AZG Azteca Gold Corp.

Matthew Russell, President of Azteca Gold Corp. (TSX VENTURE: AZG) (the "Company") announces completion of DDH-005A, an 8,784 FT vertical diamond drill core hole on its Two Mile property located between Murray and Osburn, Idaho. "In fulfilling our obligations to achieve our 50% JV interest and Operatorship of the Two Mile Joint Venture, Azteca has accomplished perhaps the deepest geologic structural section ever drilled in the Silver Valley," said Russell.

Description of the Core Hole

DDH-005A is an NQ-sized core hole collared at approximately 3,650 FT elevation with total depth ("TD") of 8,784 FT or about 5,134 FT below sea level. The Company believes its main target was intersected beginning at approximately 5,800 FT as disseminated mineralization with intermittent stockwork veining. At approximately 7,500 FT the stockwork veining increases appreciably and at 7,950 FT the mineralization becomes massive. The massive mineralization continues for approximately 50 FT intermittently, with continuity of the massive mineralization over as large as 10 FT intercepts. Below this massive mineralization intermittent stockwork type veining and disseminated mineralization continues down to TD. The hole was terminated in significant disseminated mineralization.

Geologic Discussion

Until logging and assays of the entire core are achieved, the Company is not in a position to comment on the geology encountered.

Plan for Two Mile

Based on the above-described mineralization, Azteca is making preparations for further investigation of a geophysical anomaly along strike of the Two Mile Fault. The Company received necessary permits from the United States Forest Service and upgraded a Forest Service road to gain access to a patented claim located approximately 1 mile West of DDH-005A. A second diamond drill rig has been positioned for a collar elevation of approximately 3,050 FT and will begin drilling vertical hole DDH-006 during the week of December 8th.

Additionally, if initial assays on DDH-005A substantiate it, the Two Mile Joint Venture will work aggressively towards developing a mineral resource. During the week of December 1st, DDH-005A was reamed to NQ-oversize to a depth of 4,000FT, and a wedge-off hole (DDH-005B) may be started as early as the week of December 8th. This wedge-off hole has a target TD of 9,500 FT (5,500 FT below the wedge-off point) with an expected plan view separation along strike of at least 400 FT to the West of the surveyed location of the bottom of DDH-005A.

Timing of Assays

The Company is prioritizing the massive mineralization for assay first followed by the adjacent stockwork veining above and below the massive mineralization. It is expected that first preliminary assays on the mineralization will be ready for release before the end of December. Assaying will be ongoing and releases on DDH-005A may take several months to complete.

Financial Plan

Azteca has no debt and no large property payments to make. "We can focus money raised directly on aggressive exploration like at the Two Mile Project where the Company hopes to add substantial value," commented Russell. To this end, Azteca is conducting a Canadian $2,500,000 private placement that will be priced within 3-5 days from the date of this press release. Management expects to participate up to $500,000. The use of funds is for drilling and assaying expenses at Two Mile as well as general corporate purposes.

The information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Matthew Russell, President and CEO and the Company's Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101.

WARNING: the Company relies upon litigation protection for "forward looking" statements. The information in this release may contain forward-looking information under applicable securities laws. This forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those implied by the forward-looking information. Factors that may cause actual results to vary material include, but are not limited to, inaccurate assumptions concerning the exploration for and development of mineral deposits, currency fluctuations, unanticipated operational or technical difficulties, changes in laws or regulations, the risks of obtaining necessary licenses and permits, changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets and the inability to raise additional financing. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-looking information. The Company does not assume the obligation to revise or update this forward-looking information after the date of this release or to revise such information to reflect the occurrence of future unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

Shares issued: 134,441,996

The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contacts: Azteca Gold Corp. Jon Slizza VP of Finance Cell: (509) 981-2020 Email: info@azteca-au.com