News Release
Arizona Metals Announces Results of Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Kay Mine Project
Toronto, April 30, 2026 – Arizona Metals Corp. (TSX:AMC, OTCQX:AZMCF) (the “Company” or “Arizona Metals”) is pleased to announce the results of a Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”), supporting the initial mineral resource estimate for its Kay Mine Project (“the Project”) prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”).
The full technical report, which is being prepared in accordance with NI 43-101, will be available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under the Company’s issuer profile within 45 days.
This independent study was prepared by G Mining Services Inc. (“GMS”) and included the contributions of other recognized project expertise such as SGS Geological Services (“SGS”), WestLand Engineering & Environmental Services, and Haley & Aldrich.
Highlights
- Base Case* After-Tax NPV5% of US$-6 million and IRR of 4.9% at US$4.70/lb copper, US$1.27/lb zinc, US$3,100/oz gold and US$38/oz silver.
- Spot Case** After-Tax NPV5% of US$445 million and IRR of 14.9% at US$6.05/lb copper, US$1.57/lb zinc, US$4,745/oz gold and US$77.48/oz silver.
- 127 Mlbs copper, 293 Mlbs zinc, 258 koz gold, and 4,712 koz silver of payable production over the 10 years of conceptual mine life (“CML”).
- 2025 MRE (as defined herein): 9.28 Mt grading 3.18% CuEq in the Indicated category and 0.86 Mt grading 2.44% CuEq in the Inferred category.
The 2026 PEA is preliminary in nature and includes Inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the 2026 PEA will be realized. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
*Base Case based on historical price (source: MetalpriceAPI) and long term consensus as of March 3, 2026. (source: Broker Consensus Estimates from CIBC Capital Markets)
**Spot Case based on average metal price of Wednesday April 22, 2026. (source: MetalpriceAPI)
Duncan Middlemiss, President and CEO of Arizona Metals, commented:
“The results of the PEA establish the Kay Mine Project as a credible development opportunity, underpinned by a well-defined Indicated mineral resource and a fully costed mining scenario, which outlines our base case. This study included 6.6M tonnes of mineralized material mined, leaving the remainder of the 9.28M tonnes Indicated and 0.86M tonnes Inferred in the MRE to potentially be included in future studies, and their addition would be a key step in enhancing the economics of the base case. The indicated portion of the resource accounts for 92% of the June 2025 MRE tonnes, and a study prepared by GMS, a globally recognized mining consultancy with a strong track record of delivering high-quality technical work, has resulted in a credible base case. The involvement of a firm of this calibre reinforces our confidence in both the resource and the study itself and provides a strong technical foundation with a clear path forward. Importantly, the PEA captures only a portion of the broader opportunity we see at the Kay Mine Project, and the Spot Case sensitivity demonstrates the meaningful upside available under more supportive commodity price assumptions. The Kay Mine Project also remains open along strike and at depth, a key characteristic of many VMS systems globally, and we believe there is significant potential to grow the resource through continued exploration. At the same time, we are continuing our investigation of alternative processing technologies, which, together with supportive commodity price environments, could enhance project returns. Reductions in operating and capital costs could lower the cut-off grade and allow for the inclusion of additional resource tonnes in subsequent mining plans. Kay remains a compelling development opportunity in a top-tier jurisdiction. Its location provides access to infrastructure and skilled labour, while the underground design limits the surface footprint. With well-understood mining methods and Arizona’s mining-friendly environment, our focus now is on unlocking that upside and demonstrating the full scale of what the Kay Mine Project can become.”
