News

Casa Grande, AZ and Toronto, ON, November 17, 2021 – Arizona Sonoran Copper Company Inc. (TSX:ASCU) (“ASCU” or the “Company”), an emerging US-based copper developer and near-term producer, announces the first set of drilling results from its 8 initial diamond drill holes for over 2,938 m (9,639 ft) along the western periphery of the Cactus West pit. The drilling demonstrates continuous leachable mineralization including extensions outwards from the modelled pit shell by at least 61 m (200 ft). Mineralization from the infill drilling remains open to the west (see FIGURES 1 – 3) and TABLE 1 below.

The 2021 mineral resource conversion drill program was designed to upgrade the current mineral resources at the Cactus West Open Pit and Cactus East Underground, from inferred to indicated and from indicated to measured resources in advance of current ongoing technical studies. Additionally, the program informs mineral resource growth zones for the 2022 expansion drilling program set to begin shortly. A full set of drill highlights may be found in TABLE 1, below.

Drilling Highlights (please see TABLE 1 for full set of drilling results)

1. Leachable material identified extending 61 m (200 ft) west from the modelled open pit
2. ECW-029 0.774 % Cu TSol over 34 m (113 ft) of enriched mineralization
3. ECW-025 0.272% Cu TSol over 108 m (355 ft) of oxide mineralization
4. ECW-022 0.519% Cu TSol over 40 m (130 ft) of enriched mineralization
5. ECW-023 0.695% Cu TSol over 15.3 m (50.3 ft) of enriched mineralization

George Ogilvie, Arizona Sonoran President and CEO stated, “These drilling results are the first of many exciting developments at the Cactus Project. The drill program is designed to target some materials previously viewed as waste by ASARCO, who at that time were processing sulphide-only material through a floatation mill. With ASCU targeting the leachable materials which sit atop the sulphide mineralization for a heap leach operation, the infill to indicated and measured drilling program may positively affect the starter resource base and ultimately the economics of the pit.

He continued, “The first priority at Cactus is mineral resource conversion as we gear up for the upcoming Prefeasibility Study in 2022 with maiden reserves. Shortly, however we will look to Park/ Salyer for pure exploration drilling in conjunction with Cactus Drilling.”

Geological Description

The Cactus West Orebody extends southwesterly at depth under the western highwall of the pit and beneath the bounding West Fault. Oxide and upper enriched ore zones were intersected to the west of the pit wall in 2020 step out drilling and were further targeted by the current infill program. This portion of the drilling traces the NE-SW trend of the high-grade center of the historic Sacaton West orebody. Results from this portion of the current drilling reinforce the positive results from the previous step out drilling in this area. Core drilling continues northward up the western edge of the pit to complete this successful phase of infill drilling. Condemnation hole, ECW-027, was drilled as a sterilization hole to define the ultimate edge of the western pit for infrastructure planning purposes, located 305 m (1,000 ft) west of the open pit.

TABLE 1: Drilling Highlights

1. Intervals are presented in core length; are drilled with dip angles between 55 degrees and 75 degrees to target zones for expansion of mineralization.
2. Drill assays assume a mineralized cut-off grade of 0.1% CuT reflecting the potential for heap leaching in the case of Oxide and Enriched material, or to provide typical average grades in the case of Primary material. Most holes were terminated in Primary mineralization.
3. Assay results are not capped. Intercepts are aggregated within geological confines of major mineral zones.

TABLE 2: Drilling details

Quality Assurance / Quality Control
Drilling completed on the project in 2020 was supervised by on-site ASCU personnel who prepared core samples for assay and implemented a full QA/QC program using blanks, standards and duplicates to monitor analytical accuracy and precision. The samples were sealed on site and shipped to Skyline Laboratories in Tucson AZ for analysis.  Skyline’s quality control system complies with global certifications for Quality ISO9001:2008. 

Technical aspects of this news release have been reviewed and verified by Allan Schappert – CPG, who is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101– Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

Links from the Press Release
FIGURES 1-3: https://arizonasonoran.com/projects/cactus-mine-project/press-release-images/

Neither the TSX nor the regulating authority has approved or disproved the information contained in this press release.

About Arizona Sonoran Copper Company (www.arizonasonoran.com | www.cactusmine.com)
ASCU’s objective is to become a mid-tier copper producer with low operating costs, develop the Cactus Project that could generate robust returns for investors, and provide a long term sustainable and responsible operation for the community and all stakeholders. The Company's principal asset is a 100% interest in the Cactus Project (former ASARCO, Sacaton mine) which is situated on private land in an infrastructure-rich area of Arizona. The Company is led by an executive management team and Board which have a long-standing track record of successful project delivery in North America complemented by global capital markets expertise.

For more information:
Alison Dwoskin, Director, Investor Relations
647-233-4348
adwoskin@arizonasonoran.com

George Ogilvie, President, CEO and Director
416-723-0458
gogilvie@arizonasonoran.com

Forward-Looking Statements
Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of ASCU to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect the outcome include, among others: future prices and the supply of metals; the results of drilling; inability to raise the money necessary to incur the expenditures required to retain and advance the properties; environmental liabilities (known and unknown); general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; results of exploration programs; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; political instability, terrorism, insurrection or war; or delays in obtaining governmental approvals, projected cash operating costs, failure to obtain regulatory or shareholder approvals.

Although ASCU has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and ASCU disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.