ATON RESOURCES INC. Highlights: 21 holes were drilled at the Semna prospect, for a total of 3,662m, with the preliminary drill results from 4m composite sampling having previously been reported; Assay results of the primary 1m split samples through the mineralised zones are now available, and show good correlation with the 4m composite sampling; Significant high grade mineralised intersections from the Semna Main Vein zone ('SMV') include: 50.07 g/t Au over a 6m interval, from 75m downhole depth (hole SMP-016), including 222 g/t Au over 1m, from 80m; 28.36 g/t Au, 28.4 g/t Ag and 1.15% Cu over a 4m interval, from 136m downhole depth (hole SMP-003), including 94.8 g/t Au, 88.2 g/t Ag and 3.47% Cu over 1m, from 137m; 11.98 g/t Au over a 16m interval, from 61m downhole depth (hole SMP-018), including 36.03 g/t Au over 4m, from 61m; 10.61 g/t Au, 24.0 g/t Ag and 1.20% Cu over a 9m interval, from 130m downhole depth (hole SMP-019), including 37.00 g/t Au, 145.0 g/t Ag and 8.72% Cu over 1m, from 133m. SMP-019 also returned intersections of 5.82 g/t Au over a 3m interval from 102m, and 9.10 g/t Au over a 2m interval from 111m. 5.73 g/t Au over a 14m interval, from 56m downhole depth (hole SMP-017), including 14.85 g/t Au over 3m from 60m, and 8.67 g/t Au over 3m from 66m.
'We are pleased to be able to now provide the final assay results from the Semna RC drilling programme. It is quite apparent to us, even at this early stage, that Semna is shaping up as a very significant new drill discovery. We plan to fast-track the exploration at Semna as soon as the mining licence has been issued at Abu Marawat, which we anticipate will be very soon now. Preparations are already well advanced to start a second phase of diamond drilling, and if all goes according to plan we expect to be back drilling again at Semna in
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
Sporadic narrow mineralisation was intersected from the CVZ and the SVZ. Assay results from the SVZ were unexpectedly low, in light of the presence of old 20th century and the large recent artisanal workings on this zone. More consistent narrow zones of low to moderate grade mineralisation were intersected on the CVZ, for example in holes SMP-003, SMP-006 and SMP-014. The North Vein zone ('NVZ') was not tested in the phase 1 RC drill programme.
Significant mineralised intersections were returned from the MVZ and the MVZ-EX extension zone, including 50.07 g/t Au over a 6m interval, from 75m downhole depth (hole SMP-016), 28.36 g/t Au, 28.4 g/t Ag and 1.15% Cu over a 4m interval, from 136m downhole depth (hole SMP-003), 11.98 g/t Au over a 16m interval, from 61m downhole depth (hole SMP-018), and 10.61 g/t Au, 24.0 g/t Ag and 1.20% Cu over a 9m interval, from 130m downhole depth (hole SMP-019. Hole SMP-019 also returned intersections of 5.82 g/t Au over a 3m interval from 102m downhole depth, and 9.10 g/t Au over a 2m interval from 111m, indicating the presence of multiple mineralised structures in the MVZ-EX. Schematic interpretations of cross sections 2, 558770E and 558930E are provided in Appendix C.
All holes, except SMP-005 which intersected sub-grade mineralisation, returned mineralised intersections with true widths of between approximately 2 and 4 metres, grading between 4.14 g/t Au (5m interval from hole SMP-014) and 28.36 g/t Au (4m interval from hole SMP-003). Individual 1m samples from this area returned assays including 94.8 g/t Au (hole SMP-003), 25.7 g/t Au (SMP-006) and 17.75 g/t Au (SMP-007). The drilling confirmed the continuity of the mineralisation beneath the mined out upper parts of the MVZ. The MVZ continued at an average dip of approximately 70-degree to the SSW, although the zone appears to shallow in the deepest holes. It is not clear if this is due to the MVZ actually shallowing, or if it is due to the presence of multiple en echelon mineralised structures. The mineralisation on the MVZ was open at depth on all sections beneath the old mine workings.
Holes SMP-015 and SMP-016 were drilled at the eastern end of the 20th century workings, close to the eastern shaft, where the MVZ appears to swing around to a more easterly or east-northeasterly orientation. The MVZ appears to be faulted out here, and surface mapping of the area, now exposed by the artisanal miners, suggests that the MVZ has been sinistrally displaced by approximately 40m to the southwest.
Holes SMP-015 and SMP-016 both intersected 2 discrete mineralised zones, with true widths of approximately 2-4m. The northern or footwall zone is interpreted as being the main MVZ, while the southern hangingwall zone is interpreted as being a separate structure striking approximately southwest which appears to join with the CVZ. Both mineralised zones dip at approximately 75-degree to the south. The hangingwall zone returned an intersection of 50.07 g/t Au over an interval of 6m (true width approximately 3m). Inspection of the drill chips indicated the presence of abundant coarse gold, with individual 1m samples from this 6m interval returning assays including 222.0, 40.8 and 20.3 g/t Au. Examination of blocks of mineralised rock from surface in this area also showed the presence of abundant coarse visible gold.
The final 4 holes of the programme, SMP-017 to SMP-020 were drilled to test a postulated eastern extension of the MVZ, running parallel to a 'jog' in the eastern wadi , the so-called 'MVZ-EX' zone. 3 of the holes returned wide zones of high grade mineralisation.
