t Au and 16.95 g/t Au (see news
release dated May 29, 2023), and 25.70 g/t Au and 16.55 g/t Au from the wider Semna regional area (see
news release dated July 31, 2023).
The Semna mine area has been heavily exploited by artisanal miners (or “ dahabbas”) since about 2020, but
the Company is on cordial terms with them. The dahabbas completely vacated the Semna area prior to the
commencement of the RC drilling, and there is an ongoing agreement in place for them to not return. Artisanal
mining has primarily targeted the Main Vein zone (“MVZ”) in recent years, both from surface and also fr om
underground, but numerous other mineralised structures and veins have also been mined by the dahabbas in
recent years (see news releases dated May 29, 2023, and July 31, 2023).
Underground mapping at Semna
Recent artisanal mining has now exposed the ea stern end of the lower level of the twentieth century British
mine workings, at an elevation of c. 565m, which allows easy access into the old workings. Company geologists
have this year carried out an underground survey of the old workings. The survey was carried out using a
Leica DistoX hand held laser, with inbuilt inclinometry and a sensitive magnetic compass for azimuth readings,
and a traditional Silva mapping compass and tape measures for local measurements. A series of primary
stations were established along the lower 565m level and these were surveyed in using multiple foresights and
backsights. The survey was tied into the Universal Transverse Mercator grid system using an external station
which was sited a few metres outside the eastern entrance to the 565m level, and was accurately surveyed in
using a Leica Viva GS15 differential GPS system, at the same time the drill hole collars were picked up.
Figure 3: Recent artisanal underground workings, below the 565m level of the Semna gold mine
The survey along the 565m ore drive level established that the MVZ had been stoped out pretty much in its
entirety both above and below it, from between approximately 558720E, some 45m from the eastern entrance
of the drive, and 558550E over a c. 170m strike length underground. The mineralisation above the 565m level
drive appeared to have been stoped out by the British miners during the 20th century, with some recent remnant
pillar extraction by the dahabbas. The MVZ ha s also been recently mined to an approximate depth of some
10-15m below the 565m level by the artisanal miners (Figure 3).
Mapping of the recent workings has indicated that the dip of the MVZ is rather variable and ranges from about
56° to 80°, but always to the south, averaging about 70°. The mapping indicates that the MVZ is a strong shear
zone which contains a white quartz vein, which pinches and swells, and has a width of variably but typically
between 1 to 2m. In places the quartz vein branches into separate footwall and hangingwall veins, with the
total width of vein and internal wall rock reaching up to at least 6m horizontally. The internal wall rock between
the branches has been extensively worked and appears to contain abundant quartz vein splays from the main
vein. In the deepest recent stopes the quartz vein is typically 1.2 to 1.8m wide and is well mineralised (Figure
3). Observations from the recent underground mapping appear to confirm the earlier geological interpretations
of the MVZ.
Figure 4: MVZ quartz vein underground, showing lenses and ribbons of vein-parallel sulphidic material (*)
The vein itself consists of massive white quartz, which in the deepest stopes contains a sparse scattering of
sulphide grains or less frequently ribbons and selvages of highly sulphidic vein material up to 8cm thick running
parallel to the walls of the vein (Figure 4). The primary sulphide is pyrite, in places with subsidiary chalcopyrite,
as well as other supergene and oxide copper minerals at higher elevations. In the deepest stopes the vein
itself is heavily sheared, and the sheared and altered vein appears to be well mineralised, carrying abundant
sulphides. The vein has persistent sheared margins 0.2 to 0.5m wide that are also phyllic altered and locally
sulphide rich. Above the 565m level, oxidation of the sulphides is practically complete and only red and brown
iron oxides are present, often filling the cavities left by the oxidation of the original sulphides and giving rise to
the characteristic dark red honeycombed material widely seen on surface. In some areas the central part of
the white quartz vein itself appears barren, and in the deep est stopes beneath the 565m level there is clear
evidence that the artisanal miners were targeting the vein margins. This again confirms historical observations
that the gold was primarily concentrated in sheared and altered wall rocks.
