• Drillhole TR25-06 intersected 3.04m of 2149.5 gpt AgEq within a broader zone of 28.9m averaging 250.2 gpt AgEq at shallow depth 

• Drillhole TR25-05 intersected 4.6m of 590 gpt AgEq within a broader zone of 47.1m of 0.55 gpt Au and 36.4 gpt Ag (85.5 gpt AgEq) at shallow depth 

• Intersects from Drillholes TR25-7 and 8 show the Contention Ag-Au mineralization continues to extend to the west and to depth 

• Expansion of the 2025 Drilling Program to 7500m from 5000m 

• 19 RC holes have now been drilled with additional results pending 

Vancouver, Canada – TheNewswire - September 23, 2025 - Aztec Minerals Corp. (AZT: TSX-V, OTCQB: AZZTF) (“Aztec” or the “Company”) announces it has received the results from the second 5 holes of its reverse circulation portion of the 2025 drilling program at the Tombstone Property in Southeastern Arizona.  The 2025 drilling program has now completed 19 RC drill holes, with results from an additional 5 holes announced herein.  Visual observations of the drilled sample materials and assay results continue to validate Aztec’s geological exploration model.  As a result, the Tombstone Property JV Management Committee met last week and approved an expansion of the drill program from an initially planned 5,000-meter program, to 7,500 meters, and is expected to be extended to the end of Q4 2025.

 

Highlights include drill hole TR25-06 in the Little Joe Area which returned 556.5 grams per tonne (gpt) silver and 17.7 gpt gold (2149.5 gpt silver equivalent (AgEq) using a 90:1 silver:gold ratio) over 3.04 meters (m) within 28.9m of 70.8 gpt silver and 1.993 gpt gold, starting from 76.0m depth.  TR25-05 returned 238.7 gpt Ag and 3.91 gpt Au (590.4 gpt AgEq) over 4.5m within 47.1m of 85.5 gpt AgEq (36.4 gpt Ag and 0.55 gpt Au).

 

Additionally, drill hole TR25-08, collared 70m west of the previous drillhole TR24-02 returned two zones of mineralization of 74.5 m at 36.4 gpt AgEq (19.8 gpt Ag and 0.184 gpt Au) including 12.2 m of 155.8 gpt AgEq (94.5 gpt Ag and 0.681 gpt Au), and the second zone finished in 31.9 m at 13.7 gpt AgEq (6.0 gpt Ag and 0.085 gpt Au).  All reported intersection lengths reported are apparent widths of the mineralization, not true widths, which can range at the property from 30% to 100% of apparent widths.

The core drilling portion of the program is continuing to test to depth for the previously identified AMT target under the Bisbee formation in the thick Paleozoic carbonate formations below.  Aztec has previously identified several large, strong, conductive bodies, underneath the historic gold-silver district through NSAMT (natural-source audio-frequency magneto-telluric surveys) anomalies1.

 

Aztec Minerals’ CEO Simon Dyakowski stated, “The high-grade silver-gold intersection drilled in TR25-06 demonstrates the continued discovery of high-grade precious metal mineralization that the historic Tombstone Silver District is best known for.  This intersection of 2149.5 gpt Silver Equivalent over 3 meters is situated nearly 200 meters northeast of our highest-grade silver drill intersection drilled last year in TR24-16.  We are encouraged by the continued interceptions of the Contention zone of mineralization to the West.  We are eagerly awaiting the receipt of additional results and are pleased to announce the expansion of drilling to what is now expected to be our largest ever campaign on the back of strong initial assay results of the first 10 holes of the program.”

 

Figure 1: Tombstone 2025 Drilling Plan Completed to Date

Click Image To View Full Size

 

The successful drilling of TR25-07 and TC25-08 in the Western Extension of the Contention pit has confirmed the geologic model for that portion of the Contention target and prioritizes it for expanded exploration going forward.  This western side of the Contention system has yet to be defined, and it marks the confluence where other mineralized zones including the Westside Anticline.

