VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / October 22, 2026 / Aztec Minerals Corp. (TSXV:AZT)(OTCQB:AZZTF) ("Aztec" or the "Company") announces the results from nine drill holes (TR26-45 to TR26-53) from its reverse circulation ("RC") portion of the 2025-2026 drilling program at the Tombstone Property in Southeastern Arizona. All nine holes intersected oxide gold-silver mineralization. Six holes (TR26-45 to TR26-49 and TR26-51) stepped out approximately 90 m to 190 m west of the North Extension holes reported on September 2, 2026, TR26-50 was drilled at a steeper angle from the TR26-41 pad, and TR26-52 and TR26-53 tested the zone north of TR26-43.

The western step-outs extend the known oxide footprint approximately 190 m west of the North Extension, and the mineralization remains open to the west, north and at depth. The Au-Ag mineralization found thus far in the North Extension shows the same controls as the Main Contention zone, i.e., variably altered and mineralized dioritic dikes channeling the strongly mineralized hydrothermal breccias with acutely angled mineralized quartz fissure lodes together cutting the Bisbee Group and lower carbonate sediments, often mineralized with large horizontal dimensions.

The maiden Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") for Tombstone, being prepared by APEX Geoscience Ltd., is expected in November 2026 and will incorporate drill results up to TR26-44. Assay results are pending for a further 22 RC holes (TR26-54 to TR26-75), including the remaining holes in the North Extension, which will be reported as they are received and reviewed.

Aztec Minerals CEO Simon Dyakowski commented: "This round of step-out drilling shows the oxide gold-silver system continuing west of the North Extension and at depth. TR26-45 returned more than 115 meters of continuous mineralization, and TR26-49 and TR26-51 added higher-grade intervals on the western side of the target. The system remains open to the west and at depth. Together with the pending results, these holes will help guide follow-up work in 2027, which will be planned once the maiden resource estimate is complete. We look forward to reporting the remaining results as they are received."

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

• Hole TR26-45 intersected 115.8 m averaging 0.52 g/t Au and 8.11 g/t Ag (0.67 g/t AuEq) from 51.8 m, including 12.2 m averaging 1.49 g/t Au and 7.95 g/t Ag (1.63 g/t AuEq) from 82.3 m and 12.2 m averaging 1.23 g/t Au and 10.48 g/t Ag (1.42 g/t AuEq) from 134.1 m. The interval ends at a historic working from 167.0 to 169.5 m.
• Hole TR26-46 intersected 47.2 m averaging 0.42 g/t Au and 13.19 g/t Ag (0.66 g/t AuEq) from 42.7 m, including 7.6 m averaging 1.54 g/t Au and 32.72 g/t Ag (2.14 g/t AuEq) from 45.7 m. A deeper zone returned 22.9 m averaging 0.07 g/t Au and 4.01 g/t Ag (0.14 g/t AuEq) from 153.9 m (see Table 1A).
• Hole TR26-47 intersected four zones, the most significant being 25.9 m averaging 0.19 g/t Au and 6.00 g/t Ag (0.30 g/t AuEq) from 39.6 m, including 3.0 m averaging 0.61 g/t Au and 4.60 g/t Ag (0.69 g/t AuEq) from 47.2 m (see Table 1A).
• Hole TR26-48 intersected 24.4 m averaging 0.76 g/t Au and 14.59 g/t Ag (1.02 g/t AuEq) from surface, including 6.1 m averaging 1.73 g/t Au and 30.45 g/t Ag (2.28 g/t AuEq) from 4.6 m. A broad lower zone returned 70.1 m averaging 0.18 g/t Au and 4.91 g/t Ag (0.27 g/t AuEq) from 70.1 m. This interval includes a historic working from 106.7 to 109.7 m and 1.5 m of no recovery from 118.9 m, neither of which was sampled.
• Hole TR26-49 intersected 30.5 m averaging 0.70 g/t Au and 24.62 g/t Ag (1.15 g/t AuEq) from 82.3 m, including 12.2 m averaging 1.37 g/t Au and 49.35 g/t Ag (2.26 g/t AuEq) from 82.3 m. Two shallower zones were intersected from surface and from 61.0 m (see Table 1A).
• Hole TR26-50 intersected 38.1 m averaging 0.26 g/t Au and 12.55 g/t Ag (0.48 g/t AuEq) from 30.5 m, including 7.6 m averaging 0.70 g/t Au and 41.80 g/t Ag (1.46 g/t AuEq) from 33.5 m.
• Hole TR26-51 intersected 7.6 m averaging 1.84 g/t Au and 35.64 g/t Ag (2.49 g/t AuEq) from 12.2 m, including 3.0 m averaging 4.49 g/t Au and 84.30 g/t Ag (6.03 g/t AuEq) from 16.8 m. A deeper zone returned 19.8 m averaging 0.62 g/t Au and 23.68 g/t Ag (1.05 g/t AuEq) from 198.1 m, including 4.6 m averaging 2.31 g/t Au and 75.83 g/t Ag (3.69 g/t AuEq) from 201.2 m. Five additional zones were intersected between surface and 182.9 m (see Table 1A).
• Holes TR26-52 and TR26-53 each intersected multiple mineralized zones, the strongest being 6.1 m averaging 0.68 g/t Au and 53.35 g/t Ag (1.65 g/t AuEq) from 96.0 m in TR26-53, immediately below an unsampled historic working from 91.4 to 96.0 m, and 19.8 m averaging 0.17 g/t Au and 7.52 g/t Ag (0.31 g/t AuEq) from surface in TR26-53; and 39.6 m averaging 0.10 g/t Au and 16.06 g/t Ag (0.39 g/t AuEq) from 57.9 m in TR26-52.

Figure 1. Plan map showing drill hole collars from the 2025-2026 drill campaign at the Tombstone Property, southeastern Arizona.

View drill sections here:

Link to section view hole TR26-45 & TR26-51
Link to section view hole TR26-46 & TR26-49
Link to section view hole TR26-47
Link to section view hole TR26-48 & TR26-50
Link to section view hole TR26-52 & TR26-53

Table 1A: Drill Results Currently Reported