FOR IMMEDIAT E RELEASE Aton reports the results from its phase 2 diamond drilling programme at the Semna gold mine , including 11.69 g/t Au and 1.38% Cu over an interval of 5.19 metres
FOR IMMEDIAT E RELEASE
Aton reports the results from its phase 2 diamond
drilling programme at the Semna gold mine , including
11.69 g/t Au and 1.38% Cu over an interval of 5.19 metres
Vancouver, British Columbia, July 4, 2024: Aton Resources Inc. ( AAN: TSX-V) (“Aton” or the “Company")
updates investors on the results of recently completed phase 2 diamond drilling programme at the Semna gold
mine project, located within the retained exploration areas of the Company’s Abu Marawat Concession (“Abu
Marawat” or the “Concession”) in the Eastern Desert of Egypt.
Highlights:
• 28 diamond drill holes were drilled at Semna, for a total of 4,701m, and were designed to test the Main
Vein zone, and its eastern extension, with 2 short holes testing the Eastern Adit Vein ;
• Significant high grade mineralised intersections from the Semna Main Vein eastern extension zone
(“MVZ-EX”) include:
• 11.69 g/t Au, 19.1 g/t Ag and 1.38% Cu over a 5.19m interval, from 126.35m downhole depth
and 21.53 g/t Au over a 1.50 m interval, from 147.20m downhole depth (both from hole SMD-
048;
• 15.05 g/t Au, 8.7 g/t Ag and 0.47% Cu over a 2.55m interval, from 100.45m downhole depth
(hole SMD-025);
• 3.16 g/t Au over a 13.96m interval , from 57.42m downhole depth (hole SMD-043), including
27.90 g/t Au over 1.37m, from 68.94m;
• 3.49 g/t Au over a 7.97m interval, from 135.83m downhole depth (hole SMD-027), including 8.10
over 3.13m, from 135.83m;
• 16.77 g/t Au over a 1.55m interval, from 64.3m downhole depth (hole SMD-044);
• The programme confirmed the continuation of blind, high grade gold mineralisation in the MVZ -EX
zone, which remains open at depth and along strike.
“I am happy to now announce the final results from the recently completed phase 2 diamond drilling programme
at Semna, which has continued to show excellent promise with more very significant drill intersections from
the eastern extension of the previously mined Main Vein” said Tonno Vahk, CEO. “The drilling has shown that
the high grade mineralisation continues over a strike length of at least 500m, with good mineralisation drilled
in the easternmost hole. As always a drill programme raises new questions, including an issue with one of the
RC holes, and now is a suitable moment to review the data from the first two drill programmes . The presence
of abundant coarse gold at Semna suggests that it is important to use as large diameter drill holes as possible,
and we plan to return to Semna in the coming months , to continue with a combination of RC percussion and
PQ size diamond drilling. However the most important thing is that the persistence of the high grade and coarse
gold bearing mineralisation to the east of the old underground workings is quite clear. We are now well into
the new diamond drilling programme at Abu Marawat and we are liking what we are seeing so far. We are also
making progress at Hamama, with the establishment of Abu Marawat Gold Mines. The programme for the next
year has been agreed by the board of the JV operating company , and once we have crossed the T’s and
dotted the final I’s we expect to start making rapid progress towards the development of the next gold mine in
Egypt at Hamama West.”
Semna gold mine project
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 , and was
exploited between 1904 and 1906 by two British companies, which worked the Main Vein on two underground
levels. More recently the area has been extensively worked by illegal artisanal miners, who have now been
removed from the site.
Figure 1: Geology plan of the Abu Marawat Concession, showing the location of the Semna prospect
During 2023 Aton completed a first phase of revere circulation percussion (“RC”) drilling at Semna completing
21 holes for a total of 3,662m. This programme yielded excellent results with mineralised intersections
including 50.07 g/t Au over a 6m interval (hole SMP-016), 28.36 g/t Au, 28.4 g/t Ag and 1.15% Cu over a
4m interval (hole SMP-003), 11.98 g/t Au over a 16m interval (hole SMP-018), 10.61 g/t Au, 24.0 g/t Ag
and 1.20% Cu over a 9m interval (hole SMP-019), and 5.73 g/t Au over a 14m interval (hole SMP-017).