 

Figure 2: Long Section of the Contention System with Drilling Targets

Click Image To View Full Size

 

The long section in Figure 2 (above) of the Contention system demonstrates where the focus of drilling has been to date.  The current drilling program results in the figure are bolded to contrast from prior drilling campaigns.  The principal target areas for the current drilling are shown as red circles.  They are mainly along the eastern portion of the Contention system.  Additionally, RC drilling is planned in the Westside area with the deeper core holes testing CRD/AMT targets.

Detailed Drillhole Summary Highlights (see Table 1 & 2 below):

• Hole TC25-04 – Drilled as an exploratory hole to test the potential intersection of the Sulphuret dike and Arizona Queen fissure, drilling did not find the Sulphuret dike and intersected (not high-grade but still mineralized) two minor zones mineralization in the bottom 20 m. Each was of 3.04m at 37.2 gpt AgEq and 22.4 gpt AgEq (27.0/6.2 gpt Ag and 0.113/0.18 gpt Au).  The interval is composed of siliciously and argillically altered, lower Bisbee group fine-grained sandstones/quartzites, siltstones/hornfels and thin limestones cut by faults/fissures with quartz veining.  

 

• Hole TC25-05 – Testing in the Little Joe area of the Contention main pit, it intersected a broad zone of 47.1 m at 85.5 gpt AgEq (36.4 gpt Ag and 0.546 gpt Au). The hole was designed to test for mineralization in the eastern side of the Contention system of the main pit. The interval is composed of silicious and argillically altered, lower Bisbee group fine-grained sandstones/quartzites, siltstones/hornfels cut by hydrothermal breccias, quartz-feldspar porphyry dikes (Qfp), and faults/fissures with quartz veining.  Moderate to strong iron oxides, manganese oxides, orange to red color, and oxidized pyrite sites. 

 

• Hole TR25-06 – Designed as a fan to test down dip of TR25-05.  It intercepted a moderate width zone of mineralization at 35 m to 44 m depth, but deeper at 76 to 105 m depth found a larger zone of mineralization where 6 m of old mining stope were encountered. Immediately above the stope 3.04 m of 2,149.5 gpt AgEq (556.5 gpt Ag, 17.7 gpt Au) was intersected. Overall the 28.9 m intersection had a grade of 250.2 gpt AgEq (70.8 gpt Ag, 1.993 gpt Au) with the 6.08 m of stope as a zero value. The interval is composed of siliciously and argillically altered, lower Bisbee group fine-grained sandstones/quartzites, siltstones/hornfels and limestones cut by minor hydrothermal breccias, and faults/fissures with weak to strong quartz veining.  Moderate to strong iron oxides, manganese oxides, orange to red color, and oxidized pyrite sites. 

 

• Hole TR25-07 – Collared approximately 80 m west of TR23-02 on the M drill line. It intersected four zones of Ag-Au oxidized mineralization of 13.7 m @ 22.6 gpt AgEq, 10.6 m of 17.5 gpt AgEq, 18.2 m of 9.3 AgEq, and 41.0 m of 15.9 gpt AgEq (5.4 gpt Ag, 0.117 gpt Au). The drillhole ended in mineralization. The hole was designed to test the western side of the Contention system from the West. The drillhole leaves the mineralization open to the West and to depth. The interval is composed of siliciously and argillically altered, lower Bisbee group fine-grained sandstones/quartzites, siltstones/hornfels, thin limestones cut by quartz-feldspar porphyry dikes, and faults/fissures with quartz veining.  Moderate to strong iron oxides, manganese oxides, orange to red color, and oxidized pyrite sites.  

 

• Hole TR25-08 - Collared approximately 70 m west of TR24-02 on the K drill line. It intersected two zones of Ag-Au oxidized mineralization of 74.5 m of 36.4 gpt AgEq (19.8 gpt Ag, 0.184 gpt Au) and 31.9 m of 13.7 gpt AgEq (6.0 gpt Ag, 0.085 gpt Au). The drillhole ended in mineralization. The hole was designed to test the western side of the Contention system from the West. The drillhole leaves the mineralization open to the West and to depth. The interval is composed of siliciously and argillically altered, lower Bisbee group fine-grained sandstones/quartzites, siltstones/hornfels cut by quartz-feldspar porphyry dikes, and faults/fissures with quartz veining.  Moderate to strong iron oxides, manganese oxides, orange to red color, and oxidized pyrite sites.  

