Aztec Provides Update on 2024 Gold-Silver Exploration Program at Tombstone Project, Arizona
PO Box 10427 T: 604-685-9770
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Aztec Provides Update on 2024 Gold-Silver Exploration Program at
Tombstone Project, Arizona
News Release - Vancouver, Canada – April 10, 2024 - Aztec Minerals Corp. (AZT: TSX-V, OTCQB: AZZTF)
(“Aztec” or the “ Company”) provides an update on the gold -silver exploration program at Tombstone
Project (“Tombstone”), in southeastern Arizona. The Company has review ed the previous drilling and
surface exploration results, and now is developing, with multi -disciplinary methods and studies , the
definitions for new drilling target s to continue the expansion of the project’s gold -silver oxide
mineralization footprint near to the historic Contention Pit. From that, the goal of the 2024 exploration
program is to continue with drilling to expand the large, shallow, gold silver oxide mineralized system and
make it amenable for future resource delineation.
Aztec CEO Simon Dyakowski commented “Our initial 2024 surface exploration program on the Tombstone
project has the potential to create significant value for shareholders, by expanding the target area for
shallow oxide gold-silver mineralization adjacent and below the Contention open pit . The broad
intersections of high-grade oxide gold and silver from recent drilling support the concept of defining a
potentially large mineralized system. The first phase of exploration in 2024 is expected to generate high-
priority expansion drill targets to grow the mineralized zone with a goal of defining a larger geological
model for future resource estimation.
Aztec’s previous drilling and studies has resulted in the discovery of shallow , broad intersections of
oxidized gold and silver mineralization in areas adjacent to those previously explored or developed
historically, the historical data providing for the initial 3D modelling of what is potentially indicative of
new mineralized zones easily accessible with shallow drilling in the immediate vicinity of the Contention
Pit. 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)
o please see news release dated September 28, 2021
• TR21-03 - 5.71 gpt Au and 40.54 gpt Ag (6.28 gpt AuEq) over 32.0m
o please see news release dated July 7, 2021
• 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
o please see news release dated April 26, 2023
• TR21-10: 1.39 gpt Au and 56.40 gpt Ag (2.20 gpt AuEq) over 96.0m
o please see news release dated July 27, 2021
• TC23-05 – 2.82 gpt gold and 176.64 gpt silver (5.02 gpt AuEq) over 36.0m, including 6.45 gpt gold
and 408.47 gpt silver (11.55 gpt AuEq) over 15.5m
o please see news release dated June 5, 2023
The wide, shallow gold-silver mineralization defined by Aztec’s drilling (Figure 1), together with all surface
data collected since 2018 supports a preliminary concept of expanding the mineralized footprint t o the
west of the existing historical open pit. The exploration data collected to -date indicates that previous
historical open pit heap leaching operations did not advance their plans to develop attractive, wide,
shallow gold-silver mineralization hosted in major structural zones in the Bisbee Group sediments west of
the Contention Pit.
Figure 1- Tombstone Property – Gold-Silver Oxide Shallow Mineralized Expansion Footprint
The low sulfidation mesothermal gold -silver mineralization observed to date is impressive, marked by
hydrothermal breccias, quartz stockworking, and stringer lode vein s associated with quartz -feldspar
porphyry dikes with silicification and argillic alteration . Oxidized carbonate replacement bodies and
quartz stringer lode veins with silicification and argillic alteration are present in the Bisbee formation
sediments. Hornfels and skarn are present within the host sediments of sandstones, siltstones and
limestones. Areas of intense hematite, goethite and manganese wad are widespread, associated with
better Au and Ag values. Cerargyrite (silver chloride) is observed in fractures, as often is fine-grained,
visible gold . Most Au -Ag mineralized zones intersected in the drilling programs are proximal to the
historic, extensive underground mine workings or the historic, shallow open pit walls.
The recent 2023, 7-hole, core drill program on the Tombstone project was successful in expanding
mineralization laterally and to depth, reached the water table and the highest of the Paleozoic sediments,
and connected the main and southern mineralization . Every one of the drill holes intersected near
surface, oxidized gold-silver mineralization, and all the drill holes crossed multiple historic underground
workings where presumably most of the highest-grade gold and silver were previously mined, indicating
the main mineralized zones are still open to depth and laterally.
View: Tombstone Longitudinal Section
Updated Exploration Program
The Company will be developing the targets with multiple disciplines including continuing the surface
exploration program in the area of the Contention pit with advancing the detailed geological mapping,
and further out with reconnaissance level geological mapping of lithologies, Terraspec alterations and
structures, multi-element rock geochemistry, and thin section petrology and alterations to review the
hosting of the gold-silver mineralization. The data acquired will then be integrated into the 3D model
being constructed, supporting the upcoming drilling program design.
