FOR IMMEDIAT E RELEASE Aton Reports the Results of Surface Sampling Programmes Including 67.5 g/t Au From Abu Gaharish , 54.9 g/t Au From Bohlog, and 27.6 g/t Au From Semna
FOR IMMEDIAT E RELEASE
Aton Reports the Results of Surface Sampling
Programmes Including 67.5 g/t Au From Abu
Gaharish , 54.9 g/t Au From Bohlog, and 27.6 g/t Au
From Semna
Vancouver, British Columbia, May 29, 2023: Aton Resources Inc. (AAN: TSX-V) (“Aton” or the “Company") is
pleased to update investors on the results of recent surface sampling programmes at several of its regional
target areas, undertaken ahead the ongoing reverse circulation percussion (“RC”) drilling pr ogramme at the
Company’s 100% owned Abu Marawat Concession (“Abu Marawat” or the “Concession”) , in the Eastern
Desert of Egypt.
Highlights:
• Aton has recently undertaken several sampling and mapping programmes in advance of the now
started RC drilling programme;
• A total of 104 selective grab and non -selective surface channel samples were collected from the
Semna, Abu Gaharish, Bohlog, Sir Bakis and Massaghat prospects (Figure 1);
• 25 samples were collected from the Semna prospect, returning assays including 27.6 g/t Au, 24.0 g/t
Au and 16.95 g/t Au;
• 40 samples were collected from the Abu Gaharish prospect, returning assays including 67.5 g/t Au,
23.3 g/t Au and 16.5 g/t Au;
• 17 samples were collected from the Bohlog prospect, returning assays including 54.9 g/t Au and 48.4
g/t Au;
• 8 samples were collected from the Sir Bakis prospect, returning assays including 9.62 g/t Au and 6.61
g/t Au;
• 14 samples were collected from the Massaghat prospect, returning assays including 34.5 g/t Au.
“We are pleased to be able to announce another set of exciting surface sampling results from Abu Marawat,
which gives us real confidence for the regional RC drill programme that has now started ” said Tonno Vahk,
Interim CEO. “This sampling has been undertaken during the last months, as we have been planning up the
drilling at our regional targets. The team have been very busy on the ground, preparing for the drilling and we
are very happy that it is now underway. As well as the work in the field, we continue to push ahead with our
main goal for 2023, which is our application for the mining licence at Abu Marawat. Work on the Rodruin and
Hamama West mineral resource estimates is ongoing and the metallurgical testwork programmes are now
almost completed. The anticipated issuance of the mining licence at Abu Marawat will be a transformational
moment for Aton, and we continue to work closely with our partners at the Ministry of Petroleum and the
Egyptian Mineral Resources Authority to achieve this shared goal. ”
Abu Marawat regional sampling programme
The Company has undertaken several ad hoc surface sampling programmes, as part of its preparation and
planning activities for the regional RC exploration drilling programme that has now started (see news release
dated May 19, 2023) . All the Company’s main exploration targets have recently been exploited by artisanal
miners, predominantly since the Company’s suspension of field activities in 2020 as a result of the covid-19
pandemic. This has provided the opportunity to carry out add itional sampling and mapping of the known
structures, as well as previously unidentified mineralised structures that have been exploited by the artisanal
miners. The sampling consisted predominantly of selective grab and chip sampling, with fewer 1-2m long non-
selective in situ channel samples across potentially mineralised structures.
Sampling was undertaken at the Semna, Abu Gaharish, Bohlog, Sir Bakis and Massaghat prospect areas
(Figure 1). Selected results from the programme are shown in Table 1, and full assay results are presented in
Appendix A. Further sampling has also been undertaken at Zeno and Semna, and the results of this more
recent work will be reported once they become available.
