TORONTO - Arizona Metals Corp. (TSX:AMC, OTCQX:AZMCF) (the 'Company' or 'Arizona Metals') is pleased to provide a year-end review and updates on both its Kay and Sugarloaf Projects. During 2022, the Company completed approximately 33,000 metres of core drilling at the Kay Mine Deposit (some highlights below), received drill permits for both the Central and Western Targets, and initiated drilling on targets outside the Kay Mine Deposit.
Marc Pais, CEO, commented 'As we begin 2023, I want to take a moment to reflect on the past year and share some of our accomplishments. First, I want to thank our shareholders for your continued support and belief in Arizona Metals. Your trust and investment has been a driving force in creating one of the best-financed explorers listed on the TSX, and advancing what we believe to be one of the world's premier VMS exploration projects.
This past year has been a challenging one, with the global pandemic continuing to delay some aspects of our work programs. Despite these challenges, our team has remained focused and dedicated to delivering on our commitments and adapting to the changing landscape. We are pleased to report that towards the end of 2022 we did see a marked improvement in permitting timelines, and the Kay Mine Project is now fully-permitted to complete the Phase 3 drill program of 76,000 metres.
Looking forward, we will continue to focus on delivering value and driving long-term growth for our shareholders, alongside the Kay and Sugarloaf local communities.'
The Company is fully-funded (with $58 million in cash at Sept 30, 2022) to complete the remaining 8,600 meters planned for the Phase 2 program at Kay (budgeted at $3.6 million), as well as an additional 76,000 meters in the Phase 3 program (budgeted at $32 million), which will be used to test the numerous parallel targets heading west of the Kay Mine Deposit, as well as possible northern and southern extensions of the Kay Mine Deposit.
2022 Highlights:
December 2022: Roadwork to Western Target commenced
November 2022: Initiated drilling from Central pads
November 2022: Completed Central Target roads and pads
October 2022: Received Western Target drill and road permits
October 2022: Welcomed Rosa Rojas Espinosa, MSc, as an Independent Director to the Board
October 2022: Graduated from the TSX Venture Exchange to TSX
September 2022: Surpassed 70,000 m drilling on the Kay project
June 2022: Included in the TSX Battery Metals Index
June 2022: Received Central Target drill and road permits
April 2022: Warrant exercises increased working capital by $15 million 2022 Kay Mine Project Drilling Highlights:
KM-22-60: 93.3 m at 8.3 g/t AuEq, incl. 17.5 m at 29.6 g/t AuEq
KM-22-58: 68.4 m at 7.2 g/t AuEq, incl. 7.3 m at 10.1 g/t AuEq and 10.5 m at 22.9 g/t AuEq
KM-22-57C: 100.9 m at 2.5% CuEq, incl. 8.5 m at 8.6% CuEQ and 5.3 m at 6.6% CuEq
KM-22-74: 39.0 m at 4.2 g/t AuEq, incl. 7.2 m at 6.0 g/t AuEq and 9.8 m at 6.1 g/t AuEq
KM-22-57B: 125.3 m at 3.2% CuEq, incl. 1.8 m at 9.9% CuEq and 7.3 m at 7.7% CuEq
Kay Mine Project Update
Exploration Drilling
In October 2022, the Company announced that it had received permit approval from the Bureau of Land Management ('BLM') for two new drill pads, located approximately 1,200 metres west of the Kay Mine Deposit (pads W1 and W2 in Figure 1 below). These new pads will allow for testing of the Western Target, while also allowing for drilling of additional coincident anomalies located between the Central and Western Targets. The Central and Western Targets were previously defined based on coincident structural, geochemical, and geophysical anomalies (through extensive ground mapping, electromagnetic and gravity surveys).
A bond in the amount of US$21,398 for pads W1 and W2 was posted with the BLM and approved in December 2022. Road construction for the Western pads commenced in December 2022, with completion expected in Q1'2023. Construction of the Central Target drill roads and pads was also completed in November 2022, and drilling from Central pad C1 commenced in November 2022.
There are currently 6 holes with assays pending from the Kay Mine Deposit and 9 holes from testing targets north and south of the main Kay deposit (from pads 4, 5, and 6). For the Central Target, there are 6 holes pending from pad 7, drilled from east to west, and one hole from pad C1, drilled from west to east.
Kay Metallurgical Testing
SGS Canada Inc. has created four composites from Kay drill hole samples, which include copper mineralization, zinc-lead mineralization, zinc-lead-copper mineralization, and high-grade gold mineralization. Test work underway includes bond work index, flotation, density, gravity recovery, and detailed characterization of mineralogy. Results are expected in H2'2023.
Sugarloaf Metallurgical Testing
As a follow up to successful Bottle Roll tests completed on Sugarloaf drill core in 2021 (average recoveries of 76% Au with cyanide leaching), approximately 700 kg of additional drill core is undergoing conventional crushing, high-pressure grinding, agglomeration, and cyanide leaching at Kappes Cassiday and Associates' facilities in Nevada. Results are expected during H1'2023.
About Arizona Metals Corp
Arizona Metals Corp owns 100% of the Kay Mine Property in Yavapai County, which is located on a combination of patented and BLM claims totaling 1,300 acres that are not subject to any royalties. An historic estimate by Exxon Minerals in 1982 reported a 'proven and probable reserve of 6.4 million short tons at a grade of 2.2% copper, 2.8 g/t gold, 3.03% zinc, and 55 g/t silver.' The historic estimate at the Kay Mine was reported by Exxon Minerals in 1982. The historic estimate has not been verified as a current mineral resource. None of the key assumptions, parameters, and methods used to prepare the historic estimate were reported, and no resource categories were used. Significant data compilation, re-drilling and data verification may be required by a 'qualified person' (as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects) before the historic estimate can be verified and upgraded to be a current mineral resource. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify it as a current mineral resource, and Arizona Metals is not treating the historic estimate as a current mineral resource.
Contact:
Marc Pais
President & CEO
T: 416.565.7689
E: mpais@arizonametalscorp.com
ARIZONA METALS CORP. 
