Aztec Geochemistry Data Compilation Strengthens Vectoring of High Priority Targets at Tombstone Project, Arizona
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Vancouver, BC V7X 1M5
Aztec Geochemistry Data Compilation Strengthens Vectoring of High
Priority Targets at Tombstone Project, Arizona
Vancouver, Canada – March 25, 2025 - Aztec Minerals Corp. (AZT: TSX-V, OTCQB: AZZTF) (“Aztec” or the
“Company”) announces the results of recent data compilation and analysis of RC drilling, surface channel
sampling, and 3D data modelling at the Tombstone Property in Southeastern Arizona, USA . The data
analysis has enhanced the understanding of the Multi-Element (“ME”) geochemical relationships with the
quartz-rich intrusive dikes and gold-silver mineralization in the main exploration areas, with implications
for potential CRD mineralization below the near-surface gold-silver oxide mineralization. Aztec has now
integrated the combined 2020-2024 drilling and surface ME and 3D modelling exploration data producing
several distinct geochemical relationships and has provided vectors for high priority, shallow, oxide gold-
silver mineralization and CRD targeting at the property.
The compilation of the data for the shallow, <250m depths of the project positions the Quartz-feldspar
porphyry (QFP) dikes in relation with the Gold, Silver and ME mineralization in distinct patterns. For gold,
the relationship is strongest in the Contention Pit and its QFP dike swarm whereas silver is strong
throughout the property where drilled, suggesting two separate phases of mineralization (Figure 1).
Figure 1: Gold vs Silver Average Drillhole Grades
Copper and molybdenum distributions are interpreted to be related to two stages of metallization, with
the Contention QFP dike swarm remobiliz ing an older base metal copper-molybdenum stage (potential
CRD) within its area of influence, strongly depleting molybdenum (Figure 2).
Figure 2: Copper vs Molybdenum Average Drillhole Grades
Lead and zinc are frequently in close proximity , and zinc appears to be partly remobilized by the
Contention QFP dike swarm; however, lead appears to be steady or even enriched by the later
metallization stage (Figure 3).
Figure 3: Lead vs Zinc Average Drillhole Grades
Manganese is a very strong distal indicator and vector for CRD mineralization, while antimony is a strong
indicator for gold mineralization in various environments from epithermal down to orogenic/catothermal.
There is again evidence of duality of stages for the mineralization values at the Contention QFP dike
swarm, with manganese depleted/remobilized relative to the rest of the property with antimony
appearing to be enriched, potentially pairing it with gold and possibly lead (Figure 4).
Figure 4: Manganese and Antimony Average Drillhole Grades
There is strong evidence of two stages of metallization which is supported by field and logging
observations of a later stage of dark, chalcedonic quartz cutting the white, subhedral to euhedral,
crystalline quartz veining that predominates in the property. The Westside Area appears to have a
different tenor in its silver and base metals then the Contention Main Area, and the discovery drillhole
TR24-13 demonstrates the Westside Area carries significant exploration potential.
Future exploration is expected to incorporate a thorough structural study of the dikes, fissures and
anticlines present at the property. Noting it has been demonstrated by Aztec that the QFP dikes and their
often adjoining hydrothermal breccias (HBX) do have pinches and swellings with plunges. It is planned to
develop a model for the plunge of the main body of the QFP dike swarm with the HBX for exploring to
depth, >300 m.
The 2024 exploration program developed a stronger understanding of the district’s shallow gold-silver
mineralization and has substantiated the 3D modeling generated to date. The program also helped
substantiate the 2020 geophysical AMT survey identification of anomalous conductivity as possible
mineralization at depth in the southern and central portion of the project. Geologic modeling for the
Westside zone was successful with blind targeting and confirmed the historic reporting of underground
mine workings in addition to Aztec’s modeling. The Westside zone’s first pass exploration drilling program
encountered oxide silver -gold mineralization in every drillhole to date, nearly doubling the area of drill
demonstrated exploration potential from the Contention zone alone.
Figure 5: Tombstone Project map view of Aztec completed drillholes and pre collared drillholes with
AMT anomalies (800 m depth, Zonge, 20201)
The construction of the Tombstone 3D model of the mine workings and geology of the principal portion
of the Tombstone district consists of the digitization of the historic maps and sections of the underground
workings, stopes, drill holes and geology, geolocating them to the current surface and geology an d
geochemistry, and then interpreting/analyzing the results and developing both shallow and deep
targeting. It was a successful tool in the targeting of the 2024 RC drilling program, such as the discovery
hole TR24-13 on the Westside Anticline where an ol d mine working was intercepted within less than a
meter of projected intercept.
Tombstone Project Overview
Aztec holds a 77.7% 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 2024 drill program was 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 strike and dip ex tensions of
the shallow oxide mineralization, and move deeper to test for larger, deeper “Taylor -type” lead-zinc-
silver CRD targets along and adjacent to the Contention structure.
