Aztec Step-Out Drilling Extends Oxide Au/Ag Zone on Strike to +1km at Tombstone Project, Arizona; Drills 44.1m of 1.16 gpt Au and 77.7 gpt Ag (159.0 gpt AgEq) including 3.04 m of 7.5gpt Au & 465.5 gpt Ag (990.8 gpt AgEq)Strong oxide gold silver results from step-out drilling in the Southern portion of the Contention Target Area extend the Au/Ag Zone on strike to over 1kmDrill hole TR25-31 intersected 44.1 meters averaging 158.97 gpt AgEq (77.7 gpt Ag and 1.161 gpt Au) including 3.0 m averaging 990.78 gpt AgEq (465.5 gpt Ag and 7.504 gpt Au)Drill hole TR25-27 intersected 51.7m averaging 72.7 gpt AgEq (42.87 gpt Ag and 0.427 gpt Au)Drill hole TR25-28 intersected 62.3m averaging 41.3 gpt AgEq (28.7 gpt Ag and 0.18 gpt Au) from surface45 RC holes have now been drilled in the 2025-2026 drill program with 15 RC holes pending release as the campaign continuesCore hole TC25-04 continues to be drilled to depth, penetrating the southern NSAMT (natural source audio-frequency magneto-telluric) target VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / January 27, 2026 / Aztec Minerals Corp. (TSXV:AZT)(OTCQB:AZZTF) ("Aztec" or the "Company") announces it has received the results from an additional five RC drill holes from its reverse circulation ("RC") portion of the 2025 drilling program at the Tombstone Property in Southeastern Arizona. The 2025-2026 drilling program has now completed 48 combined RC and core drill holes. The results from 5 RC holes drilled in the historic southern Contention Mine Area of the Contention Target are announced herein. The successful drilling of the step out drill holes south of the previous "South Spoke" Target of the Contention pit are a significant milestone indicating a much larger N-S strike extend of Mineralization than had previously been demonstrated by drilling. The strong, wide, shallow oxide gold-silver intersections have extended the Ag/Au zone from the northern property limit to now over 1km N-S on strike. Pending drill results include additional Southern Extension drill targets as well as several step out targets drilled in the immediate, westerly extension of the North Contention zone and first pass targets in the Westside Area zone.Highlights from the RC drilling reported from the southern portion of the Contention Target include:RC drill hole TR25-31 was collared in the center of the southern portion of the Contention Target area and intersected 44.1 meters of oxidized mineralization averaging 158.97 gpt AgEq (77.7 gpt Ag and 1.161 gpt Au) including3.0 m averaging 990.78 gpt AgEq (465.5 gpt Ag and 7.504 gpt Au) andalso 25.8 meters from the collar averaging 17.05 gpt AgEq (13.48 gpt Ag and 0.051 gpt Au)TR25-27 was collared north of the center of the southern portion of the Contention Target area and intersected two zones of oxidized mineralization, from surface 51.7 meters averaging 72.74 gpt AgEq (42.87 gpt Ag and 0.427 gpt Au) and then from 62.3 m to 86.6 m (TD) 24.3 meters averaging 109.15 gpt AgEq (85.94 gpt Ag and 0.332 gpt Au). The drill hole intersected two notably mineralized zones totaling 76 meters along its 86.6m length (87.8% mineralized)Drill hole TR25-28 was collared adjacent to TR25-27 testing deeper, north of the center of the southern portion of the Contention Target area and it intersected two zones of oxidized mineralization, from surface 62.3 meters averaging 41.26 gpt AgEq (28.69 gpt Ag and 0.18 gpt Au) and then from 97.3 m to 112.5 m 15.2 meters averaging 13.71 gpt AgEq (11.15 gpt Ag and 0.037 gppt Au). The drill hole intersected 77.5m of notably mineralization in the first 112.5m (68.8% mineralized) from surfaceAll of the five RC drillholes intersected Ag-Au mineralization and expanded the southern portion of the Contention target area extents to the west, south and to depth. The majority of the intercepts show broad continuity of mineralization. All reported intersection lengths are apparent widths of mineralization, not true widths, which can range at the property from 30% to 100% of apparent widths.Figure 1. Cross section of RC drill hole TR25-31 showing Ag and Au assay results. Tombstone 2025-2026 Drilling Plan Completed and PendingFigure 2. Plan map showing drill hole collars and Au Eq. calculations from the 2025-2026 drill campaign at the Tombstone Property, southeastern Arizona. Core Drilling UpdateThe core drilling portion of the program in 2026 continues to advance the drill hole TC25-04 targeting the large, southern NSAMT target. Currently it is at 714.3 m depth within the upper portion of the NSAMT target. Increasing frequency of intersections of hydrothermal breccias, skarning and occasional "B-type" porphyry veinlets have been observed with depth. The RC precollar portion of 91 meters from this drill hole have been shipped to the analytical laboratory for geochemical analysis.The core rig is continuing to test into at depth the previously identified southern AMT target in the Lower Cretaceous sedimentary Bisbee formation's hornfels and quartzites and is ad