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Arizona Sonoran Completes PFS Drilling and Initiates DFS Infill Drilling Program

CASA GRANDE, Ariz. & TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Arizona Sonoran Copper Company Inc. (TSX:ASCU | OTCQX:ASCUF) (鈥淎SCU鈥� or the 鈥淐ompany鈥�) is pleased to announce the completion of both the infill to Indicated Pre-feasibility Study (鈥淧FS鈥�)-related drilling program and a Cactus West step out drill program for a total of 232,000 ft (70,715 m), at the Cactus Project in Arizona. PFS drilling focused in the south of the Parks/Salyer deposit to upgrade near surface and low grade Inferred Mineral Resource Estimates (鈥淢RE鈥�) to the Indicated classification. Based on drill assays received, the Company expects a high mineral resource estimate conversion rate, as infill drilling continues to intercept consistent copper porphyry mineralization at both Parks/Salyer and the Cactus West deposits. Updating the mineral resource estimate model is now well-underway and an updated MRE for the Cactus Project is expected soon.¹ The MRE update, targeting an upgrade of the Inferred mineral resource estimates into the Measured and Indicated classification, will feed into the PFS which is expected to be released in 2H 2025. See , and for drilling maps, assay results and collar locations, respectively.

In total, the PFS drilling program comprised 160,000 ft (49,000 m), 134 drill holes, including geotechnical, hydrogeological and metallurgical drilling over the entire Cactus Project in addition to the infill, Inferred to Indicated conversion drilling, at 250 ft (76 m) drill spacing (collectively, the 鈥淧FS Drilling鈥�). Drilling for the Definitive Feasibility Study (鈥淒FS鈥�) infill Indicated to Measured conversion drilling program, is now underway, with two drill rigs at Parks/Salyer. The planned program is comprised of approximately 110 drill holes for approximately 80,000 ft (24,000 m) and is expected to be complete by early 2026. The program is expected to further de-risk the Cactus Project by bringing a portion of the current Parks/Salyer mineral resource estimate, targeted at the earliest phases of the projected mine plan, to drill spacings of 125 ft (38 m), as required for Measured categorization. As part of the DFS program, two geotechnical and hydrogeological holes are planned, as well as an additional 10 property-wide condemnation drill holes.

Drilling Highlights:

• Parks/Salyer:
  • Parks/Salyer infill drilling expected to demonstrate approximately 100% conversion rate of copper pounds in the pending MRE update for mineralization within the previously designed pit shell, from the Inferred to the Measured & Indicated category
  • Confirmed continuity of low grade and near surface copper porphyry mineralization at 250 ft drill spacings, south of the higher-grade Parks/Salyer zone
  • The higher-grade Parks/Salyer zone expanded further west and south, with mineralization beginning to trend towards surface
• Cactus West:
  • Step-out drilling extended mineralized zones by up to 1,000 ft (300 m) to the north, south, and southwest
  • Drilling extended mineralization below the Cactus West pit shell
• DFS Program now underway with 2 drill rigs
  • Planned infill drilling to upgrade the MRE to the Measured classification, in addition to condemnation, geotechnical and hydrological holes
• ECM-293: 1,048 ft (319 m) @ 0.80% CuT of continuous mineralization (Parks/Salyer)
  • 333 ft (102 m) @ 1.16% CuT, 0.96% Cu TSol, 0.007% Mo (enriched)
  • 715 ft (218 m) @ 0.63% CuT, 0.015% Mo (primary)
• ECE-305: 761 ft (232 m) @ 0.98% CuT of continuous mineralization (Cactus East)
  • 146 ft (44.5 m) @ 1.55% CuT, 1.49% Cu TSol, 0.015% Mo (oxide)
  • 481 ft (147 m) @ 1.00% CuT, 0.95% Cu TSol, 0.024% Mo (enriched)
  • Incl. 48 ft (15 m) @ 2.37% CuT, 2.33 % Cu TSol, 0.030% Mo (enriched)
• ECW-355: 1,945 ft (593 m) @ 0.39% CuT of continuous mineralization (Cactus West)
  • 50 ft (15 m) @ 0.74% CuT, 0.71% Cu TSol, 0.010% Mo (enriched)
  • 1,553 ft (473 m) @ 0.41% CuT, 0.010% Mo (primary)