The RC drilling confirmed the presence of significant coarse gold in the Semna mineralisation (see news
release dated December 18, 2023).
Subsequent metallurgical testwork undertaken by Aton returned very positive results with gold recoveries in
excess of 97% from 2 representative bulk samples of the Semna mineralisation . Gold was also recovered to
2 gravity concentrates at rates of 56.4% and 62.2%, again indicating a significant component of coarse gold
in the Semna mineralisation . The testwork indicated that the Semna mineralisation is amenable to treatment
by both conventional CIL, and gravity concentration-leach processing options
Semna phase 2 diamond drilling programme
21 drill holes, SM D-021 to SMD-048, were completed at the Semna prospect, for a total of 4,701m metres
during the recently completed phase 2 diamond drill programme (Figure 2), with most of the holes drilled at
HQ size. The programme was primarily designed to test for mineralisation in the MVZ-EX zone which appears
to strike in an east-northeasterly direction to the east of the old British mine workings, where it is buried beneath
wadi sediments. Other holes tested the depth extension of the Main Vein zone (“MVZ”) which was exploited
underground in the 1900’s, and the Eastern Adit Vein. Full collar details of the holes are provided in Appendix
A. Half core samples were routinely assayed for gold, silver and copper, with samples from the first 5 holes of
the programme also assayed for lead and zinc.
Figure 2: Geology and drill hole collar plan of the Semna gold mine prospect
12 holes (SMD-021 to SMD -027, SMD-041 to SMD -044, and SMD -048) were drilled, generally on a north-
northwesterly orientation to test the MVZ-EX. Of these holes 3 were designed to twin RC holes, with SMD-024
twinning RC hole SMP-018, and SMD -043 twinning SMP -017. Hole SMD-041 was drilled at PQ size to twin
the HQ size diamond hole SMD-024, as well as RC hole SMP-018.
13 holes (SMD-028 to SMD -040) were drilled to test the down -dip extension of the MVZ, under the old
underground workings, including 1 hole SMD-038, which was designed to twin RC hole SMP-004. A further 2
shallow holes (SMD-045 and SMD-046) were drilled to test the down -dip extension of the Eastern Adit Vein
which was previously exploited from a British-era adit, and also more recently by artisanal miners. Hole SMD-
047 was abandoned at a shallow depth, as it had been collared on the wrong azimuth.
Results of diamond drilling programme
Main Vein eastern extension zone
12 holes were drilled to test the MVZ-EX zone (Figure 2). Several of these holes returned significant high grade
mineralised intersections , including 11.69 g/t Au, 19.1 g/t Ag and 1.38% Cu over a 5.19m interval , from
126.35m downhole depth, and 21.53 g/t Au over a 1.50m interval, from 147.20m (both from hole SMD-048,
15.05 g/t Au, 8.7 g/t Ag and 0.47% Cu over a 2.55m interval , from 100.45m (hole SMD -025), 3.16 g/t Au
over a 13.96m interval, from 57.42m, including 27.90 g/t Au over 1.37m, from 68.94m (hole SMD-043), 3.49
g/t Au over a 7.97m interval, from 135.83m, including 8.10 over 3.13m, from 135.83m (hole SMD-027), and
16.77 g/t Au over a 1.55m interval , from 64.3m (hole SMD -044). The easternmost hole in the programme ,
SMD-023, also returned an intersection of 5. 64 g/t Au over a 1.8m interval from 1 67.60m. All intersection
details from the programme are provided in Appendix B, with selected intersections shown in Table 1.
