AMN - EGYPT: High-grade gold at Rodruin prospect

Aton Resources has received high-grade gold results from the first three holes of a reverse circulation percussion (RC) drilling program at the Rodruin prospect of its Abu Marawat Concession in the Eastern Desert of Egypt. Best result was 36 metres at 12.47 g/t gold from 5 metres.

The holes were completed at the Aladdin’s Hill area at Rodruin and drilling is ongoing. All holes to date have intersected logged mineralisation and most have intersected ancient underground mine workings.

The 36-metre intersection also included two separate very high-grade intersections of 4 metres at 63.15 g/t from 9 metres and 3 metres at 40.67 g/t from 22 metres. Individual sample grades over metre intervals include 221 g/t and 94.3 g/t.

Another hole returned an overall mineralised intersection of 59 metres at 0.90 g/t from surface while a third hole returned 13 metres at 1.02 g/t from 10 metres, and 5 metres at 2.97 g/t from 50 metres.

These results confirm the presence of very high-grade zones of mineralisation with coarse gold at Aladdin’s Hill, as indicated by previous surface and underground sampling.

Aton’s president and CEO Mark Campbell said, “These results really speak for themselves. The results correlate very well with our mapping and channel sampling as well as the previous surface grid and underground sampling at Aladdin’s Hill, and we are very encouraged by them.

“This ancient mining area, which we now call Rodruin, had been lost until we found it last December. “This discovery was no small accomplishment, as the site is in very rugged, isolated and steep terrain.

“Our regional exploration program initiated last year over our Abu Marawat Concession area was the genesis of the Rodruin discovery. The ancient high-grade tailings dumps at Eradiya East, about 3km from Rodruin and the archaeological evidence of technologically advanced ancient processing sites seen in the surrounding areas, led us to seek the source of what was apparently potentially very high-grade ore being mined by the ancients.

“Through the use of spectral imaging and good old boots on the ground, we were able to discover this large ancient mining site. Subsequently, we have built a 4.5km road up the side of the mountain, and are continuing to construct drill access roads and pads. 

“Our mapping and sampling programs have assisted us in developing our geological interpretation that Rodruin has the potential to be a very significant system of gold mineralisation, including some very high-grade zones within it. We believe that the initial results from our ongoing first pass drilling program appear to be confirming this potential.”

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