Southern Empire Resources Corp. announced that detailed Synchrotron radiation micro-X-Ray Fluorescence (Synchrotron Micro-XRF or SRµ-XRF) mineralogical studies of gold-enriched drill core samples from its Pedro Gold Project in Durango, México, reveal certain, specific mineralogical similarities to the unique ore mineralization of the world-class Carlin gold deposits in north-central Nevada. Although preliminary in nature, this mineralogical work together with many other noted geological similarities supports the possibility that a new belt of Carlin-style gold deposits, named the "Mapimi Gold Corridor" by Southern Empire, may exist in north-central México.

Also herein, Southern Empire provides a summary of its 2022 north-central México exploration strategies, property acquisitions, and an update regarding option agreement amendments with Commander Resources Ltd. (Commander). Pedro Gold Project: Drill Core Synchrotron Micro-XRFMineralogical Study: Detailed mineralogical studies were conducted at the U.S.A. Department of Energy'sArgonne National Laboratory Advanced Photon Source (APS) in Chicago, one of the most technologically complex research facilities in the world, by Dr. Lisa Van Loon of LISA CAN Analytical Solutions Inc. (LISA CAN) in collaboration with Dr. Neil Banerjee of Western University. There, synchrotron facilities that generate ultra-bright, high-energy X-rays were used to map microscopic pyrite grains in core samples collected from Southern Empire's Pedro Gold Project drill hole (DDH) P22-02; showing DDH P22-02 core interval 46.10m to 47.14m.

In the Carlin-type gold deposits of north-central Nevada, a ubiquitous suite of "pathfinder" or "indicator" trace elements, which include arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), thallium (Tl) and antimony (Sb), often occurring together with submicron-sized gold (Au) particles in As-rich rims (a chemical zonation feature referred to as "fuzzy" rims) that formed around unmineralized pyrite cores during ore-mineralizing processes (Longo, Cline and Muntean, 2009; Palenik et al, 2004 & Barker et al, 2009; cited in Gopon et al, 2019). The initial LISA CAN SRµ-XRF mineralogical study further supports Southern Empire's hypothesis that gold mineralization at Pedro is potentially Carlin-style. A summary of this study follows: SRµ-XRF analyses were conducted on representative pyrite grains in sample SER-2B.

The exceptional operating conditions (<2µm spot size) allowed the identification of trace elements Hg and Tl associated with pyrite grains and the arsenic (As) altered rims of pyrite grains. Hg and Tl occur together in the As-rich rim of pyrite grain SER-2B-1-1. Although the core interval assayed 0.750 grams gold/tonne (g Au/t; an average of repeated samples S43451 & S43451R), no gold was identified in the limited number of samples studied using SRµ-XRF. Hg and Tl are not associated with each other.

Hg is heterogeneously distributed in most pyrites. Characteristic Sb L-edge XRF emission peaks could not be resolved from strong Ca-K edge XRF emission peaks. About Synchrotron Micro-XRF Analysis: Synchrotron Micro-XRF analysis is a non-destructive analytical study technique that enables screening for elemental constituents within mineral grains of interest, thus providing important mineralogical data to be applied to mineral deposit classification and exploration.

Using a tuneable synchrotron X-ray source provides an intensity that cannot be matched by normal laboratory X-ray fluorescence (XRF) sources. LISA CAN has used the technique in various capacities, including on gold-enriched specimens from various geological deposit settings. Review of 2022 and Update: México Gold Exploration and the Mapimí Gold Corridor During 2021 and 2022, Southern Empire acquired by option and staking three gold projects with bulk-tonnage scale potential in north-central México: Centauro Gold Project, Jiménez Municipality, Chihuahua State; Pedro Gold Project, Mapimí Municipality, Durango State; and, La Loma Gold Project, Nazas & Lerdo Municipalities, Durango.

These three separate gold projects are located along an approximately 150-kilometre (km), southeast trending, Oligocene tectonostratigraphic geological belt that Southern Empire is referring to as the Mapimí Gold Corridor. The Centauro and Pedro Gold Projects have been the subject of significant historical exploration work, including detailed geological and satellite spectral alteration mapping, grid-controlled soil geochemistry, magnetic and induced polarization geophysical surveys, and drilling (Centauro: 5,795 metres (m) core in 27 holes; Pedro: 1,265.0 m core in 8 holes and 1,335.5 m reverse circulation in 9 holes). The "Mapimi Gold Corridor" At Centauro and Pedro, and to an extent, the lesser studied La Loma, a range of similar and specific geological, mineralogical, alteration and geochemical features are noted and these that support Southern Empire's theory of the Mapimí Gold Corridor being a unique, newly recognized metallogenic belt potentially hosting Carlin-style gold deposits.

The Mapimí Gold Corridor is situated along the northwestern end of the Cretaceous carbonate stratigraphy of the Mexican Fold and Thrust Belt where east-west Oligocene extension led to the development of the Northern México Basin and Range physiographic province. The Mapimí Gold Corridor is highlighted by the occurrences of gold and a suite of specific elements (arsenic, antimony, mercury, thallium) that are indicators of Carlin-style gold mineralization, all of which are present at Southern Empire's Centauro, Pedro and La Loma properties. As observed at both Centauro and Pedro, gold mineralization is predominantly associated with hematite-stained, weak- to moderately-silicified, brecciated limestone conglomerates of the Eocene to Oligocene Ahuichila Formation.

On both properties, the Ahuichila Fm. is predominately represented by limestone dominated, polymictic conglomerates associated with linear NNW trending, probable graben structures. The silicified auriferous breccia zones are typically linear, paralleling the NNW graben trend.

The silicified conglomerate zones at both Centauro and Pedro are highlighted by kilometre-scale, coincident geochemical soil anomalies of gold (Au; >10 ppb), arsenic (As; >100 ppm), plus antimony (Sb), thallium ("Tl") and mercury ("Hg"). The Ahuichila Fm. stratigraphically overlies the Late Cretaceous to Eocene Caracol Formation.

Overlapping with the period of Oligocene extension, and following the same NNW trend, are scattered various intrusive plutons and plugs of Paleogene monzodiorite to granodiorite. Historical drill results from Southern Empire's Centauro and Pedro Gold Projects include wide intercepts (up to 112 m) of highly anomalous gold grades. Historical drilling at both properties has been widely spaced (drill collars typically spaced >300m apart) and relatively shallow, with most holes penetrating to vertical depths of less than 200 m.