Additional Six Drill Holes From Tombstone Project In Arizona

VANCOUVER - Aztec Minerals Corp. reported the results of six drill holes from the South Drill Pattern along the Contention Pit at the Tombstone project in Southeastern Arizona. Highlights include a 48.77 meter (m) interval grading 1.01 grams per tonne (gpt) gold equivalent (AuEq at 80:1 gold:silver ratio) (0.38 gpt gold and 50.7 gpt silver) in hole TR20-13.

The South Drill Pattern was drilled approximately 460 m south of the previously released four-hole Central Drill Pattern. Drilling of the final five is now complete with results pending. This concludes the Phase 1 RC drill program for a total of 21 holes and 2,993 meters. The South Drill Pattern tested an area where no known historic drilling had taken place and discovered strong silver-gold-lead-zinc mineralization hosted in altered sandstone and siltstone. Phase 1 drilling has now verified gold-silver +/- lead-zinc mineralization along an 830 m length of the north-south Contention structure, open to the south and at depth.

The South Drill Pattern is highlighted by drill hole TR20-13 which entered the mineralized zone at 12.19 m depth and bottomed in mineralization at 60.96 m in depth due to loss of the hole. Higher grade intervals include 3.03 gpt AuEq (0.64 gpt Au and 190.9gpt Ag) over 6.1 m and 1.41 gpt AuEq (0.43 gpt gold and 78.4 gpt silver) over 25.91 m.

All six holes intersected old mine workings, likely dating back to the late 1800's, indicating that the highest-grade bonanza mineralization in the area drilled was previously mined out. Of particular note is hole TR20-11 which intersected 25.91 m of old workings and still managed to return a 27.43 m interval grading 0.49 gpt AuEq (0.31 gpt gold and 14.3 gpt silver). Three holes, TR20-10, 12 and 13, were lost at shallow depths due to broken ground so two holes were twinned by holes TR20-14, 15. All mineralized zones are strongly oxidized with iron oxide gossan and jasperoid alteration. Silver, lead, and zinc values increase to the south whereas gold values are stronger to the north, based upon this inaugural South Contention Pit drill program. A single drill hole located 180 m west of the Central Drill Pattern drilled northwesterly towards a quartz stockwork zone and several small veins intersected intrusive rhyolite and baked siltstone, effectively identifying a new parallel zone to the Contention structure. Hole TR20-16 encountered a 27.43m interval grading 0.52 gpt AuEq (0.38 gpt Au and 11.2 gpt Ag).

Aztec also announces the staking of an additional 15 unpatented claims approximately 280m south of the core Tombstone property for a total of approximately 197.6 acres (79.96 hectares) bringing the overall total land package at Tombstone to 1,004.7 acres (402.5 hectares). The company has closed its 100% purchase of the Alps and Minnett patented contiguous claim group. These two claims are southwest of the Contention Pit and host numerous mines and prospects. Aztec will initiate surface reconnaissance to evaluate future exploration targets.

Several surface grab samples were collected from mine dumps and outcrops west of the Contention Pit, an area not previously well prospected by Aztec. A total of 75 samples were collected, many of which contain very high-grade gold, silver, lead, and zinc values. One dump sample returned 47.2 gpt Au and 2,808 gpt Ag with 1.10% Pb. Nineteen of the 75 samples assayed over 1.0 gpt Au and 15 assayed over 50 gpt Ag. One sample returned >20% Zn and another contains 9.47% Pb at a small mine dump with visible anglesite (lead sulfate).