NOTE: True widths are not known

George Ogilvie, Arizona Sonoran President and CEO commented, 鈥淎s we move through the technical study phase and increase the confidence levels of the MRE, we continue to demonstrate the Cactus Project as a high-quality copper porphyry deposit. Cactus continues to show itself as a lower risk copper asset in a tier one jurisdiction, with leachable oxides and enriched material from open pits. We are focused on defining the leachable material for inclusion into the anticipated mine plans, while the step out鈥� drilling is beginning to indicate larger mineral resource potential from Cactus West to the north, south, southwest and below the pit within largely primary sulphide zones. We look forward to updating the market again soon, first with an MRE update and then mine plan and economics within the PFS within the second half of 2025.鈥�

Drilling and Geology Recap
The 160,000 ft (49,000 m) of PFS Drilling was largely allocated to the Parks/Salyer deposit and brought drill hole spacings to 250-foot centers for the oxide and enriched mineralization, which will be included in the anticipated PFS mine plan. This close spaced drilling has resulted in definition of the higher-grade Parks/Salyer corridor as it trends to the southwest into the former MainSpring area. The higher-grade zone shallows significantly as it trends to the southwest, coming to within approximately 600 ft (183 m) of the surface in holes ECM-367 and ECM-377, and 138 ft (42 m) in the southernmost area. The drilling has also improved definition in our geologic models, better defining structural and lithological controls in the Parks/Salyer area to aid geotechnical studies for mine planning, pit design and high-wall studies.

In addition to the PFS Drilling, a 72,000 ft (22,000 m) step out drill program of 45 drill holes was also completed at Cactus West, with drill spacings of up to 1,000 ft (305 m). The program extended known mineralization by up to 1,000 ft (305 m) north and 2,500 ft (760 m) south and southwest. The step out drilling showed that potential exists to grow the Cactus West deposit, comprised largely of leachable copper in the north, and strong primary sulphide zones in the south and southwest of the former Sacaton pit, and at depth between the currently defined Cactus West and Cactus East deposits.

Quality Assurance / Quality Control
Drilling completed between 2020 and 2025 was supervised by on-site Cactus Project 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鈥檚 sample prep, analytical methodologies, and quality control system complies with global certifications for Quality ISO9001:2008.

The scientific and technical information in this press release has been reviewed and verified by Allan Schappert 鈥� CPG #11758, who is independent of the Company and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101鈥� Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects of the Canadian Securities Administrators.

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

About Arizona Sonoran Copper Company ( | )
ASCU鈥檚 objective is to become a mid-tier copper producer with low operating costs and to develop the Cactus and Parks/Salyer Projects 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. Contiguous to the Cactus Project is the Company鈥檚 100%-owned Parks/Salyer deposit that could allow for a phased expansion of the Cactus Mine once it becomes a producing asset. 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.

Cautionary Statements regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Other Matters

