Vault Enters in to Agreement FOR Option to Acquire Portfolio of US Historical Mining Assets and Corresponding Historical Databases
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News Release January 20, 2026
VAULT ENTERS IN TO AGREEMENT FOR OPTION TO ACQUIRE
PORTFOLIO OF US HISTORICAL MINING ASSETS AND
CORRESPONDING HISTORICAL DATABASES
Vancouver, British Columbia - January 20, 2026 – Vault Strategic Mining Corp . (TSXV:KNOX)
(OTC:KNXFF) (FSE:M85) ( "VAULT" or the "Company") announces it has entered into an Option
Agreement with two arms length vendors who granted the Company an exclusive option (the “ Option”)
to acquire an undivided 100% interest in a portfolio of four (4) mineral exploration projects consisting of
Historical Mines across the Western United States with a strategic focus on Silver, Gold and Tungsten-
Beryllium. Included in the Option are historical data for each of the project s for the basis of creating the
Company’s 2025 and beyond exploration plans.
The Portfolio Historical Mining Assets (and Datasets) are as follows:
• Mia Silver Project – Idaho, USA
o Historical Data: Historical US Bureau of Mines Report, various reports
• Mount Wheeler Historical Tungsten Mine – Nevada, USA
o Historical Data: Historical Mining Data, Historical Resource, Historical Feasibility
Study, various reports
• Robinson Dyke Historical Gold Mine - Idaho USA
o Historical Data: Historical Mining Data, Historical Resource, various reports.
• Golden Dome Historical Gold Mine – California, USA
o Historical Data: Historical Resource, various reports
R. Nick Horsley, Chief Executive Officer of Vault states "The acquisition of these four projects benefits
from extensive historic exploration, including sampling, drilling, mapping, feasibility studies, and resource
estimations that document established mineralization across the properties. The depth of this work provides
immediate value and establishes a strong foundation for rediscovery.
Mia Silver Project – Idaho, USA
Mineralization was first discovered in the Seafoam district in the 1880s, with early work confined to small-
scale “high grading.” The current property was consolidated and held by Northwest Minerals Development
Corporation in the early 1980s with the intent to conduct modern, systematic exploration.
As reported by Northwest Mineral Development1:
1 https://www.idahogeology.org/Uploads/Data/MineDocs/CH0234_002.pdf ( Page 1)
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Reported in the U.S. Bureau of Mines report (1983) 2 and the report of Michael R. Free, Consulting
Geologist, (1984) were assays as high as:
1.10 ounces/ton Gold and 92.30 ounces/ton silver3
Other assays have been taken as high as: 178.00-ounces/ton silver
In 1982, the U.S. Bureau of Mines examined the claims in conjunction with regional studies, and their
sampling confirmed the area’s mineral potential. Subsequently, in 1983, consulting geologist Michael R.
Free conducted a detailed property examination and sampling program which identified several anomalous
targets.
Highlights from this historical work include:
Longshot No. 34
The Longshot No. 3 claim is developed by several trenches along a shear zone. Samples 1102 and 1111 are
taken from a trench cut in a fissure zone approximately 8 feet thick trending N 15 W 82 NE. The central
four feet in the fissure zone was covered with rubble and not sampled. Samples were cut from iron stained,
silicified granodiorite along the sides of the trench. An unidentified greenish -yellow mineral, probably
cerargyrite, was present in 1102. The results are as follows:
Sample No. Width, Feet Au oz/t Ag oz/ton
1102 6 .087 1.16
1111 6 .034 .14
Longshot No. 15
Samples 1103 through 1110 are from surface and underground workings on the Longshot No. 1 claim.
