Aztec Drills 40 RC holes at Tombstone Project, Arizona in 2025, Continues to Expand Shallow Silver-Gold Mineralization
PO Box 55 T: 604-685-9770
Suite 1030 – 505 Burrard Street www.aztecminerals.com
Vancouver, BC V7X 1M5
Aztec Drills 40 RC holes at Tombstone Project, Arizona in 2025,
Continues to Expand Shallow Silver-Gold Mineralization
• Final analytical results of drill hole TR25-17 report a higher silver content
than preliminary results reported on November 4, 2025
• TR25-17 intersected 57.8m averaging 39.12 gpt Ag and 5.16 gpt Au from
9.1m depth
• Drillhole TR25-9 intersected three mineralized zones along its 273.6 meter
length, including 164.2 meters averaging 16.74 AgEq to TD
• Drillhole TR25-14 intersected 86.6 meters with 23.19 gpt AgEq including
15.2 meters of 118.42 gpt AgEq
• The new results show the Ag-Au mineralization has broad continuity as
drill tested mineralization has been pushed to depth, to the east and west
• 40 RC holes have now been drilled with 20 RC holes pending release as the
drilling program continues
• One core hole has been completed to target depth with samples shipped to
analytical laboratory
Vancouver, Canada – January 7, 2026 - Aztec Minerals Corp. (AZT: TSX-V, OTCQB: AZZTF) (“Aztec” or the
“Company”) announces it has received the results from an additional seven RC drill holes, as well as final
multi-acid digestion analytical (“MA”) results from the previously reported preliminary fire assay analytical
(“FA”) results from TR25 -16/17/17a of its reverse circulation portion of the 2025 drilling program at the
Tombstone Property in Southeastern Arizona. The 2025 drilling program has now completed 40 RC drill
holes and one core hole as of December 31, 2025, with results from the 7 RC holes drilled in the historic
Contention Mine Area of the Contention Target announced herein.
Highlights from the RC drilling reported from the western and eastern sides of the main Contention Target
include:
• TR25-14 was collared in the central portion of the Contention area and intersected two zones
of mineralization:
o 86.6 meters averaging 38.17 gpt AgEq (0.214 gpt Au, 23.19 gpt Ag), from 21.3m including
15.2 meters of 118.42 gpt AgEq (0.811 gpt Au, 61.68 gpt Ag)
o 9.1 m of 10.6 gpt AgEq (0.032 gpt Au, 8.38 gpt Ag) from 124.6m
• Drill hole TR25-9 tested easterly across the main Contention area from the western side of the
target area
o Three zones of Ag-Au mineralization were intersected including 164.2 m of 16.74 gpt
AgEq (0.014 gpt Au, 7.31 gpt Ag), from 109.4m and bottomed in mineralization.
o Over 76% of the drillhole’s length was composed of mineralized intersections.
• RC drill hole TR25-10 was collared on the eastern side of the main Contention area:
o Intersected 72.9 meters of 28.37 gpt AgEq (0.192 gpt Au, 14.92 gpt Ag) from surface
including 10.6 meters of 70.65 gpt AgEq (0.485 gpt Au, 36.71 gpt Ag).
All the seven RC drillholes intersected Ag -Au mineralization and expanded the target area extent to the
west, east and to depth. The majority of the intercepts show broad continuity of the mineralization. All
reported intersection lengths are apparent widths of the mineralization, not true widths, which can range
at the property from 30% to 100% of apparent widths.
Aztec also reports the final multi -acid digestion analytical (“MA”) results from the previously reported
initial fire assay analytical (“FA”) results from TR25 -16/17/17a that tested the previously undrilled Head
Center Area in the northern Contention Target (please see news release dated November 4, 2025). Final
analytical results from TR25-17 returned a broad zone of 57.8m averaging 5.16 gpt Au and 39.1 gpt Ag
including 4.56m of 58.5 gpt Au and 173.1 gpt Ag . TR25-17A returned 80.95 gpt AgEq and 1.00 gpt Au
over 10.6m ending in a 7.6m open stope.
Additionally, final MA results from TR25-16, collared 45m south of TR25 -17 intersected two zones of
mineralization averaging 49.36 gpt Ag and 0. 70 gpt Au including 3m of historic workings, and a second
zone of 9.1m at 32.3 gpt Ag and 0.92 gpt Au).