Forward-Looking Statements

All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained or incorporated by reference in this press release constitute 鈥渇orward-looking statements鈥� and 鈥渇orward-looking information鈥� (collectively, 鈥渇orward-looking statements鈥�) within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as 鈥渁nticipated鈥�, 鈥渁ssumptions鈥�, 鈥渂ecome鈥�, 鈥渂y鈥�, 鈥渃onfidence鈥�, 鈥渃ontinue鈥�, 鈥渃ould鈥�, 鈥渄elivery鈥�, 鈥渄emonstrate鈥�, 鈥渄evelop鈥�, 鈥渆arliest鈥�, 鈥渆stimate鈥�, 鈥渆xpects鈥�, 鈥渇easibility鈥�, 鈥渇ocused鈥�, 鈥渇orward鈥�, 鈥渇uture鈥�, 鈥済row鈥�, 鈥渋nitial鈥�, 鈥渓ooking鈥�, 鈥渕odel鈥�, 鈥渕ove鈥�, 鈥渘ext鈥�, 鈥渙bjective鈥�, 鈥減ending鈥�, 鈥減lan鈥�, 鈥減lanned鈥�, 鈥減otential鈥�, 鈥減rogram鈥�, 鈥渞isk鈥�, 鈥渟how鈥�, 鈥渟tudy鈥�, 鈥渟ubject to鈥�, 鈥渢argeting鈥�, 鈥渢hrough鈥�, 鈥渢o be鈥�, 鈥渢rend鈥�, 鈥渦nderway鈥�, 鈥渦pgrade鈥�, and 鈥渨ill鈥�, or variations of such words, and similar such words, expressions or statements that certain actions, events or results can, could, may, should, would, will (or not) be achieved, occur, provide, result or support in the future, or which, by their nature, refer to future events. In some cases, forward-looking information may be stated in the present tense, such as in respect of current matters that may be continuing, or that may have a future impact or effect. Forward-looking statements include those relating to the implications of the Pre-feasibility Study (or PFS) related drilling program (including infill and step-out drilling) and results thereof (including continuity and/or thickness of grade and mineralization (or any extension thereof), improvements to models and controls, conversion or upgrade of mineral resources estimates (or MRE) or definition of trend and direction thereof); the Definitive Feasibility Study (or DFS) drilling program (including number of feet or holes, components, completion, results and implications (including any de-risking), and timing, thereof); the ongoing Pre-Feasibility Study (or PFS) and other ongoing and future technical studies (including the Definitive Feasibility Study or DFS) and the continuation, completion, execution, results and/or implications of such studies, and timing thereof (including any update on, and the mine plan and economics of, the ongoing Pre-Feasibility Study or PFS); ongoing or future geotechnical and hydrological programs (including the timing and results thereof); mineral resources generally and potential therefor at the Cactus Project (including indications at Cactus West); upgrades or conversion of mineral resources estimates (or MRE) in classification or categorization, from Inferred to Indicated and/or to Measured, other otherwise (including the magnitude of any upgrade or conversion rate); any update of the current mineral resources estimates (or MRE) or MRE model for the Cactus Project (including any targeted conversion or upgrade or other results thereof), and the completion, timing and impacts or other implications thereof; de-risking of the Cactus Project (including as a result of completed, ongoing or future drilling programs or studies); mine plan (including pit shells) and phases thereof; the 2024 Preliminary Economic Assessment (or 2024 PEA) and the results thereof (including returns and other economics); and the Company鈥檚 objectives (including development of the Cactus Project, becoming a mid-tier copper producer with low operating costs, that could generate robust returns and provide a long-term sustainable and responsible operation for the community, investors and all stakeholders, and any other continuing or future successes). Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that those forward-looking statements will prove to be correct, and any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future actions, results or performance. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions, estimates, expectations and opinions, which are considered reasonable and represent best judgment based on available facts, as of the date such statements are made. If such assumptions, estimates, expectations and opinions prove to be incorrect, actual and future results may be materially different than expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. The assumptions, estimates, expectations and opinions referenced, contained or incorporated by reference in this press release (including referenced Figures linked from this press release) which may prove to be incorrect include those set forth or referenced in this press release, as well as those stated in the most recent technical report for the Cactus Project filed on August 27, 2024 (the 鈥�2024 PEA Technical Report鈥�), the Company鈥檚 Annual Information Form dated March 27, 2025 (the 鈥淎IF鈥�), Management鈥檚 Discussion and Analysis (together with the accompanying financial statements) for the year ended December 31, 2024 and the quarters already ended in 2025 (collectively, the 鈥�2024-25 Financial Disclosure鈥�) and the Company鈥檚 other applicable public disclosure (collectively, 鈥淐ompany Disclosure鈥�), all available on the Company鈥檚 website at and under its issuer profile at . Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, contingencies 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. Such risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors include, among others, that the completion and timing of drilling programs, and results and implications thereof (including continuity and/or thickness of grade and mineralization (or any extension thereof), improvements to models and controls, expansion or conversion (or upgrade) of mineral resources estimates (or MRE), de-risking or definition of trend and direction thereof) will not meet expectations; the completion and timing of the ongoing Pre-Feasibility Study (or PFS) and other ongoing and future technical studies (including the Definitive Feasibility Study or DFS), and results and implications thereof (including mine plan and economics) will not be consistent with prior studies or will otherwise not meet expectations; and the accuracy of the current mineral resource estimates (or MRE) for the Cactus Project and the Company鈥檚 analysis thereof not being consistent with expectations (including but not limited to ore tonnage and ore grade estimates), and future MRE for the Cactus Project not being consistent with the current mineral resources estimates (or MRE) or plans and/or models for the Cactus Project (see also further cautionary statements below under the heading 鈥淢ineral Resource Estimates鈥�), among other risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors, including the 鈥淩isk Factors鈥� in the AIF, and the risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors identified in the 2024 PEA Technical Report and the 2024-25 Financial Disclosure. The foregoing list of risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors is not exhaustive; readers should consult the more complete discussion of the Company鈥檚 business, financial condition and prospects that is provided in the AIF, the 2024-25 Financial Disclosure and other Company Disclosure. 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 press release (or as otherwise expressly specified) and ASCU disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements referenced or contained in this press release are expressly qualified by these Cautionary Statements as well as the Cautionary Statements in the AIF, the 2024 PEA Technical Report, the 2024-25 Financial Disclosure and other Company Disclosure.