  

View drill sections here:

 

Link to section view hole TR25-04

Link to section view hole TR25-05 and TR25-06

Link to section view hole TR25-07

Link to section view hole TC25-08

  

The nineteen RC drill holes in the program completed to date primarily are as part of a “fan grid pattern” being drilled in the Contention area since 2020.  Eighteen of these RC drill holes were to test for extensions on the western, eastern borders, the southern extensions, and underneath of the north-trending main Contention target zone which hosts the historic underground and open pit Contention mine.  One RC drill hole tested a projected dike and fissure vein intersection under mineralized outcrops and historic shafts.  The drill program has continued to identify pervasively oxidized and hematite-rich, silicified hydrothermal breccias composed of quartz feldspar porphyry dike and Bisbee Group clastic sedimentary fragments, typical of the material mined historically at the Contention Mine.

 

Additional mineralization types continued to be outlined by the current drilling including: manganese replacements in limestone beds and skarns, quartz veinlets, sulfide relicts as disseminations, silicification of altered hornfels, quartz feldspar porphyries and hydrothermal breccias.  For the 2025 program being currently reported, TR25-07 is the deepest hole drilled, it has an inclination of -60 degrees and was drilled to a depth of 225.6 m (195.4 m vertical) remaining in mineralized and oxidized rocks most of its length.

The drilling results showed that the Contention area mineralization is still open and to depth and the mineralized volume is expanding.

 

2025 RC and Core Drilling Program

The RC drilling program is targeting shallow zones associated with surface exploration and 3D geological modelling, prospective for wide oxide gold-silver mineralization, and drilling precollars for the deeper CRD target tests.  The drilling program has completed 19 RC drill holes (3,414.3 m) to date, testing both the Contention Main and Southern Extension areas as step out targets and a Westside Area first pass target, with results from the first five holes in the Southern Extension area now announced.  Initial assay results continue to validate the oxide gold-silver geological setting as outlined in Aztec’s geological exploration model.

 

The primary objectives of the 2025 drilling program are to: Expand the known mineralization horizontally to the west, north and south, and down dip beyond the holes drilled by Aztec in 2020-24 at the Contention Pit with step outs to enlarge the shallow, broad, bulk tonnage gold-silver mineralization discovered there; test by core drilling the initial deep CRD targets and also, to explore with first pass drilling new targets identified in the Westside area.

Table 1A: Contention South Extension Drill Results Currently Reported

Drill Hole	From m	To m	Interval m*	Au gpt	Ag gpt	Ag Eq gpt (1)	Comments
TR25-04	185.4	188.5	3.04	0.11	27.05	37.17
	196.1	199.1	3.04	0.18	6.15	22.35
TR25-05	3.04	50.2	47.1	0.55	36.36	85.46
Including:	19.8	24.3	4.6	3.91	238.73	590.42
TR25-06	35.0	44.1	9.1	0.14	13.95	26.13
	76.0	104.9	28.9	1.99	70.83	250.22	Stope for 6 m
Including:	83.6	86.6	3.0	17.7	556.5	2149.5
	112.5	135.3	22.8	0.07	5.06	11.38
TR25-07	42.6	56.2	13.7	0.14	10.37	22.64
	68.4	79.0	10.6	0.15	3.80	17.45
	103.4	121.6	18.2	0.07	2.92	9.31
	171.8	212.8	41.0	0.12	5.39	15.89
TR25-08	48.6	60.8	12.2	0.68	94.47	155.78
	47.1	121.6	74.5	0.18	19.85	36.45
	156.6	188.5	31.9	0.09	6.04	13.72

 