2 chip channel samples of 1m in width, across the quartz vein (1.8m wide at the sampled points), taken
manually from the deepest underground stopes, returned assays of 9.06 and 4. 08 g/t Au (sample numbers
AHA-45649 and AHA-45650).
Semna gold mine RC drilling
21 RC drill holes, SMP-001 to SMP-020, were completed at the Semna prospect, for a total of 3,662m metres
(see Table 1, Figure 2 and Appendix A) during the recently completed RC drill programme. Preliminary results
are now avail able for holes SMP -001 to SMP -016, from 4m composite samples (full details of the drill hole
sampling procedure are provided in the next section).
Hole ID
Collar co-ordinates 1,2 EOH
depth (m) Dip Grid
azimuth Comments
X Y Z
SMP-001 558599.7 2924514.6 604.6 214 -55.1 28.9 South / Central Vein zones
SMP-002 558632.5 2924488.5 583.8 200 -65.4 2.7 South / Central Vein zones
SMP-003 558683.0 2924664.7 622.6 180 -62.5 21.3 Central / Main Vein zones
SMP-004 558666.3 2924614.8 631.5 260 -66.2 14.8 Central / Main Vein zones
SMP-005 558684.3 2924722.4 629.8 140 -74.6 44.7 Central / Main Vein zones
SMP-006 558649.2 2924699.0 635.7 140 -66.1 357.5 Central / Main Vein zones
SMP-007 558590.7 2924635.0 643.1 220 -56.7 12.9 Central / Main Vein zones
SMP-008 3 558537.2 2924561.0 645.5 12 -55.0 20.6 Hole abandoned, collapsing at
collar
SMP-008a 558532.7 2924558.0 645.6 260 -56.2 24.2 South / Central Vein zones (re-
drill of SMP-008)
SMP-009 558517.8 2924489.8 648.4 187 -55.4 17.9 South Vein zone
SMP-010 558470.6 2924531.7 666.6 180 -54.9 18.4 South Vein zone
SMP-011 558493.2 2924596.7 667.6 240 -58.7 20.6 South Vein zone
SMP-012 558482.8 2924567.6 666.4 160 -55.4 322.2 South Vein zone
SMP-013 558528.3 2924666.1 652.8 240 -63.9 24.7 Central / Main Vein zones
SMP-014 558573.7 2924727.7 638.1 160 -64.9 16.8 Central / Main Vein zones
SMP-015 558771.1 2924686.0 595.5 120 -51.5 0.9 Main Vein zone
SMP-016 558771.2 2924684.0 595.5 145 -75.6 358.9 Main Vein zone
SMP-017 558852.6 2924704.1 569.3 200 -47.6 356.3 Main Vein Extension zone
SMP-018 558939.8 2924792.9 567.0 140 -52.0 342.7 Main Vein Extension zone
SMP-019 558851.9 2924677.7 570.3 152 -51.6 357.6 Main Vein Extension zone
SMP-020 558883.8 2924732.4 568.8 112 -46.7 4.1 Main Vein Extension zone
Notes:
1) All co-ordinates are UTM (WGS84) Zone 36R
2) Collar surveys undertaken using a Leica Viva GS15 differential GPS system
3) All drill holes were surveyed using a gyroscopic survey tool, except SMP-008, which was not surveyed
Table 1: Collar details of RC exploration drill holes at Semna
9 of the first 17 holes targeted the MVZ, with the other holes targeting the South Vein (“SVZ”) and Central Vein
(“CVZ”) zones. Hole SMP-008 was abandoned due to the collar collapsing, and was re-drilled with hole SMP-
008a.