Preliminary Economic Assessments
The 2024 Preliminary Economic Assessment (or 2024 PEA) referenced in this press release and summarized in the 2024 PEA Technical Report is only a conceptual study of the potential viability of the Cactus Project and the economic and technical viability of the Cactus Project has not been demonstrated. The 2024 PEA is preliminary in nature and provides only an initial, high-level review of the Cactus Project鈥檚 potential and design options; there is no certainty that the 2024 PEA will be realized. For further detail on the Cactus Project and the 2024 PEA, including applicable technical notes and cautionary statements, please refer to the Company鈥檚 press release dated August 7, 2024 and the 2024 PEA Technical Report, both available on the Company鈥檚 website at and under its issuer profile at .

Mineral Resource Estimates
Until mineral deposits are actually mined and processed, copper and other mineral resources must be considered as estimates only. Mineral resource estimates that are not classified as mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimation of mineral resources is inherently uncertain, involves subjective judgement about many relevant factors and may be materially affected by, among other things, environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other known and unknown risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors described in the foregoing Cautionary Statements on Forward-Looking Statements. The quantity and grade of reported 鈥渋nferred鈥� mineral resource estimates are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define 鈥渋nferred鈥� mineral resource estimates as an 鈥渋ndicated鈥� or 鈥渕easured鈥� mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading 鈥渋nferred鈥� mineral resource estimates to an 鈥渋ndicated鈥� or 鈥渕easured鈥� mineral resource category. Inferred mineral resource estimates may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies or economic studies except for preliminary economic assessments. The accuracy of any mineral resource estimate is a function of the quantity and quality of available data, and of the assumptions made and judgments used in engineering and geological interpretation, which may prove to be unreliable and depend, to a certain extent, upon the analysis of drilling results and statistical inferences that may ultimately prove to be inaccurate. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of a 鈥渋nferred鈥�, 鈥渋ndicated鈥� or 鈥渕easured鈥� mineral resource estimate will ever be upgraded to a higher category including a mineral reserve. The mineral resource estimates declared by the Company were estimated, categorized and reported using standards and definitions in accordance with the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (the 鈥淐IM Standards鈥�) in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators (鈥淣I 43-101鈥�), which governs the public disclosure of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects.

U.S. Readers
The terms 鈥渕ineral resource鈥�, 鈥渕easured mineral resource鈥�, 鈥渋ndicated mineral resource鈥� and 鈥渋nferred mineral resource鈥� as disclosed by the Company are Canadian mining terms defined in the CIM Standards (collectively, the 鈥淐IM Definitions鈥�) in accordance with NI 43-101. NI 43-101 establishes standards for all public disclosure that a Canadian issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. These Canadian standards differ from the requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the 鈥淪EC鈥�) applicable to United States domestic and certain foreign reporting companies under Subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K (鈥淪-K 1300鈥�). Accordingly, information describing mineral resource estimates for the Cactus Project may not be comparable to similar information publicly reported in accordance with the applicable requirements of the SEC, and so there can be no assurance that any mineral resource estimate for the Cactus Project would be the same had the estimates been prepared per the SEC鈥檚 reporting and disclosure requirements under applicable United States federal securities laws, and the rules and regulations thereunder, including but not limited to S-K 1300. Further, there is no assurance that any mineral resource or mineral reserve estimate that the Company may report under NI 43-101 would be the same had the Company prepared such estimates under S-K 1300.

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For more information

Alison Dwoskin, Director, Investor Relations

647-233-4348

[email protected]

George Ogilvie, President, CEO and Director

416-723-0458

[email protected]

Source: Arizona Sonoran Copper Company Inc.