Table 1B: Tombstone 2025 Previous Reported Results

Drill Hole	From m	To m	Interval m*	Au gpt	Ag gpt	Ag Eq gpt (1)	Comments
TC25-01	105.1	128.0	22.9	0.18	23.0	39.4
TC25-02	73.1	135.6	62.5	0.24	19.4	40.7
TR25-01							No results with values of interest
TR25-02	68.6	97.5	29.0	0.19	10.4	27.6
	123.4	158.5	35.1	0.05	8.7	11.8
	182.9	192.0	9.1	0.08	5.4	12.9
TR25-03	67.0	117.3	50.3	0.41	53.0	89.7
Including:	88.4	94.5	6.1	2.26	253.0	456.6

Note 1: Gold and Silver equivalents are calculated using a 90:1 silver:gold ratio in 2025, 80:1 in 2023 and 2024, and a 70:1 silver:gold ratio in 2021.  

Table 2 – Drillhole Coordinates

Drill Hole	UTM East	UTM North	Azimuth	Inclination	Total Depth M
TC25-01	588540	3507254	82	65	182.9*
TC25-02	588721	3507513	120	65	158.5*
TR25-01	588618	3507105	106	60	189.0
TR25-02	588722	3507589	140	75	193.6
TR25-03	588721	3507586	140	50	152.4
TR25-04	588524	3507933	120	60	201.2
TR25-05	588826	3507637	90	60	164.6
TR25-06	588825	3507637	0	90	170.7
TR25-07	588647	3507948	105	60	225.6
TR25-08	588639	3507848	105	65	193.5

*Both drill holes are precollars for 2025 deep core drilling

 

Drill samples are collected every 1.52 m from RC chips and every 1.5m from sawing the core drill holes.  The samples are analyzed by Bureau Veritas for gold with a 30-gram sample size using the method FA430 followed by MA300.  Bureau Veritas is independent of the Company and of the Qualified Person.  Over limits, when present, are analyzed by MA370 or FA530.  The company uses quality assurance-quality control as a standard part of its sampling-assaying-assessments in conjunction with its exploration sampling programs.  Samples and their collection are controlled by an industry standard conforming QAQC program including all drill holes containing certified blanks, standards, and duplicates.  The samples are being regularly shipped to and received by the Bureau Veritas Minerals laboratory in Hermosillo, Mexico for geochemical analysis.  The QAQC for the drilling programs has been evaluated and found to have good results.

 

Tombstone Project Overview

 

Aztec Minerals holds a 85.0% interest in the Tombstone Property Joint Venture, which includes most of the original patented mining claims in the main district as well as some recently acquired properties.

 

The main target of the current drilling is to continue testing the shallow, bulk tonnage, potentially heap leachable, mesothermal gold-silver oxide mineralization adjacent and below the previously mined Contention pit by step-out drilling.  Future drilling is expected to focus on follow-up on the current program’s results.  It is anticipated that possible targeting could include strike and dip extensions of the shallow oxide mineralization, and move along those trends deeper into the sulfide zone as historically there was significant production to 300 m depth*2.

 

The Tombstone project is located 100 kilometers (km) southeast of Tucson, Arizona and covers much of the historic Tombstone silver district.  Tombstone is renowned for its high grade, oxidized, silver-gold mesothermal stringer lode veins, hydrothermal breccias and manto CRD orebodies that were mined in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.  The historic silver production in the Tombstone district from 1878 to 1939 was estimated at 32 million ounces and 250,000 ounces of gold*2.

 

The district geology consists of a mix of shallow-level, oxidized Au-Ag and base metal deposits related to CRD and skarns hosted in folded and thrusted sediments, intrusive dikes, and lode veins, and as well the under explored, sulfide versions located below the water table.

 

Host rocks to the mineralization are primarily the clastic sediments of the lowest portion of the Cretaceous Bisbee Formation.  Between 50 and 300 meters (m) in depth, the Bisbee is underlain by approximately two kms thick of the same Paleozoic carbonate formations that host the 110 MT Hermosa-Taylor zinc-lead-silver deposit of South32 located 60 km southwest of Tombstone*3.

