Exploration Drilling Confirms Mineralization 3,000 ft NE Of Cactus East

CASA GRANDE, AZ - Arizona Sonoran Copper Company Inc. reported on exploration drilling at the NE Extension target confirms 990.7 ft (302 m) of 0.42% CuT of continuous copper mineralization, collared 3,000 ft (914 m) northeast of the Cactus East (CE) deposit. Both the NE Extension, as well as the Gap Zone, were highlighted as priority targets following a property wide ionic leach program and magnetic imaging program targeting exploration potential along the 4 km Cactus Mine Trend. During 2023, a total of $0.9 million is budgeted for additional exploration in the Gap Zone and the NE Extension. Additionally, two infill to measured drill holes from Cactus East were returned from the laboratory, confirming continuous grade and thickness within the current mine plan.

Highlights: ECE-076 (CE): 491.0 ft (149.7 m) @ 1.51% CuT, 1.34% Cu TSol, 0.023% Mo, including 211.7 ft (64.5 m) @ 1.75% CuT, 1.65% Cu TSol, 0.012% Mo (oxide), and 279.3 ft (85.1 m) @ 1.38% CuT, 1.11% Cu TSol, 0.031% Mo (enriched), including 79.3 ft (24.2 m) @ 2.87% CuT, 2.61% Cu TSol, 0.028% Mo; ECE-078 (CE): 377 ft (114.9 m) @ 1.25% CuT, 1.15% Cu TSol, 0.035% Mo (enriched), including 20 ft (6.1 m) @ 2.10% CuT, 1.98% Cu TSol, 0.035% Mo; ECN-128: continuous mineralization of 990.7 ft (302.0 m) @ 0.42% CuT - 118.1 ft (36.0 m) @ 0.97% CuT, 0.94% Cu TSol, 0.004% Mo (oxide) - 653.4 ft (199.2 m) @ 0.40% CuT, 0.008% Mo (primary).

George Ogilvie, President and CEO, “Exploration by ASARCO in the ’60s and ’70s was super-focused on discovering and developing open pit copper resources. As a result, ASARCO walked away from both the Cactus NE Extension and the Parks/Salyer project, both underground targets. Our team has had great success with Parks/Salyer last year, adding 2.9B lbs of Contained Copper in an inferred Maiden Resource and Cactus East drilling and we see tremendous blue-sky potential at both the Gap Zone and the NE Extension. We know the mineralization in these two zones has not been drilled to depth and both remain excellent exploration targets. To follow up, the team has allocated expenditures to ensure proper evaluation of the 4 km porphyry copper mine trend, while concurrently executing on the work plan to deliver our Cactus and Parks/Salyer PFS due later this year.”