Of the 9 holes which targeted t he MVZ all holes , except SMP-005, intersected significant mineralisation at
moderate to high grades, with all the other 8 holes intersecting a minimum of 3.43 g/t Au over a 4m composite
sample interval. All mineralised intersections from the initial 4m composite samples greater than 0.3 g/t Au are
provided in Table 2. Significant mineralised intervals from the MVZ included 14.63 g/t Au over a 12m interval
from 72m downhole depth (hole SMP-016); 29.8 g/t Au over a 4m interval from 136m downhole depth (hole
SMP-003); 7.03 g/t Au over a 4m interval from 156m downhole depth (hole SMP-007), 6.27 g/t Au over a
4m interval from 116m downhole depth (hole SMP -006) and 5.37 g/t Au over a 4m interval from 184m
downhole depth (hole SMP-004). The drill results suggest that the MVZ has a true width typically of a minimum
of about 3m.
Holes targeting the SVZ and CVZ returned only sporadic mineralised intercepts, such as 2 .61 g/t Au over a
4m interval from 40m downhole depth (hole SMP -014 on the CVZ) and 1.11 g/t Au over a 4m interval from
28m downhole depth (hole SMP-001 on the SVZ).
Hole ID
Intersection (m) Au
(g/t) Sample type Zone Comments
From To Interval
SMP-001 28 32 4 1.11 RC composite SVZ
SMP-002 20 24 4 0.68 RC composite SVZ
SMP-003
28 32 4 0.59 RC composite CVZ
136 140 4 29.80 RC composite MVZ
SMP-004
132 136 4 0.85 RC composite CVZ
184 188 4 5.37 RC composite MVZ
SMP-005 60 64 4 1.60 RC composite MVZ (HW?) Possible h/w structure?
SMP-006 12 16 4 0.67 RC composite CVZ
SMP-006 116 120 4 6.27 RC composite MVZ
SMP-007
156 160 4 7.03 RC composite MVZ
176 180 4 0.50 RC composite MVZ (FW?) Possible f/w structure?
SMP-008 - - - - - - Not assayed
SMP-008a - - - - - - NSA > 0.08 g/t Au
SMP-009 104 108 4 0.40 RC composite SVZ
SMP-010 - - - - - - NSA > 0.06 g/t Au
SMP-011 112 116 4 0.48 RC composite SVZ
SMP-012 52 56 4 0.31 RC composite SVZ?
SMP-013 184 192 8 2.20 RC composite MVZ
SMP-014
40 44 4 2.61 RC composite CVZ
108 116 8 2.86 RC composite MVZ
SMP-015
48 52 4 2.52 RC composite MVZ (FW?) Possible f/w structure?
76 84 8 3.03 RC composite MVZ
SMP-016
72 84 12 14.63 RC composite MVZ (FW?) Possible f/w structure?
136 144 8 2.50 RC composite MVZ
Table 2: Significant intersections from Semna RC drilling
Discussion of results
This first pass phase of drilling and underground mapping has confirmed the historical interpretations of the
MVZ mineralisation at Semna as being associated with a shear hosted quartz vein that pinches and swells,
and carries locally very high to bonanza grades ( eg. 29.8 g/t Au over a 4m interval in hole SMP -003). The
mineralisation is interpreted as being structurally controlled and orogenic in style. This style of mineralisation
is suggestive of significant depth potential.
The 9 holes targeted the MVZ beneath the old British mine workings be low the 565m ore drive level , with all
drill sections reported herein appended to this release. The only hole , SMP -005, which failed to intersect
mineralisation on the MVZ was drilled beneath the eastern end of the 565m level where the MVZ shear had
not been stoped, but it did intersect 1.60 g/t Au over a 4m interval from 60m downhole depth , in a possible
separate structure, in the hangingwall of the MVZ shear.
The 9 holes dril led on the MVZ indicate good continuity of the mineralisation both along a strike length of c.
