Mr. Simon Dyakowski reports

AZTEC MINERALS ENGAGES APEX GEOSCIENCE LTD. TO COMMENCE MAIDEN MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATES ON THE TOMBSTONE AND CERVANTES PROJECTS

Aztec Minerals Corp. has engaged Apex Geoscience Ltd. of Edmonton, Alta., to complete maiden mineral resource estimates (MREs) and National Instrument 43-101 technical reports at the company's two projects: the 85-per-cent-owned Tombstone project in southeastern Arizona and the 100-per-cent-owned Cervantes project in Sonora, Mexico. The respective maiden MREs and supporting technical reports are expected to be released in late Q3 2026.

The Tombstone project is currently completing a combined 17,000-metre RC (reverse circulation) and core drilling campaign that commenced last year, and exploration data from the project received to the end of June, 2026, are expected to be included in the MRE. The MRE is expected to be based on over 25,000 metres across greater than 130 drill holes of combined core and RC drilling conducted by Aztec since drilling commenced in 2020. The maiden MRE is expected to indicate open-pittable and leachable oxidized gold-silver resources.

At Cervantes, Aztec has drilled over 12,200 metres across 73 drill holes in core and RC drilling campaigns spanning from 2017 to 2023. The drilling at Cervantes has been concentrated at the California zone of oxide gold potential, and the maiden MRE is expected to provide a baseline from which to grow, as mineralization appears to be open in all directions. Recent surface exploration has expanded the footprint along strike of the mineralized host quartz feldspar porphyry (QFP) by 50 per cent and has also identified prospective surface values for the California North, Brazil and Estrella targets.

Engagement of Atrium Research Corp.

Aztec also announces it has engaged the services of Atrium Research, a leading company-sponsored research firm. Atrium will publish various research reports on Aztec based on publicly available information, industry data and discussions with management. Atrium will also host three recorded interviews with Aztec's management team to present the investment case in an interview format. In exchange for its research services, Atrium will receive cash compensation in the amount of $10,200 every quarter for the services listed above. The services will be provided for 18 months beginning on May 1, 2026. At the end of the term, the agreement will be deemed to remain in place and be extended on a quarter-to-quarter basis, unless otherwise agreed to by the parties or the agreement is terminated by either party. This engagement is subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval.

Atrium and the company are arm's-length parties, and neither Atrium nor its insiders hold any shares or options to purchase shares in the issued and outstanding capital of the company.

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Allen David Heyl, BSc, CPG, AIPG (No. 11277), vice-president, exploration, of Aztec, a qualified person under NI 43-101. Mr. Heyl supervises the Tombstone exploration programs. Mr. Heyl has verified the data, which included a review of the sampling, analytical and test methods underlying the data and information and opinions disclosed herein.

About Aztec Minerals Corp.

Aztec is a mineral exploration company focused on two emerging discoveries in North America. The Cervantes project is an emerging porphyry gold-copper discovery in Sonora, Mexico. The Tombstone project is an emerging gold-silver discovery with high-grade CRD (carbonate replacement deposit) silver-lead-zinc potential in southern Arizona. Aztec's shares trade on the TSX-V (symbol: AZT) and the OTCQB (symbol: AZZTF).

We seek Safe Harbor.