About Arizona Metals Corp
Arizona Metals Corp. owns 100% of the Kay Mine Project in Yavapai County, Arizona, which is located on 1,669 acres of patented and BLM mining claims and 193 acres of private land that are not subject to any royalties. The Kay Mine Project contains a current mineral resource estimate (MRE) with an effective date of June 17, 2025, of 9.28 million tonnes grading 1.39 g/t Au, 27.6 g/t Ag, 0.97% Cu, 0.33% Pb and 2.39% Zn in the Indicated category, and 0.86 million tonnes grading 1.06 g/t Au, 15.4 g/t Ag, 0.87% Cu, 0.20% Pb and 1.68% Zn in the Inferred category, in each case at a base-case cut-off grade of 1.00% CuEq. Copper equivalent MRE grades are 9.28 million tonnes at 3.18% CuEq in the Indicated category and 0.86 million tonnes at 2.44% CuEq in the Inferred category. The 2026 PEA disclosed in this news release is based on the MRE and is preliminary in nature; it includes Inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the 2026 PEA will be realized. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The Kay Mine Project is a steeply dipping VMS deposit that has been defined from a depth of 60 m to at least 900 m and remains open for expansion on strike and at depth.
The Company also owns 100% of the Sugarloaf Peak Project, in La Paz County, which is located on 4,400 acres of BLM claims. The Sugarloaf Peak Project is a heap-leach, open-pit target and has a historic estimate of “100 million short tons containing 1.5 million ounces gold” at a grade of 0.5 g/t (Dausinger, N.E., 1983, Phase 1 Drill Program and Evaluation of Gold-Silver Potential, Sugarloaf Peak Project, Quartzsite, Arizona: Report for Westworld Inc.)
The historic estimate at the Sugarloaf Peak Project was reported by Westworld Resources in 1983. The historic estimate has not been verified as a current mineral resource. None of the key assumptions, parameters, and methods used to prepare the historic estimate were reported, and no resource categories were used. Significant data compilation, re-drilling and data verification may be required by a Qualified Person before the historic estimate can be verified and upgraded to a current mineral resource. A Qualified Person has not done sufficient work to classify it as a current mineral resource, and Arizona Metals is not treating the historic estimate as a current mineral resource.
Qualified Person and Quality Assurance/Quality Control
All of Arizona Metals’ drill sample assay results have been independently monitored through a quality assurance/quality control (“QA/QC”) protocol which includes the insertion of blind standard reference materials and blanks at regular intervals. Logging and sampling were completed at Arizona Metals’ core handling facilities located in Phoenix and Black Canyon City, Arizona. Drill core was diamond sawn on site and half drill-core samples were securely transported to ALS Laboratories’ (“ALS”) sample preparation facility in Tucson, Arizona. Sample pulps were sent to ALS’s labs in Vancouver, Canada, and Reno, Nevada, for analysis.
Gold content was determined by fire assay of a 30-gram charge with ICP finish (ALS method Au-AA23). Silver and 32 other elements were analyzed by ICP methods with four-acid digestion (ALS method ME-ICP61a). Over-limit samples for Au, Ag, Cu, and Zn were determined by ore-grade analyses Au-GRA21, Ag-OG62, Cu-OG62, and Zn-OG62, respectively.
ALS Laboratories is independent of Arizona Metals Corp. and its Vancouver and Reno facilities are ISO 17025 accredited. ALS also performed its own internal QA/QC procedures to assure the accuracy and integrity of results. Parameters for ALS’ internal and Arizona Metals’ external blind quality control samples were acceptable for the samples analyzed. Arizona Metals is not aware of any drilling, sampling, recovery, or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data referred to herein.
The qualified person who devised and monitored the Company’s QA/QC program in respect of the underlying drill data referenced in this news release is David Smith, CPG, a qualified person as defined in NI 43-101. Mr. Smith is the Vice-President, Exploration of the Company. Mr. Smith supervised the Company’s drill program and verified the data disclosed, including sampling, analytical and QA/QC data, including reviewing the reports of ALS, methodologies, results, and all procedures undertaken for quality assurance and quality control in a manner consistent with industry practice, and all matters were consistent and accurate according to his professional judgement. There were no limitations on the verification process. The scientific and technical information contained in this news release relating to the PEA, the mineral resource estimate and other technical aspects of the Kay Mine Project has been reviewed and approved by the independent Qualified Persons (as defined in NI 43-101) responsible for the relevant sections of the Study, as identified above under “Technical Report Preparation and Qualified Persons”.
