Mineralization Extended Below Cactus West Mineral Resource Shell

CASA GRANDE, AZ - Arizona Sonoran Copper Company Inc.(ASCU) reported additional drill assay results from the Cactus West and Cactus East deposits within the Cactus Project, Arizona. A total of 9 drill holes were completed for a total of 18,215 ft (5,552 m) supporting the 125 ft (38 m) infill-to-measured and geotechnical drilling programs.

Thick and high-grade total copper (CuT) and soluble copper (Cu TSol) intervals within this Cactus East measured drilling (125 ft | 38 m drill centres) remains consistent with indicated drilling results from the 2023 updated mineral resource.

At Cactus West, infill and geotechnical drilling returned wide intervals of primary copper mineralization both below and at the extents of the Cactus West mineral resource shell. The encouraging results support the need for an expanded Cactus West infill and exploration drill program. ASCU is currently finalizing the 2024 work plan, which will include follow up drilling at Cactus West and MainSpring, and metallurgical test work for the Nuton Case Integrated Pre-feasibility Study. The Nuton case PFS will build upon ASCU’s Standalone PFS expected in Q1 2024.

George Ogilvie, President and CEO, said, “The infill to measured drilling supports the updated Mineral Resource Estimate that we released in October 2023. This measured infill drilling bodes well for future updates to the Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) and Definitive Feasibility Studies, planned following the release of our Stand Alone PFS in 1Q24. Specific to Cactus East it was encouraging to see an extension of the leachable mineralization to the northeast, representing potential future mineral resource growth.

We were particularly intrigued by the results from Cactus West, host to the majority of the primary resources within the Cactus MRE. At Cactus West, we continued to drill primary mineralization for an additional 674 ft (205 m) below the existing pit-shell demonstrating more opportunities for future resource growth along the mine trend. Given the recent signing of the “Nuton Option to Joint Venture Agreement” and the new focus on the primary sulphides with our JV partner on a go forward basis, we anticipate unlocking additional value for the shareholders of the Company.”

Two of the three core holes drilled at Cactus East were infill-to-measure planned drillholes. The third hole (ECE-185) was drilled to test the northern extent of mineralization of the main Cactus East deposit along an interpreted fault-controlled bedrock ridge. This drillhole successfully intercepted a thick zone of moderate grade oxide mineralization before entering enriched and primary sulphides.

Six angled core holes from the proposed infill-to-measured drill program were drilled around the perimeter of the Cactus West Pit in support of our geotechnical program for proposed expansion of the pit in the mine plan. These holes were targeted specifically to provide geotechnical information, in addition to infill drilling toward measured leachable resources at Cactus West. Their locations also provided the opportunity to test primary mineralization at depth which had not been the focus of previous drilling programs. In addition to the known resource mineralization, hole ECW-150 intercepted an additional 674.2 ft (205 m) of primary mineralization grading 0.4% CuT, within the total interval of 1,174.2 ft (358 m) @ 0.43% CuT.