• Six-hole South Drill Pattern was drilled ~460 meters south of the previously released four-hole Central Drill Pattern along the Contention Pit
• Final five-holes now complete, results pending
• Acquired 15 additional unpatented claims south of Contention Pit
• Surface grab sampling of old mine dumps west of the Contention Pit assay up to 47.2 gpt Au and 2,808 gpt Ag

Aztec Minerals Corp. (AZT: TSX-V, OTCQB: AZZTF – https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/aztec-minerals-corp/) announces 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 (see news release dated September 29, 2020). 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. 

South Drill Pattern Summary

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.

View Tombstone 2020 RC Drill Program Plan Map and Drill Sections here:

Link to section view hole TR20-11 and hole TR20-10

Link to section view hole TR20-12 and hole TR20-10

Link to section view hole TR20-13 and hole TR20-10

Link to section view hole TR20-14 and hole TR20-15

Link to section view hole TR20-16

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).

New Claim Staking

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 (see news release dated September 23, 2020).  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.

Updated Tombstone Property Claim Map

Surface Sampling Results

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).

Aztec holds an option to acquire a 75% interest in the Tombstone property, which includes most of the original patented mining claims in the district as well as some recently acquired properties. The main target of the current RC drill program was to test for shallow, bulk tonnage, heap leachable, epithermal gold-silver oxide mineralization adjacent and below the previously mined Contention pit.  Future drilling will focus on extensions of the shallow oxide mineralization already tested, as well as larger, deeper “Taylor-type” CRD targets along the Contention structure.

QA/QC Protocol

Joey Wilkins, B.Sc., P.Geo., VP Exploration & Chief Geologist for Aztec, is the Qualified Person overseeing the Tombstone exploration program. Drill cuttings are collected every 5 feet (1.52m) from all drill holes. The samples were analyzed for gold with a 50-gram sample size using the method FA450 followed by AQ200. Over limits, when present, are analyzed by AR404 or FA550. All holes contain certified blanks, standards, and duplicates as part of the quality control program. The QA/QC has delivered excellent results to date good data integrity. Surface sample collection was under the supervision of the QP and standards were inserted into the sample stream for QA/QC. The surface samples underwent FA450 for gold and silver then AQ200 for multi-element ICP analysis. Mr. Wilkins 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 the discovery of large polymetallic mineral deposits in the Americas. Our core asset is the prospective Cervantes porphyry gold-copper property in Sonora, Mexico. The historic, district-scale Tombstone properties host both bulk tonnage epithermal gold-silver as well as CRD silver-lead-zinc mineralization in Cochise County, Arizona. Aztec’s shares trade on the TSX-V stock exchange (symbol AZT) and on the OTCQB (symbol AZZTF).

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:

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 results 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.