Figure 1: Geological map of the Abu Marawat Concession, showing the locations of the sampled prospects
Discussion of results
Semna Gold Mine
The historic Semna gold mine is located approximately 27km east-northeast of the Company’s Hamama West
mineral deposit and 13km northeast of the Rodruin deposit (Figure 1), and has a long history of mining, dating
back to the Old Kingdom period, over 4,500 years ago. In modern times, Semna was mined between 1904-
1906 by two British companies. It has been reported that the Semna mine worked the widest vein exploited
during the British era of mining in Egypt, reaching up to 6m width in places, and mining grades of over 2 ounces
per ton were reported at the time . Reports from the Mining Journal from 1905 indicated that some remnant
pillars within ancient Pharaonic-era stopes assayed up to 5.5 ounces per ton gold. In recent years the Semna
area has recently been heavily exploited by illegal artisanal miners.
Sample ID Project E N Sample type Au
(ppm)
Ag
(ppm)
Cu
(ppm)
Pb
(ppm)
Zn
(ppm)
AHA-16009 Abu Gaharish 564060 2916669 Grab 10.95 5.2 8 28 18
AHA-16010 Abu Gaharish 563228 2916507 Grab 9.49 14.4 134 555 287
AHA-50078 Abu Gaharish 564174 2920312 Grab 23.30 12.7 12 246 34
AHA-50122 Abu Gaharish 565169 2918854 Grab composite 14.45 15.6 286 1,120 132
AHA-50132 Abu Gaharish 564305 2917080 Grab composite 67.50 40.9 15 560 44
AHA-50133 Abu Gaharish 564476 2916803 Grab 12.35 21.4 207 1,005 305
AHA-50134 Abu Gaharish 564669 2916620 Grab 16.50 32.3 132 568 110
AHA-50070 Bohlog 550369 2921047 Grab 54.90 7.5 53 21 1,020
AHA-50072 Bohlog 552926 2919733 Grab 48.40 23.9 1,595 9,250 2,060
AHA-50074 Bohlog 552379 2919502 Grab 8.03 1.0 127 9 54
AHA-50149 Massaghat 549520 2924553 Grab 34.50 5.2 114 12 10
AHA-39053 Sir Bakis 545156 2919192 Grab 6.61 1.1 92 46 436
AHA-39055 Sir Bakis 544555 2919579 Grab 9.62 1.8 41 7 25
AHA-39059 Semna 558621 2924803 Chip channel (single) 7.21 2.0 25,370 11 215
AHA-39060 Semna 558655 2924792 Grab composite 9.67 1.9 150 10 28
AHA-39061 Semna 558597 2924801 Grab 13.35 1.0 455 9 20
AHA-39063 Semna 558585 2924748 Grab composite 12.85 1.0 16 8 19
AHA-39064 Semna 558544 2924610 Grab composite 9.95 1.1 64 7 13
AHA-39072 Semna 558746 2924226 Grab 9.36 4.2 20,890 8 287
AHA-39073 Semna 558598 2924547 Grab composite 11.20 1.2 66 8 22
AHA-39075 Semna 558722 2924695 Chip channel (single) 27.60 1.9 73 8 16
AHA-39082 Semna 559628 2924657 Grab composite 24.00 12.6 536 8 531
AHA-39083 Semna 559432 2924269 Grab 16.95 2.4 471 6 1,505
Table 1: Selected surface sampling results
The gold mineralisation at Semna is strongly structurally controlled, and hosted in quartz diorite, consisting of
at least 4 distinct and sub-parallel zones (Figure B3), striking approximately east-west. The Main Vein and the
South Vein zones have been the primary focus of historic mining, but there are also workings developed on
other structures (Figure B3). Mapping of recent artisanal excavations and also drill access road cuttin gs has
indicated the presence of previously unidentified structures and apparently mineralised quartz veins, for
example the SE Vein (Figure B3). This concurs with the observations and conclusions from the 2018 GPR
geophysical survey, which identified nume rous anomalous responses away from known mineralised
structures, indicating potential for the discovery of hitherto unidentified high grade mineralised veins and
structures at Semna (see new release dated March 21, 2018).