200m, and at depth beneath the old workings. Recent underground surveying and mapping has shown that
the mineralisation was largely continuous from surface at a maximum elevation of 620m, down to an elevation
of c. 550m, which represents the current base of the artisanal workings, although it has mostly been exploited
by now, with very little potential for any recoverable mineralisation remaining above the 565m level. The current
drilling intersected mineralisation to a minimum elevation of c. 460m in hole SMP-004 (5.37 g/t Au over a 4m
interval), with mineralisation intersected in the deepest hole on the MVZ on each of the 4 drilled sections.
The 2 holes drilled on the easternmost section 558770E, SMP-015 and SMP-016, both intersected 2 separate
mineralised zones. It is not clear if these 2 mineralised zones are actually 2 separate zones, or if they represent
fault repeated offsets of the MVZ shear.
The deepest intersections on sections 2, 3 and 4 are all jogged off south of the predominant c. 70-75° dip of
the MVZ. At the current drill spacing it is unclear if this is due to a change in orientation of the MVZ structure,
possible fault offset, or if the deepest mineralised intersections represent en echelon mineralised zones.
However the MVZ mineralis ation is open at depth and along strike to both the east and west after this first
phase of drilling.
Sampling and analytical procedures
The RC holes were drilled at 5¾” or 5½” diameter, and the bulk percussion chip samples were collected directly
into pre-written large plastic bags from the cyclone every metre, numbered with the hole number and hole
depths, and laid out sequentially at the drill site. Between each metre of drilling the cyclone and top box were
cleaned out with compressed air. The bags were logged on the drill sites by Aton geologists. The bulk 1m
samples were weighed, and subsequently riffle split through a 3-tier splitter onsite by Aton field staff to produce
an approximately 1/8 split, which was collected in cloth bags, numbered and tagged with the hole number and
depth. The splitter was cleaned with compressed air between each sample. The reject material from this initial
bulk split was re-bagged, labelled and tagged, and retained on the drill sites. A representative sample of each
metre was washed and stored in marked plastic chip trays, each containing 20m of samples, photographed,
and retained onsite as a permanent record of the drill hole.
The 1m split samples, weighing approximately 5kg each were then transported to the Rodruin sample
processing facility, where they were 1/2 riffle split into 2 separate sub-samples, weighing approximately 2.5kg.
One of these sub -samples was marked and labelled, and retained at the laboratory for storage. The second
1m sub-samples were then combined into 4m composite samples, weighing approximately 10kg. These were
thoroughly mixed and again riffle split to produce nominal c. 250-500g 4m composite samples which were
dispatched to ALS Minerals for analysis . Again the splitter was cleaned with compressed air between each
sample. The 4m composite samples were allocated new sample numbers. The bulk reject material from the
riffle split 4m composite samples was disposed of. QAQC samples were inserted into the 4m composite sample
stream at a rate of approximately 1 certified reference material (or “standard” sample) every 60 samples, 1
blank sample every 30 samples, and 1 field duplicate split sample every 30 samples.
The 4m composite samples were shipped to ALS Minerals sa mple 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 4m composite samples were analysed for gold by fire
assay with an atomic absorption spectroscopy (“AAS”) finish (analytical code Au -AA23. High grade samples
(Au >10 g/t) were re-analysed using analytical code Au-GRA21 (also fire assay, with a gravimetric finish).
Upon receipt of the final 4m composite assay results from the full Semna programme from ALS, a number of
the retained 1m sub-samples will be selected by a senior Aton geologist for re-assaying, corresponding to 4m
composite assays deemed to be of significance. The selected 1m sub-samples w ill again be riffle split to
produce nominal c. 250-500g 1m split samples which will be allocated new sample numbers. These will be
dispatched to ALS Minerals for the same sample preparation at Marsa Alam , and for subsequent analysis at
Rosia Montana. The bulk reject material from the 1m sub -sample splits will be re-bagged and retained onsite
for storage at Rodruin. QAQC samples will be inserted into th e 1m split sample stream at a rate of
approximately 1 standard every 30 samples, 1 blank sample every 15 samples, and 1 field duplicate split
sample every 15 samples.