Aztec Minerals Increases Drilling Program by 4,500 Meters and Commences Downhole Geophysical Survey of Core Holes at Tombstone Project, Arizona
PO Box 55 T: 604-685-9770
Suite 1030 – 505 Burrard Street www.aztecminerals.com
Vancouver, BC V7X 1M5
Aztec Minerals Increases Drilling Program by 4,500 Meters and Commences
Downhole Geophysical Survey of Core Holes at Tombstone Project, Arizona
News Release - Vancouver, Canada – March 10, 2026 - Aztec Minerals Corp. (AZT: TSX -V, OTCQB: AZZTF)
(“Aztec” or the “Company”) announces that the Tombstone Property Joint Venture Management Committee
met recently and approved a further expansion of the ongoing drill program by 4,500m of additional reverse
circulation (“RC”) drilling. The expanded drilling program which commenced in June 2025 is now expected
to total approximately 17,000m of combined core and RC drilling (14,200m RC and 2,800m core). The
additional approved drilling budget totals CAD$1.7 million and is expected to be directed towards targets in
the Westside, Hard -up, Ingersoll, East Contention, Southeast Contention, Central Contention and North
Contention Areas (please see figure 1 below). The focus of this additional shallow RC drilling program is to
target oxide gold-silver mineralization.
FIGURE 1. TOMBSTONE EXPANDED RC DRILLING TARGETS
The company also announces the commencement of downhole Electromagnetic (“EM”) surveys of three core
holes at the property including the recently completed TC 25-3 hole in the North portion of the property,
TC25-4 which targeted the Southeastern NSAMT target, and TC 26-2 which is currently being drilled in the
Southwestern NSAMT target. Aztec has contract ed Zonge International to conduct the survey over the
month of March 2026. Geophysical data obtained by the downhole EM survey is expected to bolster
targeting for potential massive sulfide mineralization that may be hosted below the shallow Bisbee group
sediments that host the oxide gold-silver mineralized system at the Tombstone property.
Upcoming Webinar on March 11, 2025, 2pm EDT:
Aztec Minerals Corp. Presents in Existing Agency’s Virtual Webinar Series
Aztec Minerals also announces that the company is presenting a live virtual corporate update hosted by
Existing Agency Inc. on March 11, 2pm E DT. We invite current shareholders, and all interested parties to
register for the webinar and participate in the live Q&A session at the end of the presentation moderated by
Existing Agency Inc.
The replay will be emailed out to all webinar registrants proceeding the event and will also be available on
the Existing website.
For more information and to register: https://streamyard.com/watch/hpP9Vv8Uak2f
Option and RSU Grant
The Company also announces the granting of Options under the Company’s Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan
(the “Plan”) to certain of its directors, officers and consultants to purchase up to an aggregate 4,300,000
common shares of the Company at a price of $0. 31 per share for a period of 5 years. These Options are
subject to certain vesting provisions.
Additionally, the Company has awarded a total of 1,000,000 Restricted Share Units (“RSUs”) under the Plan
to its directors, officers and selected consultants. The RSUs will vest over a period ranging of two years from
the grant date. Upon vesting, each RSU grants the holder the right to receive one common share of the
Company, or, at the discretion of the Company’s board of directors, may be settled in cash.
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 histori cally
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 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 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*2 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 2020-25 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
The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by
Allen David Heyl, B.Sc., CPG – AIPG No.11277, VP Exploration of Aztec, a Qualified Person under NI43 -101.
Mr. Heyl 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.
On behalf of the Board,
“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 grad e 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 TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture
Exchange) 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 Information:
This news release contains “forward‐looking information or statements” within the meaning of applicable securities
laws, which may include, without limitation, the expected services to be provided by the Consultant under the
Agreement and outcomes therefrom, other statements relating to the technical, financial and business prospects of the
Company, its project s, its goals and other matters. All statements in this news release, other than statements of
historical facts, that address events or developments t hat 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 inher ent 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 for ward 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 perm its, 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 contractu al obligations. The
Company does not undertake to update forward‐looking statements or forward‐looking information, except as required
by law.