 

Aztec believes that the historic silver mines at Tombstone could be related to a much larger mesothermal system with CRD mineralization below the old mines.  Since 2017, Aztec has completed geological mapping, geochemical sampling and geophysical surveying to identify the most prospective areas for Au-Ag mineralization around and below the Contention open pit, and CRD zinc-lead-copper-silver-gold mineralization below the entire district.  Aztec management views the district as highly prospective for the discovery of mesothermal and CRD mineralization.

 

Summary Tombstone Project Highlights

 

• Well located property on patented (33) and unpatented (73) claims (663 hectares / 1639 acres), covers much of the historic Tombstone silver mining district, great infrastructure, local town, road access, full services, water, power 

• Historic silver district*2produced 32 million ounces of silver and 250,000 ounces of gold from 1878-1939, in high grade, oxidized, silver-gold-lead-zinc-copper vein, breccia and CRD deposits, and small open pit heap leach production in late 1980’s 

• Drilling by Aztec in 2020-24 has demonstrated that the Contention Pit target has significant, shallow. oxidized Au-Ag bulk tonnage mineralization which is open in all directions 

• Multiple other prospective targets in Cretaceous and Paleozoic rocks related to major NW and NNE trending structures hosting porphyritic intrusions crosscutting a possible caldera ring structure 

* Aztec has not verified these historic results and is not relying on them.  Aztec has in its possession the historic drill logs, maps and reports but does not have any information on the quality assurance or quality control measures taken in connection with these historical exploration results.

Noted References:

1 – “Zonge International, AMT Survey, Tombstone Project, Cochise County, AZ, Data Acquisition and Processing Report, Prepared for Aztec Minerals, 18 May 2020, Zonge Job #20013”

2 – Greeley, Michael N., A Brief History and Review of Ore Grades and Production in the Tombstone Mining District with Emphasis on the Contention Mine Area, June 1984

3 - M3 Engineering and Technology Corp., Hermosa Project N.I. 43-101F1 Pre-Feasibility Study, January 2014

 

Allen David Heyl, B.Sc., CPG – AIPG No.11277, VP Exploration of Aztec, is the Qualified Person under NI43-101, supervises the Tombstone exploration programs.  Mr. Heyl has verified the data, which included a review of the sampling, analytical and test methods underlying the data, information and opinions disclosed herein.

  

“Simon Dyakowski”

                               

Simon Dyakowski, Chief Executive Officer

Aztec Minerals Corp.

 

About Aztec Minerals – Aztec is a mineral exploration company focused on two emerging discoveries in North America. The Cervantes project is an emerging porphyry gold-copper discovery in Sonora, Mexico. The Tombstone project is an emerging gold-silver discovery with high grade CRD silver-lead-zinc potential in southern Arizona. Aztec’s shares trade on the TSX-V stock exchange (symbol AZT) and on the OTCQB (symbol AZZTF).

 

Contact Information - For more information, please contact:

Simon Dyakowski, President & CEO, Director

Tel: (604) 685-9770
Fax: (604) 685-9744
Email: info@aztecminerals.com

Website: www.aztecminerals.com

 

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

 

Forward-Looking Statements:

 

This news release contains “forward‐looking information or statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws, which may include, without limitation, completing ongoing and planned work, statements relating to advancing the Tombstone Project, drill and sampling results including additional potential work and results therefrom, the Company’s plans for its Tombstone Project, potential for further expansion of the mineralization at the Tombstone Project, expected results and outcomes, the technical, financial and business prospects of the Company, its project and other matters. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the price of metals, the ability to achieve its goals, that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms. Such forward-looking information reflects the Company’s views with respect to future events and is subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of exploration results, risks related to the inherent uncertainty of exploration and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses, and those filed under the Company’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions, adverse weather or climate conditions, failure to maintain or obtain all necessary government permits, approvals and authorizations, failure to obtain or maintain community acceptance (including First Nations), decrease in the price of gold, silver and other metals, increase in costs, litigation, and failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations. The Company does not undertake to update forward‐looking statements or forward‐looking information, except as required by law.