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Vancouver, British Columbia – May 15, 2026 – TheNewswire – Vault Strategic Mining Corp. (TSXV: KNOX) (OTC: KNXFF) (FSE: M850) (WKN:A41WE4) (“Vault” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it has engaged Rangefront Mining Services (“Rangefront”) to complete the Company’s maiden exploration program at the Historical Mirage-Mariposa Tungsten Mine, included within the Gray Eagle Project located in the Bishop Mining District, Inyo County, California.
The initial field program is designed to revisit historical mine areas, verify accessible historical workings and surface exposures, collect modern geological and sampling data, and identify priority targets for future drill testing. The ultimate objective of the program is to assess the historical mine setting and develop targets that may support future work aimed at confirming and potentially expanding the historical tungsten resource described in historical records.
Quinn Field-Dyte, CEO of Vault Strategic Mining Corp., stated: “Rangefront’s engagement marks an important step in advancing the Mirage-Mariposa historical tungsten mine. Tungsten is increasingly recognized as a strategic critical mineral, and federal programs with mandates to prioritize domestic and allied critical mineral supply chains continue to highlight the importance of revisiting historically productive mineral districts. Mirage-Mariposa’s documented historical tungsten resource provides a meaningful foundation for renewed evaluation under modern standards. Our maiden program is designed to place experienced geologists back on the ground, revisit known historical mine areas, collect modern data, and generate priority drill targets in a disciplined and technically focused manner to confirm and potentially expand upon the historical understanding of the deposit.”
Maiden Exploration Program
Rangefront’s proposed field program will focus on modern geological evaluation of the historical Mirage-Mariposa tungsten system. The proposed scope includes:
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Detailed mapping of the intrusive-carbonate contact and skarn zoning, including garnet, epidote, and scheelite-bearing zones;
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Underground and surface verification of historical zones, including accessible workings and mine dumps;
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Channel sampling across tactite and adjacent structures, with appropriate QA/QC procedures;
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Portable ultraviolet work to evaluate scheelite distribution and continuity;
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Structural measurements to help constrain mineralized controls, plunge, and potential extensions; and
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Development of high priority drill targets, including coordinates, sections, and conceptual collar locations.
Upon completion, Rangefront is expected to provide the Company with field data, mapping files, relevant datasets, and a technical summary of activities completed and general conclusions. The Company expects the results of this work to assist in ranking priority target areas for future confirmation and expansion drilling.
Historical Mirage-Mariposa Tungsten Mine
The Historical Mirage-Mariposa Tungsten Mine is included within the Gray Eagle Project, which comprises 33 contiguous unpatented lode claims totaling approximately 681.8 acres, located approximately 10 kilometres east of Bishop, California, within the White Mountains.1
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Figure 1. Gray Eagle Project Map Showing Mirage Mariposa Mine location
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Figure 2. Excerpt from report – Redacted for compliance 2
The project area hosts multiple mineralized prospects developed along a granite-limestone contact, a geological environment associated with tungsten skarn mineralization and hydrothermal precious-metal vein systems. Historical records describe replacement-style and disseminated mineralization, contact metasomatic processes, intense wallrock alteration, and carbonate-silicate alteration. Reported minerals and materials include scheelite, garnet, epidote, quartz, and argentite.3
Vault previously announced that it had entered into a definitive mineral property purchase agreement to acquire a 100% interest in the Historical Mirage-Mariposa Tungsten Mine included within the Gray Eagle Project. Completion of the acquisition remains subject to the acceptance or approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.
About Rangefront Mining Services (“Rangefront”)
Rangefront Mining Services is a Nevada-based geological consulting firm providing project management, data analysis, field services, and NI 43-101 compliant reporting. With decades of experience in the Great Basin, Rangefront has worked with numerous exploration and mining companies to advance projects from grassroots to production.
Historical Resource Disclosure
The U.S. Geological Survey’s (“USGS”) Mineral Resource Data System record for the Mirage-Mariposa Mine describes historical resources of approximately 21,000 indicated tons and 34,400 inferred tons of subeconomic resources, with an average grade of 0.15% tungsten trioxide.4
The historical resource estimate predates National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”) and was not prepared in accordance with NI 43-101. The historical categories used in the estimate should not be assumed to be directly comparable to current NI 43-101 mineral resource categories.