Hole ID
Intersection (m) Au
(g/t)
Ag
(g/t)
Cu
(%) Comments
From To Interval
SMD-023 167.60 169.40 1.80 5.64 0.9 < 0.01 MVZ-EX zone
SMD-025 100.45 103.00 2.55 15.05 8.7 0.47 MVZ-EX zone
SMD-027 135.83 143.80 7.97 3.49 2.7 0.18
MVZ-EX zone
incl. 135.83 138.96 3.13 8.10 7.1 0.45
SMD-038 184.46 186.12 1.66 11.56 1.4 < 0.01 MVZ (twin of SMP-004)
SMD-041 63.00 64.94 1.94 10.40 2.1 0.04 MVZ-EX zone (PQ twin of SMP-018)
SMD-043 57.42 71.38 13.96 3.16 1.0 < 0.01
MVZ-EX zone (twin of SMP-017)
incl. 68.94 70.31 1.37 27.90 9.4 < 0.01
SMD-044 64.30 65.85 1.55 16.77 6.7 < 0.01 MVZ-EX zone
SMD-048 126.35 131.54 5.19 11.69 19.1 1.38
MVZ-EX zone
and 147.20 148.70 1.50 21.53 2.8 0.01
Table 1: Selected final intersections from the Semna phase 2 diamond drilling programme
The mineralisation at Semna is orogenic in style, and is interpreted as being associated with an array of
structures, presumed to have formed in dilational zones, accompanied by shearing and weak to moderate
phyllic wall rock alteration. The mineralised structures appear to be localised between and offset by a series
of north-northeast striking fault structures. The mineralisation on the MVZ-EX zone is associated with multiple
mineralised quartz vein s, which apparently anastomose and pinch and swell , and is associated with locally
strong phyllic wall rock alteration. Historically the MVZ mineralised zone has been described as being up to
6m in thickness, and in hole SMD -048 strongly mineralised quartz was intersected over an interval of 3.62m
(Figure 3).
The diamond drilling has indicated that the gold mineralisation is almost always associated with the milky white
quartz veins, with gold appearing to be distributed both within the quartz veins themselves, and also in altered
selvages and wall rock adjacent to the veins, as was mapped in the underground workings (see news release
dated October 13, 2023). The diamond drilling has also confirmed the presence of multiple quartz veins in the
MVZ-EX zone, which appear to largely sub-parallel, over a true width of approximately 20m (Figure 4).
Generally the mineralisation at Semna is predominantly gold only, with the gold being coarse and nugget y,
however the sheared veins do locally contain significant quantities of semi -massive chalcopyrite (Figure 3),
confirming observations from the RC drilling programme (see news release dated December 18, 2023).
Significantly higher grades of gold mineralisation typically occur in these zones of semi-massive chalcopyrite,
for example in holes SMD-048 (Figure 3), SMD-025 and SMD-027, and are associated with elevated levels of
silver and copper although this relationship is not absolute. Lead and zinc are generally absent, although strong
sphalerite was logged in a short interval in hole SMD-042, with a single 0.82m length sample returning assays
of 14.8% Zn and 128 g/t Ag, as well as 2.99 g/t Au. The drilling appears to confirm that the mineralised quartz
veins pinch and swell, and where vein quartz was not intersected gold w as generally present at significantly
lower levels.
Figure 3: Split drill core from hole SMD-048, 125.63-130.30m depth, with semi-massive
chalcopyrite in vein quartz
Main Vein zone
Holes SMD-028 to SMD-040 were drilled to test the down-dip extension of the MVZ, under the old underground
workings (Figure 2). Most holes intersected typically narrow zones of mineralisation, at generally lower grades
than were returned from the phase 1 RC programme, with intersections including 11.56 g/t Au over a 1.66m
interval, from 184.46m downhole depth (hole SMD-038) and 13.65 g/t Au, 7.5 g/t Ag and 0.11% Cu over a
0.75m interval , from 178.60m downhole depth (hole SMD -037). The diamond drilling confirm s that the
mineralisation appears to be quite tightly restricted to the quartz veins with lim ited dispersal into the adjacent
wall rocks as is generally also the case in the MVZ -EX. The mineralised widths are typically narrow and less
than 2m in downhole width, although in one hole the mineralised zone appears to be somewhat wider, but has
been partially stoped out by a late felsic dyke (hole SMD -029). The dri lling also indicates that the MVZ is
shallowing out at depth, and appears to be merging with the Central Vein structural zone (“CVZ”).
The drilling also intersected narrow zones of mineralisation on the CVZ (see Figure 2) , for example 6.22 g/t
Au over a 0.93m interval, from 75.17m downhole depth (hole SMD -029). Furthermore, near -surface narrow
zones of mineralisation associated with shallow SE -dipping quartz veins were intersected in several holes,
returning intersections including 10.70 g/t Au over a 0.70m interval, from 12.30m downhole depth (hole SMD-
035) and 1.64 g/t Au over a 4.00m interval, from 3.20m downhole depth (hole SMD -037). These veins were
channel sampled earlier this year, returning broader mineralised intervals at surface including 2.80 g/t Au over
a 39.3m interval (profile SMC-065, see news release dated February 1, 2024).