The 3D model of the project area is of the historic mine workings and geology of the principal portion of
the Tombstone district and consists of the digitization of the historic maps and sections of the underground
workings, stopes, drill holes and geology . The model is being geolocated to the current surface and
geology and geochemistry and will then be interpreted to strengthen both shallow and deep targeting.
The Tombstone project is owned by Aztec Minerals and its JV partner Dragoon Resources LLC ,
(“Tombstone JV Partner”). Aztec Minerals (75%) and Tombstone JV Partner (25%) joint venture (“JV”) and
the JV Management Committee met last week to review and approve the surface exploration program for
the second quarter of 2024.
The upcoming exploration program is expected to gain knowledge into the expansion potential of the
oxidized mineralization, and from that , develop more advanced targeting for drilling. The focus of this
exploration program is to better define the three styles of mineralization known to exist on the properties
and to identify top priority targets for drilling. The three types of known mineralization at Tombstone are
as follows:
• Bulk tonnage silver-gold north-northeast striking felsic intrusive dikes hosting mesothermal stock-
works and hydrothermal breccias cutting the Bisbee Group and the Paleozoics , on which the
Contention open pit heap leach mine was initially developed in the 1980’s, which now is known
to extend laterally and vertically
• High-grade silver-gold-lead quartz stringer lode veins striking northeast cutting Cretaceous Bisbee
Group clastic sediments into the Paleozoics, which are related to several of the historic mines in
the Tombstone district
• Often high grade, bulk tonnage silver-gold rich carbonate replacement deposits (“CRD”), which lie
in the lowermost Bisbee Group and in the underlying Paleozoic limestones, a geologic setting
similar to the Taylor deposit of South32 , located 65 kilometers southwest of Tombstone. Strong
structural controls of their locations related parallel to the crests of anticlines, usually with vertical
(“reef”) stacking on multiple, favorable horizons
Positive indications for mineralization at Tombstone include:
1. The Bisbee sediments exhibit widespread fracturing, silic a-pyrites-sericite-clay alteration, quartz
veinlets, stockworks, and hornfelsing and in the limestones jasperoids, dolomitization and skarn
development
2. The Contention open pit mine is centered along a strong NNE fault structure with large,
mineralized felsic dikes possibly related to a deeper intrusion
3. The underground Contention mine mined the dike mineralization to over 300 m depth
4. Historic drilling by Newmont and Santa Fe to over 700 m depth have intersected narrow to wide,
high grade CRD mantos, evidence that the Paleozoic limestones are prospective
5. The presence of s everal manganese -silver rich mines surround the Property are considered
indicative of distal mineralization to CRD deposits worldwide
Tombstone Project Overview
Aztec holds a 75% 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 2023 core drill program was to continue testing the shallow, bulk tonnage, heap
leachable, mesothermal gold- silver oxide mineralization adjacent and below the previously mined
Contention pit by infill and step- out drilling. Core dri lling was deemed needed in order to penetrate
the multiple historic workings and to acquire needed geological data. Future drilling is expected to
focus on strike and dip extensions of the shallow oxide mineralization, and move deeper to test for
larger, deeper “Taylor-type” 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-
lead-zinc-copper mesothermal stringer lode veins, hydrothermal breccias 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.
The district geology consists of a complicated 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.
Although the historic silver mines at Tombstone were generally small, Aztec believes they could be related
to much larger mesothermal and CRD orebodies below the old mines. Since 2017, Aztec has completed
geological mapping, geochemical sampling and geoph ysical 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 orebodies.
Note: Gold equivalents are calculated using a 80:1 silver:gold ratio in 2020 and 2023 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. However, these dikes also extend 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 five
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.
*Grade-Thickness in meters -grams/tonne means the result of multiplying a drill hole intercept length,
measured in meters, by the grade of the gold values in the intercept, the resulting compiled number is
measured in grams/tonne. Grade thickness is not to be construed as gross metal value nor as a resource.
The Tombstone property does not have a current, compliant resource estimation at this point.
Summary Tombstone Project Highlights
• Well located property on patented (3 3) and unpatented (42) claims (4 52.02 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 oz silver from 1878-1939, in high grade, oxidized, silver-
gold-lead-zinc-copper vein and CRD deposits, and small open pit heap leach production in late
1980’s
• Drilling by Aztec in 2020-23 has demonstrated that the Contention Pit target has significant Au -
Ag 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 6.4 5 gpt
gold and 408.47 gpt silver (11.554 gpt AuEq) over 15.5 m
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
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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:
Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute forward -looking statements under Canadian securities
legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “expects”
or “it is expected”, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “will” occur. These
forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from result s
contemplated by the forward -looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in
forward-looking statements. Accordingly, the actual events may differ materially from those projected in the forward- looking
statements. When relying on forward- looking statements to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the
foregoing factors and other uncertainties and should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The Company
does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except as may be required by applicable securities laws.