(via TheNewswire)
Westside Area of the
Tombstone project, adjacent to the historic Contention open pit, continues to show mineralized features with high potential for shallow gold-silver expansion drill targetsContention Pit area field work and sampling is providing key information to delineate and expand the wide mineralized zone on surface and is being integrated into a 3D model for the first time
Surface exploration confirms much of the upper portions of the historic data and strengthens the confidence of the 3D model. The surface exploration and modelling have also exposed areas of potential Au-Ag mineralization not extensively explored in the past. The ability to integrate historic and current exploration data for the first time in 3D at the
The Tombstone JV owns patented claims related to the Contention and Westside mines. Both mines host the three main deposit styles in the
Recent review of historic data and on-site investigations by Aztechave confirmed that the Westside area was previously planned as an expansion of the Contention pit operations at the time on the interruption of mine operations in 1982. This review identified the Westside area as ahigh potential target for shallow gold-silver mineralization, almost doubling the project’s potential gold-silver oxide mineralization footprintnear to the historic
Aztec has completed a wire frame model of the tunnels (see Figure 1 below) and the Quartz-feldspar dikes (Qfp) (see Figure 2 below), which acted as mineralized solution conduits in the historic
Figure 1-
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Aztec’s recent surface exploration has confirmed the presence of several known and new mineralized features and mine workings and has georeferenced their positions in the project area. This has confirmed the historic positions of the underground workings and related important mineralized features, and that the mineralized features could be exploration targets, with evidence that their intersection potentially hosts broad gold-silver mineralization near surface.
Review of historic data has confirmed the Westside anticline was mined on at least five separate, stacked, oxidized CRD replaced layers in the sediments near the crest of the axis along its 450+ m length, noting that, at its intersection with the
Figure 2. Tombstone Project Qfp Dikes with Property Limits Plan View
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Most of the Westside area and its multiple targets have yet to be explored, representing a key area for future drilling and potential shallow resource delineation. The Westside - Sulphuret mine workings reached to the 7th and 8th levels (210-250 m), and historic drilling has significant CRD-style mineralized intercepts at 500 to 600 m depths. Several poorly explored anticlines, with evidence of mineralization at the edge of the historic open pit, have been identified and will be part of the exploration targeting.
In the
Figure 3. Detail of the Westside Anticline, Fifth Level Stopes (Fuchsia colour) with Westside and
Current Exploration Program
Aztec’s crews onsite are continuing the 2024 Tombstone exploration program (see news release dated
The ongoing exploration program is adding key knowledge into the expansion potential of the bulk tonnage, gold-silver oxidized mineralization, and from that, continue drilling and mineralization footprint. The focus of this exploration program is to better define the three styles of mineralization known to exist on the property and to identify top priority targets for drilling. The three types of known mineralization at the
Silver-gold bearing, north-northeast striking felsic intrusive dikes hosting mesothermal stock-works and hydrothermal breccias that cut the
Cretaceous Bisbee Group and the underlyingPaleozoic carbonates, on which the historic Contention underground mine and later the 1980’s open pit heap leach mine was developed, which now is known to extend laterally and vertically beyond the Contention pitHigh-grade, silver-gold quartz stringer vein lodes striking northeast cutting the
Cretaceous Bisbee Group clastic sediments and the Paleozoics, which are related to several of the historic mines in theTombstone districtTombstone’s well known, high grade, oxidized, silver-gold rich base metal carbonate replacement deposits (“CRD”), which lie in the lowermost
Bisbee Group and in the underlying Paleozoic carbonates, have a geologic setting very similar to the world-classHermosa Taylor base metal sulfide deposit of South32, located 65 kilometers southwest ofTombstone . Strong structural controls of the Tombstone CRD deposit locations related parallel to the crests of anticlines, usually with vertical (“reef”) stacking on multiple, favorable horizons
Positive indications for mineralization at
The Bisbee sediments exhibit widespread fracturing, silica-pyrites-sericite-clay alteration, quartz veinlets, stockworks, and hornfelsing and in the limestones jasperoids, dolomitization and skarn development
The Contention open pit mine is centered along a strong NNE fault structure with large, mineralized felsic dikes possibly related to a deeper intrusion
The underground Contention mine mined the dike mineralization to over 300 m depth
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 prospectiveThe presence of several 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 drilling was deemed necessary 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 and deeper “Taylor-type” CRD targets along and adjacent to the Contention structure.
The
The district geology consists of a 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 samePaleozoic carbonate formations that host the
Although the historic silver mines at
Note: Gold equivalents are calculated using a80:1 silver:gold ratio in 2020 and 2023 and a 70:1 silver:gold ratioin 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 drill 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:
*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
Summary Tombstone Project Highlights
Well located propertyon patented (33) and unpatented (42) claims (452.02 hectares/1,116.94 acres), covers much of the historic
Tombstone silver mining district, great infrastructure, local town, road access, full services, water, powerHistoric silver districtproduced 32 million oz silver from 1878-1939, in high grade, oxidized, silver-gold-lead-zinc-copper vein, breccia and CRD deposits, and small open pit heap leach production in late 1980’s
Drilling by Aztec in 2020-23has demonstrated that the
Contention Pit target has significant, shallow. oxidized Au-Ag bulk tonnage mineralization which is open in all directionsMultiple other prospective targets 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 1.52mfrom a zone of733.9 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 6.45 gpt gold and 408.47 gpt silver (11.554 gpt AuEq) over 15.5 m
The company in conjunction with its exploration sampling programs uses quality assurance-quality control as part of its sampling-assaying-assessments. Samples and their collection are controlled by an industry standard conforming QAQC program including insertions of certified standards, blanks and sample duplicates. The samples are being regularly shipped to and received by the
Core and RC drilling samples are continuously collected over 5 foot (1.52m) sample intervals from all drill holes. The samples were analyzed for gold with a 30-gram sample size using the fire assay method FA430 followed by multi-element MA300, including silver. Over limits, when present, are analyzed by MA370 or FA530. All holes contain certified blanks, standards, and duplicates as part of the quality control program.
“Simon Dyakowski”
About
Contact Information- For more information, please contact:
Tel: (604) 685-9770
Fax: (604) 685-9744
Email: info@aztecminerals.com
Website: www.aztecminerals.com
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Forward-Looking Statements:
This news release contains “forward‐looking information or statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws, which may include, without limitation,completing ongoing and planned work, develop new drill targets at the
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