Mr. Quinn Field-Dyte reports

VAULT STRATEGIC COMPLETES PHASE 1 AND PREPARES FOR PHASE 2 OF ITS MAIDEN EXPLORATION PROGRAM AT THE WAR BOND HISTORICAL TUNGSTEN MINE, NEVADA

Vault Strategic Mining Corp. has completed phase 1 of its maiden exploration program at its War Bond tungsten project, which includes the historical War Bond tungsten mine, the historical Tactite tungsten mine and the historical Thursday tungsten mine, located in Nevada, United States.

Nevada was ranked as the No. 1 mining jurisdiction in the Fraser Institute's Annual Survey of Mining Companies released on Feb. 26, 2026.

The company has completed its initial phase 1 reconnaissance and sampling program, which included the collection of 42 rock and geochemical samples. The program also included preliminary fieldwork and logistical planning to support an anticipated coming phase 2 exploration program, for which preparations are now under way. The samples will be submitted to ALS Geochemistry in Reno, Nev., for a complete suite of traditional and strategic metals and indicator elements.

"Completing phase 1 at War Bond is an important first step for Vault as we begin applying modern exploration methods to a historical tungsten district in Nevada," said Quinn Field-Dyte, chief executive officer of Vault Strategic Mining.

"The initial reconnaissance and sampling program, consisting of 42 rock and geochemical samples and field examination across the War Bond, Tactite and Thursday historical tungsten mine areas, has provided the company with valuable field-level information as we work to verify and consolidate historical data. With phase 1 now complete, preparations are under way for a phase 2 exploration program, which is expected to build on these results through continued field validation, refined target assessment and disciplined advancement toward drill target generation."

Maiden exploration program

The proposed field program, which the company is fully funded to execute on, will focus on modern geological evaluation of the historical War Bond tungsten system. The proposed scope includes:

• Detailed mapping where outcropping of the intrusive-carbonate contact and skarn zoning, including garnet-, epidote- and scheelite-bearing zones;
• Surface verification of historical zones, including accessible pits, workings and mine dumps and soil sampling;
• Channel sampling across tactite and adjacent structures with soil traverses across intriguing prospects hidden under pediment and soil-covered zones with appropriate quality assurance/quality control procedures;
• Portable ultraviolet work to evaluate scheelite distribution and as test in soils;
• Structural measurements to help constrain mineralized controls, plunge and potential extensions;
• Development of high-priority drill targets, including co-ordinates, sections and conceptual collar locations.

Historical War Bond tungsten mine

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.

The War Bond tungsten project includes the historical War Bond, Tactite and Thursday tungsten mine areas in western Nevada. Available on-line historical records appear to treat the War Bond, Tactite, Thursday, Old Discovery and Knight claims as related or overlapping property names within the same broader tungsten occurrence area rather than as fully separate modern projects. Western Mining History's MRDS-derived (Mineral Resources Data System) War Bond mine record identifies the War Bond mine as a tungsten mine in Douglas county, Nevada, and lists the 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.

Based on these historical records, the project represents a historically explored tungsten skarn system with documented scheelite-bearing tactite mineralization, historical surface workings, historical 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 National Instrument 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.

In order 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.

We seek Safe Harbor.