Mr. Quinn Field-Dyte reports

VAULT STRATEGIC ANNOUNCES DRONE-BORNE MAGNETIC SURVEY UNDERWAY AT WAR BOND, NEVADA, AND COMMENTS ON U.S. MOVE TO RESTRICT TUNGSTEN EXPORTS

Pioneer Exploration Consultants Ltd. has been deployed for Vault Strategic Mining Corp.'s previously announced high-resolution, unmanned-aerial-vehicle-based airborne magnetic survey at its War Bond tungsten project in Nevada, United States. War Bond encompasses the historical War Bond, Tactite and Thursday tungsten mines. Nevada was ranked as the No. 1 mining jurisdiction in the Fraser Institute's Annual Survey of Mining Companies released on Feb. 26, 2026.

Quinn Field-dyte, chief executive officer of Vault Strategic Mining, stated: "The drone-borne magnetic survey now under way, together with our recent phase 1 sampling results, represents two highly complementary components of our exploration strategy at War Bond. The survey is expected to further expand our modern geological data set, support the refinement of priority exploration targets and contribute to the maiden NI 43-101 technical report being prepared by Bill Feyerabend and Amazona Enterprises. We believe War Bond's historical production, Nevada location and emerging exploration model position the project as a compelling North American tungsten opportunity at a time when secure domestic supplies of critical minerals are becoming increasingly important."

The planned survey will comprise approximately 70 line kilometres of airborne magnetic data collection using tightly spaced 25-metre flight lines and 250-metre perpendicular tie lines. This configuration is designed to provide high-density geophysical coverage across the project and assist in identifying magnetic features, structural trends and geological contacts that may be associated with tungsten-bearing tactite and skarn mineralization under areas of soil and aeolian sand cover.

The company intends to integrate the high-resolution magnetic data with the phase 1 sampling results and available historical information to better define the geological and structural controls on mineralization. The combined data set is expected to refine priority exploration targets, guide follow-up mapping and sampling, support drill-target generation and drill-permitting activities, and contribute to the technical foundation for the company's maiden National Instrument 43-101 technical report being prepared by veteran geologist William (Bill) Feyerabend and Amazona Enterprises, as announced on July 15, 2026.

U.S. tungsten export restrictions

Vault Strategic Mining welcomes the reported decision by the United States government to impose a one-year restriction on the export of tungsten waste and scrap. The measure, expected to take effect in late August, 2026, is intended to retain strategically important tungsten-bearing material within the United States, strengthen domestic recycling and processing capacity, and reduce reliance on foreign-controlled critical mineral supply chains. The company believes this latest action further demonstrates the growing importance of tungsten to U.S. national security, defence manufacturing and advanced industrial applications.

Although the restriction specifically applies to recycled tungsten waste and scrap rather than newly mined tungsten products, Vault believes it reflects a broader federal commitment to securing reliable domestic sources of this strategically important metal. This evolving policy environment underscores the potential relevance of the company's historical War Bond, Tactite and Thursday tungsten mines in Nevada.

War Bond tungsten project: historical context

The War Bond claim package consists of 20 unpatented lode mining claims, covering approximately 400 acres, located in the Delaware mining district of western Nevada. The land package includes the historical War Bond tungsten mine and the Tactite and Thursday historical tungsten workings and historical tungsten mine area.

Available on-line historical records appear to use War Bond, Tactite, Thursday, Old Discovery and Knight claims as related or overlapping names within a broader tungsten occurrence rather than as distinct modern projects. Western Mining History's MRDS-derived War Bond mine record identifies War Bond as a tungsten mine in Douglas county, Nevada, and lists Tactite & Thursday, Old Discovery, and Knight claims as secondary names.

A separate MRDS-derived War Bond tungsten mine record identifies Tactite & Thursday, the Old Discovery claim, the Knight claims, the Tungsten Valley claim, the Yellow Problem claim, and the Margret claim as related secondary names. That record also identifies Carson Tungsten Co. as owner, with an information year of 1952, and lists the operation category as past producer.

Historical descriptions indicate that tungsten mineralization in the area is associated with scheelite-bearing tactite or skarn developed near granite-limestone contacts. The Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology publication Mineral Resources of Douglas, Ormsby and Washoe Counties describes the Tactite & Thursday claim as located about 15 miles southeast of Carson City in Section 9, T. 14 N., R. 21 E., and states that scheelite occurs in a small tactite area near a granite-limestone contact.

The MRDS-derived Tactite & Thursday record describes the occurrence as a tungsten skarn with scheelite as mineral and epidote, garnet, quartz and calcite as gangue minerals. The same record reports two principal mineralized areas, including a western zone with scheelite in narrow widths up to 0.3 per cent WO3 (tungsten trioxide) and an eastern zone where scheelite is reported in small shoots with values ranging from 0.25 per cent to 0.45 per cent WO3 over widths of four to eight feet.

Historical assay and laboratory records in the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Digital Library file titled Preliminary Examination of Tactite and Thursday Group include selected and dump sample results from 1942 and 1943. The file reports a selected sample from the upper location hole on Tactite claim No. 1 at 14.40 per cent WO3, two additional 1942 samples reporting 0.8 per cent WO3 and 0.9 per cent WO3, and a 1943 University of Nevada State Analytical Mining Laboratory report describing metamorphosed rock with garnet and traces of scheelite reporting 0.35 per cent WO3.

Historical production-related references are limited but relevant for exploration context. The War Bond mine MRDS-derived record lists production for 1953, a time period of 1952 to 1953 and a reported grade description of approximately 0.3 per cent to 0.45 per cent WO3. The Tactite & Thursday MRDS-derived record further states that a 250-ton test lot of material averaging 0.3 per cent WO3 was mined from the Old Discovery East pit.

Collectively, these records describe a historically explored tungsten skarn system with documented scheelite-bearing tactite mineralization, surface workings, sampling, and limited historical mining or test-lot production.

Historical information and exploration context

The mineral properties comprising the company's portfolio have been the subject of extensive historical exploration, development work and, in several cases, past production. The historical exploration results, sampling, drilling and other technical information referenced herein were completed prior to the adoption of NI 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and do not comply with current NI 43-101 requirements. As a result, such historical information should not be relied upon. While this historical information is non-compliant, it is considered highly relevant for exploration targeting, geological interpretation, and the design of modern exploration and evaluation programs.

Management believes that the existence of extensive historical work and past production creates a compelling foundation for modern exploration, particularly when reassessed using contemporary geological models, exploration technologies, metallurgical processes and prevailing commodity prices. However, readers are cautioned that historical results, resources or economic conclusions cannot be verified or confirmed at this time.

To define current mineral resources, assess metallurgy and evaluate economic viability, the company will be required to complete confirmation drilling, modern metallurgical studies, updated technical evaluations, and NI 43-101-compliant mineral resource estimates and feasibility or economic studies. There is no assurance that historical results will be confirmed or that any project will advance to economic viability.

About Vault Strategic Mining Corp.

Vault Strategic Mining 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.

Vault Strategic Mining trades on the TSX Venture Exchange (symbol: KNOX), the OTCID (symbol: KNXFF) and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (symbol: M850).

Data verification

Historical information referenced in this release has been reviewed against available reports; however, such data cannot be independently verified to current NI 43-101 standards and quality control procedures and are therefore considered supportive for exploration guidance only. The company cautions that past results or production from properties in proximity to the company may not necessarily be indicative of mineralization on the company's properties.

Qualified person

William Feyerabend, CPG, an independent consulting geologist and a qualified person as defined under NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the disclosure in this news release for consistency with NI 43-101 reporting requirements.