Aztec Drills 88.4 meters of 1.42 g/t Au and 14.58 g/t Ag (1.69 g/t AuEq) in First North Extension Step-Out Drilling at the Tombstone Project, Arizona

First Step-Out Drilling in Newly Acquired North Extension Zone has Expanded the Contention Zone of Oxide Au/Ag Mineralization to the North and at Depth
Drill hole TR26-39, stepping out into the North Extension Zone, encountered multiple mineralized zones including an intersection of 88.4 m averaging 1.42 g/t Au and 14.58 g/t Ag (1.69 g/t AuEq) from 10.7 m.
Contention Zone drillhole TR26-38 returned 97.5 m averaging 1.06 g/t Au and 16.08 g/t Ag (1.36 g/t AuEq) from surface.

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / August 5, 2026 / Aztec Minerals Corp. (TSX-V:AZT)(OTCQB:AZZTF)(FRA:AZ3) ("Aztec" or the "Company") announces results from nine reverse circulation ("RC") drill holes, TR26-31 to TR26-39, at its Tombstone Property in southeastern Arizona. The holes include the first step-outs drilled into the recently acquired North Extension Zone, where TR26-33 and TR26-39 both intersected oxide gold-silver mineralization on ground not previously drilled by Aztec. TR26-39, one of the first two holes drilled into the North Extension Zone, returned 88.4 m averaging 1.42 g/t Au and 14.58 g/t Ag (1.69 g/t AuEq) from 10.7 m, and TR26-38 in the Contention Zone returned 97.5 m averaging 1.06 g/t Au and 16.08 g/t Ag (1.36 g/t AuEq) from surface.

Both intervals are the type of shallow, continuous oxide mineralization that Aztec is targeting at Contention - bulk tonnage material beginning at or near surface and potentially amenable to heap leaching. Each interval also carries a high-grade core, with 6.1 m averaging 12.23 g/t Au and 56.28 g/t Ag (13.25 g/t AuEq) in TR26-39 and 6.1 m averaging 12.17 g/t Au and 69.08 g/t Ag (13.43 g/t AuEq) in TR26-38. The near-surface oxide gold-silver zone remains open in all directions, including to the north and at depth.

Ninety RC holes have been completed in the 2025-2026 program as at the date of this release - forty in 2025 and fifty in 2026. Assay results are pending for the eleven most recent step-out holes, TR26-40 to TR26-50, which include first pass holes collared up to approximately 230 m north of TR26-39 along the trend of the North Extension Zone - the most northerly ground yet tested. Those results are expected in the coming weeks, and drilling is expected to continue through at least September 2026. Results from the holes reported in this release, together with those pending from TR26-40 to TR26-50, are expected to be incorporated into the Company's previously announced maiden mineral resource estimate for the Tombstone Project.

Aztec Minerals CEO Simon Dyakowski commented: "The story in these holes is continuity. We are seeing thick oxide intervals starting at or near surface across the Contention area, and now we are seeing them in the North Extension on a first pass through ground we had not drilled before. That tells us the system is larger than the footprint we have defined to date. It remains open in all directions, including to the north and at depth, and with ninety RC holes completed and assays still pending, we expect to keep adding to it through the balance of the program."

Highlights from the RC drilling reported for the Tombstone Property include:

Hole TR26-39, a first pass hole in the North Extension Area, intersected 88.4 m averaging 1.42 g/t Au and 14.58 g/t Ag (1.69 g/t AuEq) from 10.7 m, including 6.1 m averaging 1.55 g/t Au and 4.53 g/t Ag (1.63 g/t AuEq) from 27.4 m and 12.2 m averaging 6.38 g/t Au and 33.93 g/t Ag (7.00 g/t AuEq) from 64.0 m, which includes 6.1 m averaging 12.23 g/t Au and 56.28 g/t Ag (13.25 g/t AuEq) from 65.5 m. The hole ended in mineralization, with 30.5 m averaging 0.18 g/t Au and 5.63 g/t Ag (0.28 g/t AuEq) from 146.3 m to the end of the hole, including 4.6 m averaging 0.56 g/t Au and 11.97 g/t Ag (0.78 g/t AuEq) from 169.2 m.
Hole TR26-38 intersected 97.5 m averaging 1.06 g/t Au and 16.08 g/t Ag (1.36 g/t AuEq) from surface, including 18.3 m averaging 4.60 g/t Au and 52.49 g/t Ag (5.55 g/t AuEq) from 68.6 m, which includes 6.1 m averaging 12.17 g/t Au and 69.08 g/t Ag (13.43 g/t AuEq) from 79.2 m. A second zone beginning 7.7 m below returned 106.7 m averaging 0.10 g/t Au and 4.16 g/t Ag (0.17 g/t AuEq) from 105.2 m, giving near-continuous mineralization from surface to 211.8 m.
Hole TR26-33, a first pass hole into the North Extension Area, intersected 13.7 m averaging 1.50 g/t Au and 23.56 g/t Ag (1.93 g/t AuEq) from 85.3 m, including 7.6 m averaging 2.64 g/t Au and 40.72 g/t Ag (3.38 g/t AuEq) from 88.4 m. The interval includes a historic working from 94.5 to 97.5 m. Four shallower zones were intersected starting at surface (see Table 1A).
Hole TR26-31 intersected 21.3 m averaging 1.07 g/t Au and 28.42 g/t Ag (1.59 g/t AuEq) from 82.3 m, within a broader zone of 64.0 m averaging 0.42 g/t Au and 13.54 g/t Ag (0.67 g/t AuEq) from 65.5 m. An upper zone returned 10.7 m averaging 0.39 g/t Au and 2.73 g/t Ag (0.44 g/t AuEq) from 21.3 m, and three deeper zones were intersected between 141.7 m and 185.9 m (see Table 1A).
Hole TR26-37 intersected 79.2 m averaging 0.26 g/t Au and 8.88 g/t Ag (0.42 g/t AuEq) from 45.7 m, including 3.0 m averaging 0.86 g/t Au and 22.70 g/t Ag (1.27 g/t AuEq) from 85.3 m and 6.1 m averaging 0.59 g/t Au and 15.58 g/t Ag (0.88 g/t AuEq) from 100.6 m. An upper zone returned 6.1 m averaging 0.13 g/t Au and 3.43 g/t Ag (0.19 g/t AuEq) from 16.8 m. Four additional zones were intersected between 131.1 m and 205.7 m (see Table 1A).