During the current sampling programme 25 samples were collected from the Semna gold mine area, with
selected results shown in Table 1, and all results provided in Appendix A. 3 of the samples were non-selective
chip channel samples, and the remainder were selective grab or grab composite samples. Aton has previously
returned channel sampling intercepts including 5.17 g/t Au over an interval of 9.7m at surface, and individual
channel samples grading up to 18.05 g/t Au (see news release November 22, 2017) from Semna.
6 (24%) of the Semna samples from the current programme returned assays greater than 10 g/t Au, 14
(56%) returned assays greater than 5 g/t Au and 19 (76%) returned assays greater than 2 g/t Au (Figure
B3), with all 25 samples averaging 7.42 g/t Au in grade. Individual results included 27.60 g/t Au from a non -
selective chip channel across the Central Vein zone (sample AHA -39075), as well as 24.00 g/t Au and 16.95
g/t Au (samples AHA -39082 and AHA -39083), from 2 previously unidentified structures ap proximately 1 km
east of the central Semna area.
Aton provisionally plans to drill 17 RC holes for a total of 3,600 metres at the Semna prospect , and this
programme is currently expected to start in July 2023.
Abu Gaharish
Abu Gaharish is located approximately 30km east of Hamama and 12 km east -northeast of Rodruin (Figure
1). Gold mineralisation at Abu Gaharish is interpreted as being related to a significant structural and gold
mineralised zone localised by the contact between the late Gaharish granite pluton and the package of country
meta-sedimentary and mafic to ultramafic rocks (Figure B4). The mineralisation appears to be hosted in a
complex series of conjugate and ladder-type structures, and Aton’s geologists believe that the Abu Gaharish
mineralisation bears many similarities to that at the world -class Sukari deposit 200 km to the south. Ground
GPR geophysical profiling ( see new release dated March 21, 2018 ), and ultra-low level multi -element ionic
leach (mobile metal ion) geochemical analyses from a wadi sediment sampling programme (see news release
dated October 28, 2021) indicate the potential for blind structures and mineralisation under wadi sediments to
the west of the contact (Figure 2).
Figure 2: Ionic soil geochemical maps, showing bi-elemental associations between Au and Ag, Pd and Sr (from
unpublished Globex Solutions report - Review of Abu Marawat Ionic Geochemical Data, December 2021)
During the current sampling programme 40 samples were collected from the Abu Gaharish area, over a c. 3
km strike length along the granite contact, with selected results shown in Table 1, and all results provided in
Appendix A. 4 of the samples were non -selective chip channel samples, and the remainder were selective
grab or grab composite samples. Aton has previously reported surface channel sample inter cepts including
1.04 g/t Au over a 31.2m interval (see news release dated December 19, 2017) , and individual non-selective
grab samples grading up to 157 g/t Au (see news release October 28, 2021) from Abu Gaharish.
6 (15%) of the Abu Gaharish samples from the current programme returned assays greater than 10 g/t
and 16 (40%) returned assays greater than 1 g/t Au (Figure B4), including individual samples grading
up to 67.50 g/t Au (sample AHA-50132).
Aton has developed a provisional 28 hole RC drilling programme for a total of 4,040 metres at Abu Gaharish ,
and this drilling is currently expected to start in early June 2023.
Bohlog
Bohlog is located approximately 1 7km east-northeast of Hamama, and 8km north of Rodruin (Figure 1), and
was a significant mining area in ancient times. Illegal artisanal miners have again been active in the Bohlog
area in recent years. The gold mineralisation at Bohlog is spatially related to the late Bohlog granite , which is
intruded into early orogenic ‘grey granites’. The geological setting, with mineralisation close to the margin of a
late granite, a distinctive Au -W-Pb-Cu geochemical signature, and the strong st ructural controls all indicate
similarity to the mineralisation at Abu Gaharish.
