Five CRD Target Areas At The Tombstone Property

VANCOUVER – Aztec Minerals Corp. confirms the identification of five prospective, buried CRD target areas on the Tombstone Property, Cochise County, Arizona, USA by 3-D modeling of Aztec’s recent airborne magnetic survey data. 3-dimensional modeling of the airborne magnetic data was undertaken by geophysical consultants CompGeoInc of Vancouver, BC who produced a UBC modeled inversion as well as multiple depth and horizontal slices (link 1, link 2). This modeling work is very useful in identifying subsurface massive sulphide CRD (Carbonate Replacement Deposits) targets or other styles of sulfide mineralization. Aztec previously identified three target areas based on its recent geological mapping and sampling and analysis of historic exploration and mining data. 

The new 3-dimensional magnetic modeling confirmed and better defined the potential of the three target areas and identified two more: The north-northeast trending Contention Pit area veins and dikes are marked by a linear magnetic high/low contact and appear to extend below the historic mines, which typically bottomed at the water table around 200 metres depth, down into the underlying Paleozoic limestone formations which are similar rocks that host the Taylor zinc-silver-lead CRD deposit of Arizona Mining Inc., subsequently purchased by South32 (located only 65 kilometers west of Tombstone); A possible south extension of the Contention Pit area, offset 100 meters to the west by a southeast trending cross fault or anticlinal structure; A parallel zone to the Contention Pit approximately 350 meters to the southeast that is mostly covered by thin alluvium thus not explored in historic times, also marked by a linear north-northeast magnetic high/low contact; Two northwest-southeast trending anticlinal structures, marked by a series of weak magnetic highs, host silver-lead-zinc replacements in the Bisbee Group and appear to extend into the underlying Paleozoic limestone formations; A circular magnetic high with a central low occurs at the northern end of the Contention Pit, possibly separate from the dikes and veins, and could represent a pipe-like feature related to limestone dissolution and collapse, ideal for the development of CRD’s

Now that the main prospective structures have been defined, a natural source, AMT (audio-frequency magneto-tellurics) geophysical survey is being planned over the property to map resistivity and conductivity contrasts in the subsurface sedimentary rocks. Any high conductivity/low resistivity anomalies could represent buried carbonate replacement deposits (CRD’s) and massive sulphide deposits.

The company’s contact is: (604) 685-9770, www.aztecminerals.com.