SMP-017 was drilled on a northerly azimuth on the 558850E section, and returned a mineralised intersection of 5.73 g/t Au over a 14m interval, from 56m downhole depth, and beneath it SMP-019 returned mineralised intersections of 5.82 g/t Au over a 3m interval, from 102m downhole depth, 9.10 g/t Au over a 2m interval from 111m, and 10.61 g/t Au over a 9m interval from 130m downhole depth. Individual 1m samples from SMP-017 returned assays including 18.25, 13.8 and 16.25 g/t Au, while individual 1m samples from SMP-019 returned assays including 37.0, 22.6 and 15.6 g/t Au.
Hole SMP-018 was drilled slightly oblique to the 558930E section approximately 160m east of the underground mine workings, and was the easternmost hole in the programme. SMP-018 returned a mineralised intersection of 11.98 g/t Au over a 16m interval, from 61m downhole depth. This interval included individual 1m samples which returned assays including 51.8, 47.1, 24.1 and 21.1 g/t Au. In this locality the MVZ-EZ is interpreted as being approximately vertical, with a true width of approximately 10-12m. Hole SMP-020 was drilled on the 558890E section between the other holes, and is interpreted as having missed the MVZ-EX zone, which had here been offset by a NNE-striking fault.
Discussion of results
The mineralisation at Semna appears to be mainly hosted in a body of quartz diorite to granodiorite that has been intruded into a package of mafic to intermediate composition metavolcanic rocks. 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-degree to the south, but the dip and strike is quite variable within each vein, and the veins noticeably pinch and swell, as has been historically reported.
The overall vein array is quite complex, with the various zones appearing to be connected in places. Drilling has indicated the best mineralisation to be on the historically mined MVZ, however mapping indicates numerous ancient and 20th century workings on the other structures, and previous surface sampling by Aton returned some of the best results from the SVZ.
In the Semna area both the mineralisation and topography are structurally controlled. The historic Semna mine is located between two wadis orientated in a NNE direction, which are interpreted as being controlled by north-northeast striking faults. Mapping has indicated the presence of a sub-parallel series of these north-northeast fault structures, which offset the mineralised zones. The MVZ typically strikes in an east-southeasterly direction, dipping to the south-southwest. Towards the end of the now exposed underground workings, and in the interpreted eastern extension of the MVZ its strike appears to swing around to an east-northeasterly direction, where it is largely covered by wadi sediments, interpreted as being approximately 10m thick. In this MVZ-EX zone the dip of the mineralisation appears to be steepening to a more vertical orientation.
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 wallrock alteration. The mineralised structures are localised between and offset by a series of north-northeast striking fault structures. Mineralisation on the MVZ is associated with at least one mineralised quartz vein, which anastomoses and pinches and swells, as confirmed by Aton's underground mapping reported.
Historically the MVZ mineralised zone has been described as being up to 6m in thickness, but interpretation of the results from holes SMP-015 to SMP-019 suggests that the mineralisation is associated with multiple veins and structures, to the east of the 20th century underground mine workings. The overall mineralised 'envelope' may potentially be up to 10-35m in true width in the eastern extension of the MVZ under the alluvial wadi sediments. In the MVZ-EX lower grade mineralisation appears to occur in wider zones, not exclusively adjacent to the mineralised quartz veins, and is apparently associated with heavily sheared and altered wallrock.
The mineralised structures are almost always associated with white quartz veins, with gold appearing to be distributed both within the quartz veins themselves, and also in altered selvages and wallrock adjacent to the veins. The mineralisation at Semna is associated with low levels of sulphide gangue, and predominantly carries only gold. The gold at Semna appears to be coarse and nuggety, as indicated by examination of samples, and also analysis of the drill assay results. 23 of the total of 310 1m split samples submitted for analysis returned gold values greater than 10 g/t, with 11 of these returning gold values greater than 20 g/t, including individual assays of 222.0, 94.8 and 51.8 g/t Au. The drill results appear to confirm the historical and anecdotal evidence that the gold mineralisation at Semna is of a significantly high grade, and is locally of bonanza grade.
EXPLORATION ACTIVITY UPDATE
Aton intends to start a second phase of diamond drilling at Semna as early as possible in 2024, pending the anticipated issuance of the exploitation lease at Abu Marawat, with a view to fast-tracking the exploration at the Semna prospect. Pending the start of the phase 2 drilling the Company has been continuing its exploration activities at Semna, while it awaits the issuance of the exploitation lease, as follows: A provisional plan for an initial 50 hole phase 2 diamond drilling programme at Semna has been developed. The drilling will be undertaken by
A short programme of mechanical saw-cut channel sampling has been undertaken on exposed faces at Semna. Results from this programme are anticipated soon, and will be reported in early 2024.
A short programme of metallic screen fire assay analysis on some of the high grade samples from Semna has been undertaken, to assess the relative abundance of coarse gold in the Semna mineralisation, and the results will again be reported in early 2024.
2 composite samples of the Semna MVZ mineralisation have been dispatched to
SAMPLING AND ANALYTICAL PROCEDURES
The RC holes were drilled at 53/4' or 51/2' 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 was 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 at the drill site 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 sample preparation laboratory at
Following the receipt of the final 4m composite assay results for the full Semna programme from ALS, a number of the retained 1m sub-samples were selected by a senior Aton geologist for re-assaying, corresponding to 4m composite assays deemed to be of significance. The selected 1m sub-samples were again riffle split to produce nominal c. 250-500g 1m split samples which were allocated new sample numbers. These were again 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 was re-bagged and retained onsite for storage at Rodruin. QAQC samples were inserted into the 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.
The 1m split samples were again analysed for gold by fire assay (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 (Au >10 g/t) were re-analysed using analytical code Au-GRA21 (also fire assay, 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).
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