Core Drilling Update
The core drilling portion of the 2025 drilling program advanced well in December 2025 with one drill hole
completed to target depth of 694m (TC25-03) at the northern end of the property. Samples from this drill
hole have been shipped to the analyst laboratory for geochemical analysis.
The core rig is now continuing to test to depth the previously identified southern AMT target under the
Bisbee formation in the thick Paleozoic carbonate formations below. Aztec has previously identified
several large, strong, conductive bodies, underneath the historic gold -silver district through NSAMT
(natural-source audio-frequency magneto-telluric surveys) anomalies1. At the time of the Christmas break
the drilling advance of TC25-04 was approximately 350 m above the top of the AMT target horizon after
advancing 341.5m in December.
Tombstone 2025 Drilling Plan Completed and Pending
The successful drilling central portion of the Contention pit area was supported by Aztec’s 3D geologic
and underground working model that was constructed to assist in targeting potential expansion of the
Contention system. The overall Contention system has yet to be defined , and marks the confluence of
other mineralized zones including the Westside Anticline.
Detailed Drillhole Summary Highlights (see Table 1 & 2 below):
• Hole TR25-9 - Was collared from the western side of the Contention Target easterly across and
to depth 273.6 m the main Contention area. It was designed to test continuity of the
mineralization on the western side and below other, prior RC drillholes. It intersected three zones
of Ag-Au mineralization with it bottoming in 164.2 m of 16.74 gpt AgEq (0.014 gpt Au, 7.31 gpt
Ag). Over 76% of the drillhole’s length was composed of mineralized intersections. The drillhole
leaves the mineralization open to the west and to depth. Drilling was stopped due to hole
stability. The interval is composed of siliciously and argillic ally altered, lower Bisbee group fine -
grained sandstones/quartzites, siltstones/hornfels and limestones cut by hydrothermal breccias,
quartz-feldspar porphyry dikes, and faults/fissures with quartz veining. Moderate to strong iron
oxides, manganese oxides, orange to red color, and oxidized pyrite sites.
• Hole TR25 -10 – Collared in the eastern side of the main Contention area , from surface it
intersected 72.9 meters of 28.37 gpt AgEq (0.192 gpt Au, 14.92 gpt Ag) including 10.6 meters of
70.65 gpt AgEq (0.485 gpt Au, 36.71 gpt Ag). The drillhole leaves the mineralization open to the
east and to depth. The interval is composed of siliciously and argillically altered, lower Bisbee
group fine -grained sandstones/quartzites, siltstones/hornfels and limestones cut by
faults/fissures with quartz veining. Moderate to strong iron oxides, manganese oxides, orange to
red color, and oxidized pyrite sites.
• Hole TR25-14 - Collared in the central portion of the Contention area . It intersected two zones
of mineralization. The first was 86.6 meters long (21.3m - 109.4m) with 38.17 gpt AgEq (0.214
gpt Au, 23.19 gpt Ag), including 15.2 meters of 118.42 gpt AgEq (0.811 gpt Au, 61.68 gpt Ag). At
the bottom of the drill hole was intersect ed 9.1 m (124.6m – 133.7m) of 10.6 gpt AgEq (0.032
gpt Au, 8.38 gpt Ag). The drillhole leaves the mineralization open to depth. The interval is
composed of siliciously and argillicall y altered, lower Bisbee group fine -grained
sandstones/quartzites, siltstones/hornfels and limestones cut by hydrothermal breccias, quartz -
feldspar porphyry dikes, and faults/fissures with quartz veining. Moderate to strong iron oxides,
manganese oxides, orange to red color, and oxidized pyrite sites.
View drill sections here:
Link to section view hole TR25-09
Link to section view hole TR25-10 and TR25-11
Link to section view hole TR25-12
Link to section view hole TR25-13
Link to section view hole TR25-14
Link to section view hole TR25-15
Link to section view hole TR25-16
Link to section view hole TR25-17 and TR25-17a
The 40 RC drill holes in the current program completed to date primarily are part of a “fan grid pattern”
being drilled in the Contention area since 2020. Most of the RC drill holes are oriented to test for
extensions on the western , eastern borders , the southern extensions, and underneath of the north -
trending main Contention target zone which hosts the historic underground and open pit Contention
mine. One RC drill hole tested a projected dike and fissure vein intersection under mineralized outcrops
and historic shafts. The drill program has continued to identify to depth and horizontally pervasively
oxidized and hematite -rich, silicified hydrothermal breccias composed of quartz feldspar porphyry dike
and Bisbee Group clastic sedimentary fragments, typical of the material mined historically at the
Contention Mine.