Figure 4: Cross-section 6 through the MVZ-EX (refer to Figure 2 for location)
Eastern Adit Vein
Holes SMD-045 and SMP-046 were drilled to test the Eastern Adit Vein (Figure 2 and Figure 4), which was
previously exploited underground from a British-era adit, and also more recently at surface by artisanal miners.
Both holes intercepted narrow mineralised zones returning intersections of 3.11 g/t Au over a 1.57m interval,
from 42.25m downhole depth (hole SMD-046), and 1.57 g/t Au over a 1.00m interval, from 52.60m (hole SMD-
037).
Comparison of results from twin holes
The mineralised intersections from the 4 twin diamond drill holes are shown in Table 2, compared to the
intersections from the RC drilling.
Holes SMD-024 and SMD-041 were drilled to twin RC hole SMP -018 which returned an intersection of 11.98
g/t Au over an interval of 16m from 61m depth, including 36.03 g/t Au over 4 metres from 61m, associated with
an oxidised quartz vein in the MVZ-EX zone. Hole SMD-042 collared 1m to the we st of SMP-018 returned a
mineralised intersection of 2.30 g/t Au over an interval of 2.35m, from 59.80m de pth, but clearly intercepted
the same oxidised and heavily sheared quartz vein in the RC hole (Figure 5). Due to th e discrepancy in the
results of SMD-024 and SMP-018 a second twin hole was drilled, SMD -041, this time at PQ size. SMD -041
returned an intersection of 10.40 g/t Au over an interval of 1.94m, from 63.00m depth, and also intercepted a
strongly oxidised and heavily sheared zone, but with very little vein quartz and some core loss.
DD
Hole ID
Intersection (m) Au
(g/t)
RC
Hole ID
Intersection (m) Au
(g/t) From To Interval From To Interval
SMD-024 1 59.80 62.15 2.35 2.30 SMP-018 3 61 77 16 11.98
SMD-0412 63.00 64.94 1.94 10.40 incl. 61 65 4 36.03
SMD-038 3.30 4 5.70 2.40 1.66 SMP-004 6 7 1 0.82
and 133.15 5 134.40 1.25 2.76 and 132 134 2 1.64
and 184.46 6 186.12 1.66 11.56 and 184 186 2 12.45
SMD-043 7 57.42 71.38 13.96 3.16 SMP-017 8 56 70 14 5.73
incl. 62.50 63.55 1.05 3.72 incl. 60 63 3 14.85
incl. 68.94 70.31 1.37 27.90 and incl. 66 69 3 8.67
Notes:
1) SMD-024 drilled at HQ size, intercepted heavily oxidised quartz vein between 60.75-62.15m (Figure 5)
2) SMD-041 drilled 3m ENE of SMD-042 at PQ size, intercepted heavily oxidised shear zone between 63.00-
65.05m with very little vein quartz and c. 40cm core loss
3) SMP-018 was drilled at 5¾” diameter, and intercepted oxidised vein quartz between 61-63m
4) SMP-038 was drilled at HQ size, intercepting near surface SE-dipping veins close to surface from 3.30m
5) Central Vein zone
6) Main Vein zone
7) SMD-043 was drilled at HQ size, and intercepted strongly sheared and heavily phyllic altered rock between
57.42-69.95m, and sulphidic vein quartz between 69.65-70.31m
8) SMP-017 was drilled at 5¾” diameter, and intercepted oxidised vein quartz between sheared and oxidised rock
between 56-72m, with vein quartz at 61-62m, 64-65m and 68-69m
Table 1: Comparison between the results of twin diamond drill holes, and their twinned RC holes
Figure 3: Uncut drill core from hole SMD-024, 60.71-63.20m depth
It is quite apparent that the RC hole SMP-018 and its 2 twin diamond holes SMP-024 and SMD-041 intersected
the same mineralised structure, but returned very significant differences in grade. This is interpreted as being
a response to the irregular distribution of coarse, nuggety gold as ha s been previously identified from the RC
programme (see news release dated December 18, 2023) , and has been now confirmed by the phase 2
diamond drilling programme. Visible gold was identified in the core from several holes, for example in hole
SMD-032, from which a sample containing logged visible gold assayed 3.92 g/t Au, whereas a field duplicate
sample assayed 11.05 g/t Au. Furthermore core orientation data as well as the depths of the structures in the
3 holes suggests that the shearing and vein quartz associated with the mineralisation intercepted in SMP-018,
SMD-024 and SMD-041 was striking to the north-northwest, and dipping east-northeast.