Holes TR26-34, TR26-35 and TR26-36, all drilled in the Westside Exploration Area, each intersected multiple mineralized zones, the strongest being 25.9 m averaging 0.19 g/t Au and 11.95 g/t Ag (0.41 g/t AuEq) from 44.2 m in TR26-34, including 9.1 m averaging 0.49 g/t Au and 20.05 g/t Ag (0.85 g/t AuEq); 22.9 m averaging 0.12 g/t Au and 10.61 g/t Ag (0.31 g/t AuEq) from 83.8 m in TR26-35; and 32.0 m averaging 0.13 g/t Au and 12.50 g/t Ag (0.36 g/t AuEq) from 91.4 m in TR26-36, including 4.6 m averaging 0.55 g/t Au and 26.37 g/t Ag (1.03 g/t AuEq). These drill holes demonstrate continued resource potential of the Westside Exploration Area (see Figure 1 and Table 1A).

Hole TR26-32, drilled in the Ingersol anticline area approximately 800 m west of the Contention pit, returned no results with values of interest.

Figure 1. Plan map showing drill hole collars with Au Eq. (g/t) values from the 2025-2026 drill campaign at the Tombstone Property, southeastern Arizona. Holes reported in this release are shown in red; completed holes with assay results pending, including the eleven North Extension step-outs, are shown in green. Previously reported holes are shown in orange and 2020-2024 drill holes in white.

Figure 2. Cross section of RC drill holes TR26-31, 37 and 38 showing Au and Ag assay results.

View drill sections here:

Link to section view hole TR26-31, TR26-37, TR26-38

Link to section view hole TR26-33 and TR26-39

Link to section view hole TR26-32

Link to section view hole TR26-34

Link to section view hole TR26-35

Link to section view hole TR26-36

Table 1A: Drill Results Currently Reported

Drill Hole	From (m)	To (m)	Interval (m)	Au (g/t)	Ag (g/t)	AuEq (g/t)	Comments
TR26-31	21.3	32.0	10.7	0.39	2.73	0.44
and	65.5	129.5	64.0	0.42	13.54	0.67
Including	82.3	103.6	21.3	1.07	28.42	1.59
and	141.7	147.8	6.1	0.06	5.95	0.17
and	161.5	169.2	7.6	0.07	4.12	0.14
and	176.8	185.9	9.1	0.06	2.77	0.11
TR26-32							No results with values of interest
TR26-33	0.0	7.6	7.6	0.19	11.76	0.41	North Extension Area
and	24.4	30.5	6.1	0.10	1.18	0.12
and	39.6	42.7	3.0	0.04	4.55	0.12
and	70.1	77.7	7.6	0.30	8.88	0.46
and	85.3	99.1	13.7	1.50	23.56	1.93	Working @ 94.5-97.5 m
Including	88.4	96.0	7.6	2.64	40.72	3.38
TR26-34	1.5	7.6	6.1	0.09	5.35	0.19
and	44.2	70.1	25.9	0.19	11.95	0.41
Including	59.4	68.6	9.1	0.49	20.05	0.85
and	82.3	86.9	4.6	0.04	5.67	0.14	Working @ 85.3-89.9 m
and	102.1	112.8	10.7	0.07	10.50	0.26
and	135.6	146.3	10.7	0.08	5.37	0.17
TR26-35	62.5	77.7	15.2	0.07	6.57	0.19
and	83.8	106.7	22.9	0.12	10.61	0.31
Including	97.5	100.6	3.0	0.18	35.40	0.82
and	158.5	182.9	24.4	0.10	7.51	0.23
TR26-36	45.7	54.9	9.1	0.04	3.70	0.11
and	91.4	123.4	32.0	0.13	12.50	0.36
Including	102.1	106.7	4.6	0.55	26.37	1.03
and	134.1	138.7	4.6	0.03	11.33	0.24
TR26-37	16.8	22.9	6.1	0.13	3.43	0.19	Working @ 30.5-36.6 m, no sample
and	45.7	125.0	79.2	0.26	8.88	0.42
Including	85.3	88.4	3.0	0.86	22.70	1.27
Including	100.6	106.7	6.1	0.59	15.58	0.88
and	131.1	137.2	6.1	0.05	6.35	0.17
and