Sample 1103, which includes a shear trending N 61 E 90, and 1104 are from a trench in the lower workings
above a probably caved Adit. The samples were cut from a highly fractured, silicified, porous zone with
strong limonite staining and a greenish-yellow alteration mineral, probably cerargyrite. Approximately 130
feet up the hill from the lower working is t he middle Adit, from which samples 1105 and 1106 were
collected. Sample 1105 was cut from a three -foot quartz vein trending N 40 W 80 NE. This vein fault
contacts decomposed granodiorite, sample 1106. Samples 1107 through 1110 are from iron stained silicified
zones on the surface in the vicinity of the middle Adit portal. Sample 1108 was cut from a shear containing
limonite and cerargyrite(?). The results are as follows:
Sample No. Width, Feet Au oz/t Ag oz/ton
1103 3 .432 14.8
2 https://www.idahogeology.org/Uploads/Data/USBM-Publications/MLA_87-83.pdf (Page 24-25
3 https://www.idahogeology.org/Uploads/Data/MineDocs/CH0234_002.pdf (Page 1)
4https://www.idahogeology.org/Uploads/Data/MineDocs/CH0234_003.pdf (Page 7)
5 https://www.idahogeology.org/Uploads/Data/MineDocs/CH0234_003.pdf (Page 7 and 8)
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1104 Grab .775 6.65
1105 3 .359 3.97
1106 Grab .008 .27
1107 2.2 .047 .37
1108 .5 .079 11.82
1109 20 .132 2.71
1110 8 .206 5.10
Canary Yellow6
The Canary Yellow claim is developed by two possible caved adits covered by talus adjacent to granodiorite
host rock. Small masses of schist, sample 1115, occur within the granodiorite. Sample 1112 is a grab of
talus fines from above the lower caved Adit. Samples 1113 and 1114 are grab samples from the upper Adit
dump and 1116 is a selective grab of a greenish yellow mineral (cerargyrite ?) and mimetite from the lower
dump. Dump rocks consist of silicified, limonite stained, brecciated granodiorite and quartz vein with minor
pyrite and traces of chalcopyrite and galena (?). Mimetite, identified by ' x-ray detraction, was common in
much of the dump rocks. Results of these samples are as follows:
Sample No. Width, Feet Au oz/t Ag oz/ton
1112 Grab .010 1.75
1113 Grab .035 7.44
1114 Grab .116 56.2
1115 10 .005 .21
1116 Grab .153 .37
Betty Ruth No. 17
The Betty Ruth No. 1 claim is developed by several adits and pits Samples 1117 and 1118 are from the
fissure vein trending N 45 W 65 NE above the portal of the upper Adit 1118 is a quartz vein within 1117.
Sample 1119 is a select grab of dump float from the upper Adit. The structure is strongly silicified and
carries limonite, pyrite, and minor amounts of sphalerite(?), chalcopyrite and ga lena(?). Sample 1120 is
from the silicified quartz fissure vein at the lower Adit portal. Sample 1121 is from a pit 100 feet south of
6 https://www.idahogeology.org/Uploads/Data/MineDocs/CH0234_003.pdf (Page 8 and 9)
7 https://www.idahogeology.org/Uploads/Data/MineDocs/CH0234_003.pdf (Page 9)
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the lower Adit, and consists of silicified, brecciated granodiorite with pyrite blebs and copper oxides.
Sample results are as follows:
Sample No. Width, Feet Au oz/t Ag oz/ton
1117 6 .139 32.90
1118 2.5 .173 9.43
1119 Select Grab .149 42.95
1120 5 .021 .39
1121 Grab .074 .37
Golden Promise8
The Golden Promise claims developed by a series of three pits and/or trenches that trend in a westerly
direction up the hill slope. The upper pit consists of several trenches and pits running about 60 feet along
the hillside contour. The middle pit is about-200 feet down slope from the upper pit and 400 feet up slope
from the lower pit. There are no outcrop exposures on the hillside except in the pits. Pit dumps all contain
quite similar rocks and are likely along the same fissure system. Mineralization includes massive quartz
vein with disseminated fine grain sulfides and brecciated, spongy (frothy) siliceous quartz vein with strong
iron and copper(?) oxides. Sample 1122 is from the lower pit, lla3 from the middle pit and samples 1124
and 1125 from the upper pit. Sample 1124 is a "quartz vein" that crops out in the pit . Sam ple 1124 is a
"quartz vein" that crops out in the pit . Sample results are as follows:
Sample No. Width, Feet Au oz/t Ag oz/ton
1122 Grab .008 .06
1123 Grab .104 .95
1124 2.5 .219 1.8
1125 Grab .174 2.20
8 https://www.idahogeology.org/Uploads/Data/MineDocs/CH0234_003.pdf (Page 9-10)
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Figure 1. Historical Mia Silver Claims and Sampling Locations9
Based on these results, a comprehensive, two -stage exploration program including geophysics, diamond
drilling and road construction were planned for 1984. The exploration program from available data appears
to not have been conducted.
9 https://www.idahogeology.org/Uploads/Data/MineDocs/CH0234_001.pdf
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Mount Wheeler Historical Tungsten Mine – Nevada, USA
The main period of activity began with the discovery of tungsten in 1950. Between 1952 and 1955, Mt.