In early 2017 the Company’s field crews carried out a programme of grab and channel sampling which returned
assays of up to 21.1 g/t Au (see news release dated June 7, 2017). Follow-up deep trenching returned
mechanical saw-cut channel sample intercepts including 1.57 g/t Au over a 20m interval and 1.65 g/t Au over
a 9m interval (see news release dated February 28, 2018).
During the current sampling programme 17 non-selective grab samples were collected from the general Bohlog
area (Figure B5), with selected results shown in Table 1, and all results provided in Appendix A.
8 (47%) of the Bohlog samples from the current programme returned assays greater than 2 g/t,
including individual samples grading up to 54.90 g/t Au (sample AHA-50070) and 48.4 g/t Au (sample
AHA-50070), from a previously unsampled zone, approximately 3 km east-southeast of the main Bohlog area.
Aton is currently developing an RC drilling programme for the Bohlog prospect, which it plans to drill as part of
the ongoing RC drilling programme.
Sir Bakis Gold Mine
The historic Sir Bakis gold mine is located approximately 12km northeast of Hamama and 10km northwest of
the Rodruin deposit (Figure 1), and was also mined underground between 1904-1906 by a British company.
In recent years the Semna area has again been recently extensively exploited by illegal artisanal miners.
Previous surface exploration and reconnaissance by the Company has returned 150 g/t Au and 32.9 g/t Au
from grab samples, and 29.5 g/t Au from channel samples (see news release dated September 13, 2017 ).
Follow-up deep trenching returned wide mechanical saw-cut channel sample intercepts of low-grade surface
mineralisation including 0.21 g/t Au over a 109.1m interval and 0.36 g/t Au over a 45.85m interval (see news
release dated March 19, 2018).
During the current sampling programme 8 non-selective grab samples were collected from the general Sir
Bakis area (Figure B6), which returned assays including 9.62 g/t Au and 6.61 g/t Au (see Table 1 and Appendix
A).
Aton is again currently developing an RC drilling programme for the Sir Bakis area, which it intends to drill as
part of the ongoing RC drilling programme.
Massaghat
The Massaghat prospect is located approximately 15km east-northeast of Hamama, and about 10km west-
northwest of Rodruin (Figure 1). The Company sampled the area in 2012, returning assays of 470 g/t Au and
17.9 g/t Au (see news release dated August 15, 2012). Follow-up sampling in 2017 returned mineralised
intercepts including 7.06 g/t Au over a 2.7m interval from channel samples (see news release dated December
4, 2017).
During the current sampling programme 14 non -selective grab and grab composite samples were collected
from the Massaghat area, which returned assays including 34.50 g/t Au and 2.53 g/t Au (see Table 1 and
Appendix A).
Sample processing and analytical procedures
Samples were collected in the field by Aton’s exploration teams. Grab, grab composite, and chip composite
samples were selective, whereas chip channel samples were non -selective. Chip channel samples were
collected in situ by manually rock chipping across potentially mineralised structures or veins, using a hammer
and chisel. Chip composite samples were also collected manually from in situ exposures, using a hammer and
chisel, but were more selective in nature. Grab and grab composite samples we re selective, and may have