Secondly the 2 twin holes have clearly shown that the wide intersection returned from the RC hole SMP -018
is incorrect, and is a result of downhole contamination, with the gold being smeared down the hole from the
mineralised structure during the RC drilling process. While this is a rare event it is a recognised potential issue
with coarse gold in RC drilling.
Hole SMD -043 was also drilled on the MVZ -EX zone, twinning RC hole SMP -017 which returned an
intersection of 5.73 g/t Au over an interval of 1 4m from 56m depth, including 2 higher grade zones in a lower
grade background associated with altered rock. SMD -043 was collared approximately 1m behind SMP -017
and returned an intersection of 3.16 g/t Au over an interval of 13.96m from 57.42m depth, from a zone of
strongly sheared and heavily phyllic altered rock . The wider intersection again included higher grade zo nes
notably a high grade pyrite bearing quartz vein between 69.65-70.31m. SMD-043 confirms the mineralised
interval from SMP-017, although the overall grade of the mineralised interval is significantly lower than that in
the RC hole.
Hole SMD-038 was designed to twin a deep intersection of the MVZ from RC hole SMP -004, which returned
an intersection of 12.45 g/t Au over an interval of 2m from 184m downhole depth. The HQ size diamond hole
returned a very similar intersection of 11.56 g/t Au over an interval of 1.66m from 184.46m downhole depth,
confirming the validity of the RC intersection. SMD-038 also intercepted mineralisation associated with the
near surface flat-lying veins and on the CVZ, which returned similar results to those from SMP -004.
A number of conclusions are drawn from the DD -RC twinning exercise. The first is that the diamond holes
have largely confirmed the results from the RC drilling, both in terms of the geological interpretation at Semna,
and also the location of the mineralised veins and structures, notwithstanding the results of the 2 diamond
twins of SMP-018, where downhole contamination was clearly an issue, associated with coarse gold. Despite
the difference in the returned grades both the twin holes clearly intercepted the same mineralised structure at
the top of the SMP -018 intersection, and it is therefore concluded that the high grade assays from the top 2-
3m of the mineralised intersection in hole SMP -018 can be considered valid. Correlation between the
mineralised intervals from the other 2 twin diamond holes and the original RC holes were good.
A second conclusion is that the grades returned from the diamond holes were generally lower than those from
the twinned RC holes, and this is deemed to be a function of sample size. It is also noted that the PQ twin
SMD-041 returned a significantly higher grade than that returned from the smaller HQ hole S MD-024, as did
as the original 5 ¾” diameter RC hole SMP -018. Given the apparent irregular and nuggety distribution of the
gold in the Semna veins, and its coarseness, sample size is clearly an issue. It is therefore considered that
larger sample sizes are likely to provide more representative assay results. During the programme the decision
was therefore made to increase the sample size being submitted to the laboratory, as well as moving to a
larger 50g charge on the fire assay, compared to the standard 30g charge w hich is normally used, starting
from hole SMD -034. It is noted that this coincided with a general increase in the number of higher grade
samples returned form holes SMD-034 onwards and, notably in the holes on the MVZ-EX.
Discussion of results
Logging of the diamond holes has confirmed that the Semna appears to be mainly hosted in intermediate to
felsic composition intrusive rocks. There appear to be 2 main units present, the first being the Semna
Granodiorite, which is a coarse -grained leucocratic felsic intrusive, and is frequently rich in intermediate
composition xenoliths. The Eastern Diorite Complex is a very heterogeneous mass of predominantly fine -
grained microdiorite, intercalated with diorite, quartz diorite, and occasionally granodiorit e, and is typically
highly altered. This unit has now been mapped over a significant area to the east and south of the Semna gold