Aztec Minerals Reports 2025 Highlights and 2026 Outlook

Vancouver, Canada — January 5, 2026 — Leads & Copy — Aztec Minerals Corp. (AZT: TSX-V, OTCQB: AZZTF) has released a review of its 2025 exploration and corporate highlights, along with its outlook for 2026. The company’s primary assets include an 85% joint venture interest in the Tombstone silver-gold district in Arizona and a 100% interest in the Cervantes Porphyry Gold-Copper Property in Sonora, Mexico.

Simon Dyakowski, President and CEO of Aztec, stated that 2025 was a foundational year, marked by advancements in both precious metal discovery projects. Highlights included drilling the highest-grade silver and gold intercepts ever discovered by Aztec at the Tombstone Project. On the corporate side, the company raised $13.6 million through two equity financings and increased its ownership of the Tombstone JV from 77.7% to 85%.

At the Tombstone Project, the year began with reporting the highest-grade silver intersection drilled by Aztec and concluded with the highest-grade gold intersection discovered to date. In the second quarter, the land position was significantly increased by nearly 50% through staking an additional 31 claims. The Tombstone JV initiated its largest drill program, expanded from 5,000 meters to a minimum of 8,500 meters, with plans to continue into 2026. The program includes reverse circulation drilling of shallow, gold-silver oxide targets and core drilling of CRD style targets, with additional analytical results pending.

At the Cervantes Porphyry Gold-Copper Property, reconnaissance outcrop sampling and geological mapping were conducted to advance the project with further exploration in 2026. With silver and gold prices at all-time highs, Aztec aims to create shareholder value in 2026 through continued advancement at both precious metals discovery projects.

Tombstone Project 2025 Highlights

The highest-grade silver intersection at the property by Aztec to date was reported: a high-grade silver intersection of 7,269 gpt AgEq (233.7 opt AgEq – 3,669 gpt Ag, 44.7 gpt Au) over 1.52 m, within a zone of 569 gpt AgEq (18.3 opt AgEq – 290 gpt Ag, 3.48 gpt Au) over 25.8 m. The intercept occurred in TR24-16 in the South Extension of the Contention pit and intersected multiple zones of oxide Ag-Au mineralization including 106.4m of 147.9 gpt AgEq (1.85 gpt AuEq – 0.90 gpt Au and 76.2 gpt Ag). The TR24-16 high grade intercept is located along the Contention Pit trend 439 m SSW from the prior high-grade intercept in TC23-01 (3,477 gpt silver and 0.12 gpt gold (3,485.1 gpt AgEq) over 1.52.

High-grade mineralization was discovered in first pass drilling of the Westside Target Area. Drillhole TR24-13 intersected 24.4m of 106.24 gpt AgEq within a broader zone of 85.4m averaging 47.31 gpt AgEq at shallow depth. The first pass test of the Westside Target Area confirmed significant silver-gold oxide mineralization intersections for the geologically diverse, modeled targets. The Westside Target Area demonstrates potential for shallow silver-gold oxide mineralization like that of the adjacent Contention Target Area. (See news releases dated January 22 and 28, 2025.)

The Property Land Position was expanded by 46.7% with 31 new unpatented lode mining claims totaling 211 hectares (522 acres), increasing the Tombstone Project JV land package by 46.7% from 452 hectares to 663 hectares (1,639 acres). (See news release dated May 20, 2025.)

A 5,000-meter RC and Core drilling program was commenced, later increased to a minimum of 8,500 meters. Aztec reported strong initial results and expanded and extended into 2026 including the first core drilling of CRD style targets below the oxide silver-gold target area. Drillhole TR25-03 intersected 6.08m of 456.6 gpt AgEq within a broader zone of 50.3m averaging 89.7 gpt AgEq at shallow depth. Drillhole TC25-02 intersected 62.5m at 40.7 gpt AgEq (19.4 gpt Ag and 0.24 gpt Au). 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 AgEqwithin a broader zone of 47.1m of 0.55 gpt Au and 36.4 gpt Ag (85.5 gpt AgEq) at shallow depth. (See news releases dated June 11, August 14, September 23, and December 4, 2025.)

The highest Grade Gold Intersection to-date by Aztec was drilled. Drillhole TR25-17 intersected a broad zone of 36.5m averaging 8.14 gpt Au and 49.67 gpt Ag from 9.1 m depth including 4.6m averaging 58.5 gpt Au and 158.0 gpt Ag from 16.7m depth at a previously untested area of northern portion of the Contention Target. (See news release dated November 4, 202.)

Aztec’s drilling over 2020-2025 has been successful in drill testing significant gold-silver mineralization which remains open in all directions (see news releases dated February 19, 2025, July 5, 2023, December 7, 2021, and January 12, 2021.)

Cervantes Project 2025 Highlights

A surface exploration program in preparation for potential future drilling produced strong results. The known extent of the California Au-Cu porphyry system was expanded another 0.5 kms to the east. New prospects with porphyry related mineralization were found and confirmed with results of up to 15.6 gpt Au, 177.3 gpt Ag, and 8,062 ppm Cu in the adjoining target areas of Brasil, Estrella, California East, California North, and Purisima East. (See news release dated August 6, 2025.)

Drilling in the 2022-2023 programs intercepted strong mineralization at the California Zone, California Norte and Jasper targets.

The California Zone of near surface, oxide gold mineralization was successfully expanded in every direction and to depth, and is approaching the adjacent California Norte mineralized target.

California Zone Drill Highlights include: 137m @ 1.49 gpT Au incl 51.7m @ 3.42 gpT Au in CAL22-005, 165m @ 1.00 gpT Au incl 24.4m @ 4.25 gpT Au in CAL22-004, 152m @ 0.87 gpT Au, incl 33.5m @ 2.05 gpT Au in CAL22-012.

The first drill campaign seven years ago outlined an oxide gold cap to a new porphyry gold (copper) discovery at the California zone with drill intercepts up to 160 meters long grading 0.77 gpt gold (hole 18CER010). (See news release dated March 7, 2024.)

Corporate Highlights 2025

An oversubscribed private placement of $3.6 million was closed in May. An oversubscribed bought deal private placement of $10.0 million was closed in October. Ownership of Tombstone Project JV was increased to 85.0% from 77.7%.

Tombstone 2026 Outlook

Additional analytical results from the ongoing RC and Core drilling programs are pending release early in Q1 2026. A continued drilling campaign is targeting further expansions of high-grade shallow gold and silver around and below the Contention open pit and Westside target area, in preparation for a maiden resource estimate. Continued drill testing of the CRD potential at Tombstone is subject to ongoing program results and funding.

Cervantes 2026 Outlook

Surface exploration at the Cervantes project will continue during the first half of 2026 in preparation for potential continued step out and exploration drilling. A potential 2026 drill program at Cervantes may continue stepping out the shallow near surface gold oxide mineralized zone at the California target, and additional targets.

New Opportunities

Aztec Minerals will seek and review additional opportunities in safe jurisdictions within the Americas, focusing on projects with high quality bulk tonnage gold+/-copper+/-silver potential.

Allen David Heyl, B.Sc., CPG., is the Qualified Person and Vice President of Exploration at Aztec Minerals Corp. who reviewed and approved the technical disclosures in this news release.

Simon Dyakowski, Chief Executive Officer, Aztec Minerals Corp.

Contact Information:

Simon Dyakowski, President & CEO, Director

Tel: (604) 685-9770

Fax: (604) 685-9744

Email: info@aztecminerals.com

Source: Aztec Minerals Corp.