The Company has not independently verified the historical resource estimate. The Qualified Person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as a current mineral resource or mineral reserve, and the Company is not treating the historical estimate as a current mineral resource or mineral reserve.
Additional work, including geological mapping, sampling, data verification, QA/QC review, confirmation drilling, and NI 43-101 compliant technical reporting, would be required before any historical estimate could be verified or classified as a current mineral resource. There is no assurance that any portion of the historical estimate will be confirmed.
Data Verification
Historical information referenced in this release has been reviewed against available historical records; however, such information has not been independently verified to current NI 43-101 standards and should be considered historical in nature and supportive for exploration targeting only. The Company cautions that historical results, historical production, historical resource estimates, or historical mine development may not be indicative of the presence of current mineral resources or reserves.
Market Awareness
Vault Strategic announces that it has entered into a marketing services agreement with Capitaliz Marketing Inc. (“Capitaliz“) to provide investor awareness and digital marketing services in accordance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the “TSXV“).
Pursuant to the agreement, Capitaliz will assist the Company with investor awareness initiatives, which may include digital advertising, content development, and coordination with third-party publishers and content creators. The services are intended to increase general awareness of the Company and its activities among the investing public.
The Company has entered into a one-month investor awareness agreement with Capitaliz Marketing Inc. with an initial budget of $50,000. The Company may approve additional allocations up to a total budget of $200,000, subject to TSX Venture Exchange acceptance.
About Vault Strategic Mining Corp.
Vault Strategic Mining Corp. is a North American resource company focused on the acquisition and advancement of strategic and critical mineral projects located in top-tier mining jurisdictions. The Company emphasizes historical and underexplored assets with potential for value creation through modern exploration and disciplined development. Investors and Stakeholders are encouraged to follow the company on its Linkedin, X.com and subscribe for updates at https://vaultstrategic.com/.
Vault Strategic Mining Corp. trades on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV: KNOX), OTC Markets (OTCID: KNXFF), and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FSE: M850).
Qualified Person
Mr. William Feyerabend, CPG, an independent Consulting Geologist and a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the disclosure in this news release for consistency with NI 43-101 reporting requirements.
On behalf of the Board:
Vault Strategic Mining Corp.
“Quinn Field-Dyte”
Chief Executive Officer & Director
Tel: 604.343.4338 | Email: info@vaultstrategic.com
ANY SECURITIES REFERRED TO HEREIN WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (THE “1933 ACT”) AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO A U.S. PERSON IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE 1933 ACT.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information
This release includes forward-looking statements regarding KNOX, and the Mirage-Mariposa Project, which may include, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the completion of the acquisition of the Mirage-Mariposa Project, and the ability to obtain regulatory approvals, and other factors. Often, but not always, Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “is expected”, “expects”, “scheduled”, “intends”, “contemplates”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “proposes”, “estimates” or variations of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved. Such statements are based on the current expectations of the management of each entity. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release, including completion of the acquisition of the Mirage-Mariposa Project, may not occur by certain specified dates or at all and could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting the Company, including the risk that KNOX may not obtain all requisite approvals for the acquisition, including the approval of the TSX.V, risks of the resource industry, failure to obtain any other required regulatory approvals, economic factors, any estimated amounts, timing of the acquisition and requited payments, the equity markets generally and risks associated with growth, exploration and development. Although KNOX 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. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Except as required by applicable securities laws, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made KNOX undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
1 Vault Strategic Mining Corp., “Vault Announces Acquisition of U.S. Historical Mirage-Mariposa Tungsten Mine Within the Gray Eagle Project,” news release dated May 11, 2026.
2 https://pubs.usgs.gov/mf/1983/1361c/report.pdf – Page 7
3 U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Resource Data System, “Mirage-Mariposa Mine,” MRDS #10187738, https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/show-mrds.php?dep_id=10187738.
4 U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Resource Data System, “Mirage-Mariposa Mine,” MRDS #10187738, https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/show-mrds.php?dep_id=10187738; and U.S. Geological Survey, “Mineral Investigation of the Black Canyon RARE II Area (No. A5053), Inyo County, California,” Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF-1361-C, 1983, p. 7, https://pubs.usgs.gov/mf/1983/1361c/report.pdf.