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 brec cias 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 gold2.
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 Tombstone3.**
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.
Note: Gold equivalents are calculated using a 80:1 silver:gold ratio in 2020, 2023 and 2024, and a 70:1
silver:gold ratio in 2021. Reported lengths are apparent widths, not true widths. The Contention Au -Ag
mineralization zones are generally west dipping at around 60 -80 degrees, associated with the quartz -
feldspar porphyry dikes and hydrothermal breccias. However, these dikes also e xtend as sills in shallow
angles out from the Contention fault along fold noses in the Bisbee clastic sediments so the full range of
mineralization dips vary from 20 to 80 degrees. True widths for the apparent mineralization intersection
widths of the drill holes approximately range from 50 to 100% of the apparent widths, with the norm for
the mineralized true widths being 60 to 90% of the apparent widths. Please see summary news releases
dated: July 5, 2023, December 7, 2021, and January 12, 2021. Assumed economic cutoffs for reporting of
0.1 gpt Au and 8 gpt Silver.
Summary Tombstone Project Highlights
• Well located property on patented (33) and unpatented (42) claims (452.02 hectares/1,116.94
acres), covers much of the historic Tombstone silver mining district, great infrastructure, local
town, road access, full services, water, power
• Historic silver district produced 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 target s in Cretaceous and Paleozoic rocks related to major NW and
NNE trending structures hosting porphyritic intrusions crosscutting a possible caldera ring
structure
The following are highlights of recent drilling intersections supporting the conceptual exploration model
for mineralized footprint growth.
• TR21-22: 2.44 gpt Au and 66.56 gpt Ag (3.39 gpt AuEq) over 65.5m (including 16.80 gpt Au and
374.36 gpt Ag over 7.6m)
• TR21-03 - 5.71 gpt Au and 40.54 gpt Ag (6.28 gpt AuEq) over 32.0m
• TC 23-01: 3,477 gpt Ag over 1.52m from a zone of 733.9 gpt Ag over 7.6 m within 125 m of 1.63
gpt AuEq
• TR21-10: 1.39 gpt Au and 56.40 gpt Ag (2.20 gpt AuEq) over 96.0m
• TR21-13: 1.8 gpt Au and 36.9 gpt Ag (2.33 gpt AuEq) over 70.1 m
• TR21-17: 1.73 gpt Au and 56.20 gpt Ag (2.53 gpt AuEq) over 64.0m
• TR21-08: 2.09 gpt Au and 47.1 gpt Ag (2.76 gpt AuEq) over 39.6m
• Hole TC23–02 – 1.69 gpt gold and 29.07 gpt silver (2.03 gpt gold AuEq) over 45.3 m, including
10.1 m grading 6.63 gpt gold and 72.81 gpt silver (7.49 AuEq)
• TC23-05 – 2.816 gpt gold and 176.64 gpt silver (5.02 gpt AuEq) over 36.0 m, including 6.45 gpt
gold and 408.47 gpt silver (11.554 gpt AuEq) over 15.5 m
• TR24-10 – 0.672 gpt gold and 27.64 gpt silver (81.36 gpt AgEq) over 88.2 m, including 4.23 gpt
Au and 136.17 gpt Ag (5.93 gpt AuEq) over 9.1m
• TR24-16 - 0.896 gpt gold and 76.23 gpt silver (147.9 gpt AgEq) over 106.4m, including a bonanza
1.5m intercept of 3,669 gpt Ag and 44.7 gpt Au (7,269 gpt AgEq) within a zone of 3.483 gpt Au
and 290.51 gpt Ag (569 gpt AgEq = 18.3 opt AgEq) over 25.8 m, then 22.9m of 0.029 gpt Au and
6.29 gpt Ag (8.61 gpt AgEq), and then 12.2m of 0.029 gpt Au and 6.29 gpt Ag (8.38 gpt AgEq)
The company uses quality assurance -quality control as 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 in sertions of certified standards, blanks and
sample duplicates. The samples are being regularly shipped to and received by the Bureau Veritas
Minerals laboratory in Hermosillo, Mexico for geochemical analysis.
Core and RC drilling samples are continuously collected over 5-foot (1.52m) sample intervals from all drill
holes. For core the samples are cut with one half submitted for assay. The samples were analyzed for gold
with a 30 -gram sample size using the fire assay method FA430 followed by multi -element MA300,
including silver. Over limits, when present, are analyzed by MA370 or FA530. All holes contain certified
blanks, standards, and duplicates as part of the quality control program.
*Aztec has not verified these historic drill 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.
**Aztec does not represent that the neighboring deposits signifies there are present such deposits on the
Tombstone Project in size or scale.
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., VP Exploration of Aztec, is the Qualified Person under NI43-101, supervised
the Tombstone exploration programs. Mr. Heyl has reviewed and approved the technical disclosures in
this news release.
“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: [email protected]
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, co ntinued 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.