been, but were not necessarily collected in situ, and may have been collected from rock dumps or float material,
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 f or 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). Any high grade Ag and base metal samples (Ag >10 0
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 Marawat Co ncession (“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 distinc t
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 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-16001 Abu Gaharish 565354 2916416 Grab 0.02 -0.2 96 9 16
AHA-16002 Abu Gaharish 565086 2916266 Chip channel (single) 0.01 -0.2 9 5 12
AHA-16003 Abu Gaharish 565386 2916291 Grab 0.11 -0.2 153 6 66
AHA-16004 Abu Gaharish 565180 2916662 Grab 0.01 -0.2 224 10 167
AHA-16005 Abu Gaharish 564283 2917072 Grab 3.04 1.4 9 198 100
AHA-16006 Abu Gaharish 563758 2917241 Chip channel (single) 0.02 -0.2 129 14 14
AHA-16007 Abu Gaharish 563724 2917211 Grab 0.01 -0.2 15 8 6
AHA-16008 Abu Gaharish 563520 2917196 Grab 0.18 0.7 1,180 7 24
AHA-16009 Abu Gaharish 564060 2916669 Grab 10.95 5.2 8 28 18
AHA-16010 Abu Gaharish 563228 2916507 Grab 9.49 14.4 134 555 287
AHA-39085 Abu Gaharish 563863 2915855 Grab 0.28 2.7 2,650 232 668
AHA-39086 Abu Gaharish 565156 2918852 Grab 1.28 1.5 180 505 220
AHA-39087 Abu Gaharish 565220 2918908 Grab 0.02 -0.2 22 8 55
AHA-39088 Abu Gaharish 565187 2918681 Grab 1.55 0.2 76 10 69
AHA-39089 Abu Gaharish 565165 2918676 Grab 3.12 1.6 243 303 201
AHA-39090 Abu Gaharish 564760 2917777 Grab 0.54 1.7 44 174 67
AHA-39091 Abu Gaharish 564743 2917290 Grab 0.35 -0.2 25 17 174
AHA-39092 Abu Gaharish 564719 2917147 Grab 0.69 0.7 741 653 693
AHA-39093 Abu Gaharish 565202 2917782 Grab 0.04 -0.2 98 14 193
AHA-39094 Abu Gaharish 565237 2917699 Grab 4.85 0.8 42,410 13 389
AHA-39095 Abu Gaharish 565237 2917699 Chip channel (single) 0.08 -0.2 191 8 103
AHA-39096 Abu Gaharish 565237 2917699 Chip channel (single) 0.92 -0.2 8,610 10 244
AHA-39097 Abu Gaharish 565515 2917746 Grab 0.10 0.4 714 31 92
AHA-39098 Abu Gaharish 565719 2917679 Grab 0.01 -0.2 41 5 26
AHA-39099 Abu Gaharish 565698 2917605 Grab -0.01 -0.2 13 5 10
AHA-39100 Abu Gaharish 565795 2917361 Grab 0.02 -0.2 180 7 18
AHA-50077 Abu Gaharish 564704 2920951 Grab 3.74 32.2 628 913 473
AHA-50078 Abu Gaharish 564174 2920312 Grab 23.30 12.7 12 246 34
AHA-50122 Abu Gaharish 565169 2918854 Grab composite 14.45 15.6 286 1,120 132
AHA-50123 Abu Gaharish 564828 2918917 Grab 2.84 2.5 35 81 76
AHA-50126 Abu Gaharish 564180 2916401 Grab composite 0.87 0.2 25 20 28
AHA-50127 Abu Gaharish 564279 2916369 Grab composite 0.12 -0.2 310 5 28
AHA-50128 Abu Gaharish 564741 2917739 Grab composite 0.77 8.0 19 392 63
AHA-50129 Abu Gaharish 564611 2917549 Grab composite 6.39 10.5 41 457 77
AHA-50130 Abu Gaharish 564592 2917489 Grab composite 0.98 1.5 9 159 32
AHA-50131 Abu Gaharish 564525 2917422 Grab 0.33 0.5 7 115 76
AHA-50132 Abu Gaharish 564305 2917080 Grab composite 67.50 40.9 15 560 44
AHA-50133 Abu Gaharish 564476 2916803 Grab 12.35 21.4 207 1,005 305
AHA-50134 Abu Gaharish 564669 2916620 Grab 16.50 32.3 132 568 110
AHA-50150 Abu Gaharish 565103 2918243 Grab 6.92 7.6 39 83 25
AHA-50062 Bohlog 550064 2920233 Grab 1.45 2.3 9 393 211
AHA-50063 Bohlog 550046 2920499 Grab 2.06 1.8 12 93 80
AHA-50064 Bohlog 550641 2920234 Grab 7.64 1.9 12 164 276
AHA-50065 Bohlog 550251 2919985 Grab 7.67 7.6 34 4,970 528