American Pacific Welcomes Launch of US “Project Vault” Strategic Critical Minerals Reserve and Highlights Potential Role of its Madison Copper-Gold Project, Montana
American Pacific Welcomes Launch of US “Project Vault” Strategic Critical Minerals Reserve and
Highlights Potential Role of its Madison Copper-Gold Project, Montana
Vancouver, British Columbia – February 3, 2026 —American Pacific Mining Corp. (CSE: USGD /
OTCQX: USGDF / FSE: 1QC1) (“American Pacific”, or the “Company”) is pleased to comment on the
Trump Administration’s newly announced strategic critical minerals reserve, “Project Vault,” and
the potential implications for the Company’s Madison Copper-Gold Project (“Madison” or the
“Project”) in Montana, USA.
On February 2, US President Donald Trump announced the creation of Project Vault, a first-of-its-
kind strategic stockpile of critical minerals, including copper, intended to reduce US reliance on
foreign supply chains and shield domestic manufacturers from supply disruptions. Project Vault is
expected to be funded with approximately US $12 billion, which includes a US $10 billion loan from
the US Export-Import Bank (EXIM) and up to US $2 billion of private-sector investment, and is
designed to function in a manner similar to the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve, but focused on
critical and strategic metals, including copper.
The initiative aims to divert mineral supply chains away from China and other dominant producers,
with an emphasis on critical and strategic metals essential to the automotive, aerospace,
technology and energy sectors. Project Vault is expected to support long-term security of supply by
building and managing an emergency source of key minerals and by catalyzing investment in
reliable production in the US and allied jurisdictions.
“Once again, President Trump and the current administration are shining an important light on the
need for more critical metals within the United States. We believe that this new policy enhances
the strategic relevance of our Madison Project, a high-grade, past-producing copper and gold
project located in a historic mining district in Montana,” commented American Pacific CEO,
Warwick Smith. “As a key metal of electrification, transmission infrastructure and a myriad of
industrial applications, copper has become increasingly important to the energy transition and
advanced manufacturing. Madison, with its existing underground development, high-grade copper-
gold mineralization and proximity to infrastructure, is well aligned to benefit from Project Vault and
the associated push to secure domestic critical metals supply. We thank the Trump administration
for their continued support of the metals and mining industry.”
The Company anticipates several potential avenues where Project Vault could positively impact
Madison’s development over time, including but not limited to, increased private and government
investments, enhanced strategic partnerships and offtake frameworks that favour projects in US
jurisdictions; and an accelerated permitting environment.
Management believes Madison has the potential, with continued advancement, to become a
meaningful future contributor to the US copper supply chain that Project Vault is designed to
support.
American Pacific will continue to monitor the rollout of Project Vault and any associated programs
or incentives applicable to US copper and precious metals projects.
About the Madison Copper-Gold Project
The Madison Project was host to small-scale production that concluded in 2012, with 2.7 million
pounds of copper produced at grades ranging from 20-35% copper. Subsequent drilling at Madison
in 2017 included 30.18 metres of 24.50 g/t gold and 0.39% copper and 10.97 metres of 41.65 g/t
gold and 0.38% copper (UG17-05 and UG17-06, respectively). Additional production at the nearby
Broadway/Hudson Mines is reported to total ~147,000 ounces gold at 9.9 g/t and recent drilling
has provided substantial evidence to demonstrate a structural and stratigraphic link connected the
past-producing, which are located along the same northwest-trending corridor of altered quartz
monzonite and associated skarn that is now understood to be a part of the same mineralizing
system. Full disclosure can be found in the Company’s NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Madison
Project (americanpacificmining.com).
About American Pacific Mining Corp.
American Pacific Mining Corp. is a precious and base metals explorer and developer focused on
opportunities in the Western United States. The Company ’s flagship asset is the 100% -owned
past-producing Madison Copper-Gold Project in Montana. For the Madison transaction, American
Pacific was selected as a finalist in both 2021 and 2022 for ‘Deal of the Year’ at the S&P Global
Platts Metals Awards, an annual program that recognizes exemplary accomplishments in 16
performance categories. Through a 2025 transaction with Vizsla Copper, American Pacific has
established a major equity position milestone upside exposure to the advanced exploration stage
Palmer Copper-Zinc VMS Project in Alaska. Also, in American Pacific’s portfolio are several high-
grade, precious metals projects located in key mining districts in Nevada, some on which the
Company intends to transact. The Company’s mission is to provide shareholders discovery and
exploration upside exposure across its portfolio through partnersh ips, spin -outs and direct
exploration.
American Pacific is incorporated pursuant to the laws of British Columbia and its head office is
located at Suite 910 – 510 Burrard Street Vancouver, BC, V6C 3A8.
On behalf of the American Pacific Mining Corp Board of Directors:
Warwick Smith, CEO & Director
Corporate Office: Suite 910 – 510 Burrard Street
Vancouver, BC, V6C 3A8 Canada
Investor relations contact:
Kristina Pillon, High Tide Consulting Corp.
604.908.1695 / [email protected]
Media relations contact:
Adam Bello, Primoris Group Inc.
416.489.0092 / [email protected]
Full disclosure can be found in our NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Madison Project at
www.americanpacificmining.com.
The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this
news release.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This news release includes certain statements and information that constitute forward -looking
information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements in this news release,
other than statements of historical facts, are forward -looking statements. Such forward -looking
statements and forward-looking information specifically include, but are not limited to, statements that
relate to the completion of the transaction, and timely receipt of all necessary approvals.
Any statements or information that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations,
beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always,
using words or phrases such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "estimates", "intends",
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actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the
negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be
considered forward-looking information. The Company's forward-looking information is based on the
assumptions, beliefs, expectations and opinions of management as of the date of this press release and
include but are not limited to information with respect to, the transaction and receipt of all necessary
approvals therefor. Other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume
any obligation to update forward -looking information if circumstances or management's assumptions,
beliefs, expectations or opinions should change, or changes in any other events affecting such statements
or information. For the reasons set forth above, investors should not place undue reliance on forward -
looking information.