Disclaimer
This press release contains statements that constitute “forward-looking information” (collectively, “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that discusses predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often, but not always, using phrases such as “expects”, “does not expect”, “is expected”, “anticipates”, “does not anticipate”, “plans”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “forecasts”, “estimates”, “believes” or “intends”, or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, without limitation, statements regarding the results, conclusions, projections, assumptions and economic and operating parameters of the 2026 PEA for the Kay Mine Project, including projected mine life, throughput, capital and operating costs, metal recoveries, payable production, net present value, internal rate of return, payback period and sensitivities thereto; statements regarding metal price assumptions; statements regarding the timing and content of the technical report supporting the PEA and its filing on SEDAR+; statements regarding the Company’s continued exploration, development and permitting activities at the Kay Mine Project, including the timing and outcome of the BLM Exploration Plan of Operations and other anticipated permits; statements regarding the potential to expand the Kay Mine Project Mineral Resources through continued drilling, including at depth and along strike; statements regarding the advancement of the Kay Mine Project through subsequent stages of technical study; statements regarding exploration activity, including drilling, at the Sugarloaf Peak Project; and statements regarding the Company’s expansion potential, mineralization, financing and corporate plans. In making the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, the Company has made certain assumptions, including, without limitation, assumptions regarding the accuracy of the MRE underlying the PEA; the validity of the technical, economic and operating assumptions used in the PEA (including assumed metal prices, exchange rates, recoveries, capital and operating costs, mining and processing methods, throughput, ramp-up profile, mine life and tax and royalty regimes); the availability of financing on acceptable terms; the timely receipt of required permits and regulatory approvals; the absence of material adverse changes in commodity prices, capital markets and the regulatory and political environment; and the continued availability of qualified personnel and key contractors. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that those expectations will prove to be correct. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: the inherently preliminary nature of a PEA, including its reliance on Inferred Mineral Resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them and that may not ultimately be upgraded to higher-confidence categories or to Mineral Reserves; the risk that Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability; risks that the assumptions underlying the PEA, including capital and operating cost estimates, metal recoveries and metal prices, prove to be inaccurate; sensitivity of project economics to changes in commodity prices, exchange rates, capital costs and operating costs; the risk that further studies (including pre-feasibility and feasibility studies) yield results that differ materially from the PEA, or that Mineral Reserves are not ultimately established; the Company’s ability to obtain financing on acceptable terms or at all; delay or failure to obtain required permits, regulatory approvals or surface rights; environmental, social, taxation, title, legal, political, market, infrastructure and other risks affecting the development of the Kay Mine Project; risks relating to exploration and development of mineral properties generally; the risk that the technical report supporting the PEA is not filed within required timeframes; and general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties. Additional risk factors are described in the Company’s continuous disclosure documents available under its issuer profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, including the Company’s most recent Annual Information Form and Management’s Discussion and Analysis. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this press release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise.
Cautionary Note to United States Investors Regarding Mineral Resource Estimates
This news release uses the terms “Mineral Resource”, “Indicated Mineral Resource” and “Inferred Mineral Resource” as defined in the CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves and in accordance with NI 43-101. While these terms are recognized and required by the Canadian Securities Administrators, they may not be recognized by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Mineral Resource estimates and related information in this news release may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements under the United States federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.
NEITHER THE TORONTO STOCK EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TORONTO STOCK EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.
Not for distribution to US newswire services or for release, publication, distribution, or dissemination directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, in or into the United States.
For further information, please contact:
Morgan Knowles
Vice President of Investor Relations
(647) 202-3904
mknowles@arizonametalscorp.com
or
Duncan Middlemiss
President and CEO
dmiddlemiss@arizonametalscorp.com
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