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. 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 granodiorite, and is typically highly altered. This unit has now been mapped over a significant area to the east and south of the Semna gold mine. Rocks previously mapped as being andesitic are now classed as fine-grained microdiorites within this intrusive package.

The Semna Granodiorite and Eastern Diorite Complex are cut by several mafic to felsic composition late dykes, as well as occasional very fresh and unaltered microgabbro bodies, which post-date the mineralisation and apparently also the tectonism. The mineralisation at Semna is strongly structurally controlled, and is hosted in a series of steeply frequently south-dipping shear zones that contain the gold-bearing quartz veins. These sub-parallel quartz veins strike approximately east-west and dip at 60-75° to the south, but the dip and strike can be variable within each vein, and the veins noticeably pinch and swell, and in places anastomose, as has been historically reported, as well as mapped underground by Aton geologists.

The MVZ typically strikes in an east-southeasterly direction, dipping to the south-southwest, in the old underground workings. It appears to be sinistrally displaced by about 40-50m to the southwest at the eastern end of the workings which have been exposed by artisanal miners, along the so-called Adit Fault. To the east of the Adit Fault, in the interpreted MVZ-EX extension zone the vein(s) appears to swing around to a generally east-northeasterly strike, but are covered by wadi sediments.

Mineralisation appears to be associated with multiple sub-parallel mineralised quartz veins in the MVZ-EX zone, for example in hole SMD-048. Hole SMD-044 also intercepted a copper-rich zone, apparently on the Adit Fault, which is quite different to the typical vein-hosted mineralisation of the MVZ and the MVZ-EX. There is also evidence for other structural orientations in the MVZ-EX, including possibly east-dipping gold-bearing veins associated with north-northwesterly to north-northeasterly striking shear zones, with intense associated phyllic alteration.

The mineralisation appears to be fairly tightly restricted to the quartz veins and their immediate wall rocks with generally very limited dispersion into the wall rocks, but there are exceptions. There appears to be a general correlation between higher gold grades with semi-massive pyrite and chalcopyrite-bearing zones within the quartz veins, as well as elevated levels of copper and silver. The gold is clearly coarse at Semna and is irregularly distributed throughout the veins, and it is concluded that larger sized drill holes and samples are more representative.

The mineralisation at Semna has to date been drilled over a strike length on the MVZ of approximately 500m and is open at depth and to the east of the MVZ-EX zone. Holes SMD-040 and SMD-041 appear to suggest that the MVZ is weakening at its western extent, which coincides with observations from underground. Aton's geologists are now reviewing the results of the programme to determine the most appropriate way forwards.

It is considered likely that given the numerous structural orientations identified in the diamond drilling, and the issue of obtaining representative samples that a combination of both RC and larger size PQ diamond drilling will required, with a significant component of drill hole twinning. Aton currently plans to resume drilling at Semna during the last quarter of 2024. The diamond drill holes were drilled almost exclusively at HQ size (63.5mm diameter), with very limited drilling undertaken at PQ size (85mm diameter).

Core was loaded into metal core boxes by the drill crew under supervision of Aton geologists. The core was metre marked onsite, with basic geotechnical measurements (total core recovery, solid core recovery, and rock quality designation) undertaken by Aton geologists, as well as specific gravity measurements. The core was then carefully packed and transported to the Rodruin exploration camp, where it was photographed in both wet and dry states.

The drill core was geologically logged by senior Aton geologists, and marked up for cutting and sampling at the Rodruin core farm. Samples were typically selected over nominal 1m intervals, but as determined by the logged lithologies. The core was half-cut by Aton staff at the onsite Rodruin sample preparation facility.

After the core had been cut, the relevant cut intervals were then photographed again. The split half-core samples were collected and bagged up in cloth bags, weighed and crushed to -4mm onsite, and split to a nominal c. 250-500g sample size. From drill hole SMD-034 onwards the samples were split to a nominal 500-1,000g sample size.

The coarse crushed reject samples are retained onsite at the Rodruin sample preparation facility. QAQC samples were inserted at a rate of approximately 1 certified reference material (or "standard" sample) every 30 samples, 1 blank sample every 15 samples, and 1 duplicate split sample every 15 samples. The 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. 100g size, which was shipped on to ALS Minerals at Rosia Montana, Romania for analysis. The reject pulp material was returned to the sample preparation facility at Rodruin, where it is also retained onsite. The samples were analysed for gold by fire assay (30g charge) with an atomic absorption spectroscopy finish (analytical code Au-AA23).

Holes from SMD-034 onwards were analysed using a larger 50g charge. Any high grade gold samples (>10 g/t Au) were re-analysed using analytical code Au-GRA21 (also fire assay, with a gravimetric finish). Samples were also analysed for silver and copper using an aqua regia digest followed by an AAS finish.

Any high grade silver and base metal samples were re-analysed using the ore grade technique AA46. Samples from the first 5 holes of the programme and selected samples from hole SMD-042 were also analysed for lead and zinc using an aqua regia digest followed by an AAS finish (analytical code AA45), with overlimit samples also re-analysed using AA46.