Additional mineralization types continue d to be outlined by the current drilling including: manganese
replacements in limestone beds and skarns, quartz veinlets, oxidized sulfide relicts as disseminations,
silicification of altered hornfels, quartz feldspar porphyries and hydrothermal breccias. For the 2025
program being currently reported , TR2 5-09 is the deepest RC hole drilled, it has an inclination of -60
degrees and was drilled to a depth of 274.4m (237.7 m vertical) remaining in mineralized and oxidiz ed
rocks most of its length.
The drilling results show ed that the Contention area mineralization is still open and to depth and the
mineralized volume is expanding.
Table 1A: Contention & Head Center Area Drill Results Currently Reported
Drill Hole From (m) To (m) Interval (m)* Au (gpt) Ag (gpt) Ag Eq (gpt) (1) Comments
TR25-09 12.1 24.3 12.2 0.017 9.49 15.24
51.7 85.1 33.4 0.312 12.1 33.92
109.4 273.6 164.2 0.014 7.31 16.74 TD in mineral
TR25-10 0.0 72.9 72.9 0.192 14.92 28.37
Including: 21.3 31.9 10.6 0.485 36.71 70.65
TR25-11 0 88.2 88.2 0.033 11.2 13.53
107.9 115.5 7.6 0.453 2.78 34.49
TR25-12 0 6.1 6.1 0.041 15.1 17.94
72.9 112.5 39.5 0.023 6.06 7.87
153.5 162.6 9.1 0.043 4.03 7.04
TR25-13 155.0 167.2 12.2 0.045 11.78 14.92
TR25-14 21.3 109.4 86.6 0.214 23.19 38.17
Including: 36.5 51.7 15.2 0.811 61.68 118.42
124.6 133.7 9.1 0.032 8.38 10.6
TR25-15 0 27.4 27.4 0.78 12.37 17.83
Drill Hole From (m) To (m) Interval (m)* Au (gpt) Ag (gpt) Ag Eq (gpt) (1) Comments
85.1 104.9 19.7 0.041 7.07 9.96
TR25-16* 16.7 66.9 50.2 0.72 50.76 92.39 Stope for 6.7 m
152 161.1 9.1 0.921 32.27 96.73
TR25-17A* 12.2 22.8 18.2 1.00 10.96 80.95 Bottomed in stope
TR25-17* 9.1 66.9 57.8 5.16 39.12 400.10
Including: 16.7 21.8 4.6 58.5 173.13 4268.13
174.8 197.6 22.8 0.323 8.25 30.84
*Final results reported Jan 7, 2026,
preliminary results Nov 4, 2025
2025 RC and Core Drilling Program
The RC drilling program is targeting shallow zones associated with surface exploration and 3D geological
modelling, prospective for wide oxide gold-silver mineralization, and drilling precollars for the deeper CRD
target tests. The drilling program has completed 40 RC drill holes (6,887 m) by years end, testing both the
Contention Main and Southern Extension areas as step out targets and six Westside Area first pass targets,
with results from the first 20 holes now announced. Initial assay results continue to validate the oxide
gold-silver geological setting as outlined in Aztec’s geological exploration model. One core hole (TC25-03)
has been successfully completed to target depth in the northern portion of the project and another (TC25-
04) is currently being advanced (341.5 m) to test the southern AMT target and it is anticipated to have to
advance another 350 m to reach the top of the AMT target.
The primary objectives of the 2025 drilling program were to: Expand the known mineralization
horizontally to the west, north and south, and down dip beyond the holes drilled by Aztec in 2020 -24 at
the Contention Pit with step outs to enlarge the shallow, broad, bulk tonnage gold -silver mineralization
discovered there; test by core drilling the initial deep CRD targets and also, to explore with first pass
drilling new targets identified in the Westside area.
Table 1B: Tombstone 2025 Previous Reported Results
Drill Hole From (m) To (m) Interval (m)* Au (gpt) Ag (gpt) Ag Eq (gpt) (1) Comments
TC25-01 105.1 128.0 22.9 0.18 23.0 39.4
TR25-02a 73.1 135.6 62.5 0.24 19.4 40.7
TR25-01 No results with values
of interest
TR25-02 68.6 97.5 29.0 0.19 10.4 27.6
123.4 158.5 35.1 0.05 8.7 11.8
182.9 192.0 9.1 0.08 5.4 12.9
TR25-03 67.0 117.3 50.3 0.41 53.0 89.7