Wheeler Mines, Inc., under a Defence Minerals Exploration Administration (“DMEA”) contract. Between
1952 and 1954, 1,800 tons of rock averaging 1.3% WO3 was extracted and milled at Minerva, Nevada,
with 75% DMEA sponsorship10. The average grade of all rock mined from the Pole adit zone is about .5%
WO3 as shown by the production figures.11
A feasibility study titled “Feasibility Study Mt. Wheeler Mine Beryllium project” was commissioned in
1972 by W.S. Moore Co. which states that “Milling was successfully piloted by the C olorado School of
Mines”12 “From 1959 to 1962, largely through the efforts of the Anaconda Company, an additional 4,475
feet of laterals and sub drifts were driven. Approximately 1,000 samples were taken.” 13 An indicated
Tungsten-Beryllium resource was prepared.
Figure 2. Department of Interior – Bureau of Mines “Mine and Prospect Map of Wheeler Park”14
The access roads to the mine are all blacktopped except for the last five-mile stretch which is gravel.
10 Mount Wheeler Mine, Mount Washington, Mount Washington Mining District (Lincoln Mining District), Snake
Range, White Pine County, Nevada, USA
11 Mount Wheeler Mine, Mount Washington, Mount Washington Mining District (Lincoln Mining District), Snake
Range, White Pine County, Nevada, USA (Page 7)
12 download.php (Page 5)
13 download.php (Page 8)
14mla_56-83.pdf (Page 29)
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Robinson Dyke Historical Gold Mine - Idaho USA
According to the report: Mineral Resources of the Jersey Jack Study Area, Idaho County, Idaho dated 1991
by Terry R. Neumann and Terry J. Close commissioned by the United States Department of the Interior 15
reported the history of the Robinson Dike and Gold Leaf Claims are as follows:
“The Robinson Dike mine is located near the headwaters of Comstock Creek, 3.4 mi (Forest Service Road
211) south of Dixie. The property was originally located in 1904 by Louis Larsen, who staked the Gold Hill
group of claims. Larsen sold the claims in 1907 to Brown and Cox, who sold the claims in 1934 to the
Robinson Mining & Milling Company. At this time the property was increased to ten claims, and a 50 -
ton/day, steam-powered ball mill, flotation units, and cyanide leach tanks were built. The mill operated
during the mining seasons of 1935 and 1936, treating 35 to 40 tons of rock per day; a recovery of 95%
assaying $2.40/ton was reported (Capps and Roberts, 1939). Historical records indicate that underground
development consisted of five adits totaling about 1,600 ft; most of the workings were caved and
inaccessible by 1934 (Livingston, 1934). An open pit was excavated in 1935, and in 1937 an 80-ft crosscut
was driven from the open pit diagonally across the deposit. USBM records report 2,839 tons of material
processed in the years 1935-36 yielded 66.8 oz of gold and 16 oz of silver.”
Figure 3. Aerial view of the Robinson Dike Mine, looking west16
15 report (Page 31-34)
16 See Report (Page 34)
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An open pit was excavated in 1935, and in 1937 an 80-ft crosscut was driven from the open pit diagonally
across the body. USBM records report 2,839 tons processed in the years 1935 -36 yielded 66.8 oz of gold
and 16 oz of silver.”
Golden Dome Historical Gold Mine – California, USA
The Golden Dome prospect was explored extensively by Hecla Mining, Amselco Minerals, and
subsequently Tenneco Minerals during the 1980s and early 1990s. Drilling by Hecla successfully defined
a historical resource 17. Tenneco Minerals later acquired the project and planned an open -pit operation
targeting 30,000 40,000 ounces of gold per year 18, though the project did not advance to production. The
project was reportedly sold by Hecla for $2 million.
Figure 4. Photo taken during site visit at Golden Dome Historical Gold Deposit, California Geology19
17 file regdev86- (Page 17) MINERALS MINING AND ENERGY IN IDAHO, 1986 - Idaho Geological
18 Tenneco opens Fondaway mine - The Northern Miner - February 5, 1990
19 Golden-Dome.pdf Exploration of a High -Sulfidation Epithermal Deposit within the Antelope Valley Volcanic
Center, Sierra County California by Sommer M. Cassidy & Hanna M. Aird (7 Pages)