Vertical Exploration Signs NDA with Mineraux Mart for Further Development of Industrial Products and Provides Shareholder Update
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Vertical Exploration Signs NDA with Mineraux Mart for Further
Development of Industrial Products and Provides Shareholder Update
VANCOUVER, BC / December 14th, 2023 / VERTICAL EXPLORATION INC. (TSX-V: VERT)
("Vertical" or "the Company") is pleased to announce that it has signed a Non-Disclosure
Agreement (NDA) with Mineraux Mart Inc. related to the further testing and development of
specialized industrial and agricultural products utilizing the Company’s premium grade
wollastonite. The Company also wishes to provide an update to its shareholders summarizing
its operations and activities this past year related to the advancement of the Company’s St-
Onge wollastonite deposit located near Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec.
Vertical and Mineraux Mart have been working together since this past summer when the two
companies formed a Strategic Alliance (see Vertical’s June 22nd, 2023 news release) in order to
research, test, and develop new products and applications for its St-Onge wollastonite for a
number of emerging industrial and agricultural markets. Vertical subsequently delivered a 29
tonne shipment of its premium wollastonite to Mineraux Mart, and Mineraux Mart has been
meticulously testing out Vertical’s wollastonite and working to develop new products in
conjunction with its related company Bécancour Transformation Services Inc. (STB) and some
of its partners and global manufacturers such as Elkem, Amcol, Covia, Larpen,
Heraeus/Electro-Nite and Ask Chemicals. The newly signed NDA further strengthens the
Strategic Alliance formed by Vertical and Mineraux Mart, and allows both companies to share
proprietary product and testing information to help accelerate the development of high-value
industrial and agricultural products. Vertical is pleased with the progress of its product testing
and development work to date with Mineraux Mart, and the Company is optimistic that the
Strategic Alliance will lead to the development of commercial-ready products in the first half of
2024.
Vertical Partnerships and Operations Update
In addition to the ongoing partnership and development work underway with Mineraux Mart,
Vertical has been continuing its in-depth discussions and testing work with the major European
firm that approached the Company this past summer (see Vertical’s September 19th, 2023 news
release). The European firm, which has already had key personnel visit the St-Onge quarry
site, is focused on rigorously sampling and testing out the Company’s premium wollastonite for
commercial use in a number of innovative industrial markets that it serves. Vertical and the
major European firm have continued to work diligently over the past few months to firm up the
product methodologies and required protocols in order to fine tune the leading-edge industrial
products intended for European and other international markets. Vertical continues to believe
that this current collaboration can develop into a significant partnership or offtake agreement in
the new year.
In regard to operations at the St-Onge quarry site over the past year, Vertical and its mining
operations partner Magnor Exploration (Magnor) have continued to invest in infrastructure and
make necessary site improvements to ensure the Company is positioned for growth in both
operations and sales in 2024. This investment has included the purchase of highly specialized
screening and crushing equipment by Magnor in order to service niche markets and clients,
ongoing road and perimeter fencing upgrades and the development of a new settling pond to
ensure the site meets the highest regulatory standards. Vertical anticipates that additional
equipment upgrades and site improvements will be required and undertaken throughout the first
half of 2024.
Vertical’s research and development work with Agrinova (Centre for Research and Innovation
for Agriculture in Quebec) continued in 2023, as part of Agrinova’s NSERC RDA project titled
“Experimentation of agricultural, forestry and environmental applications of new wollastonite-
based products”. During this second year of the project, oats, barley, and potato plots were
planted in a sandy field, while established grass forage trials were conducted in a neighbouring
field. These two fields located in Lac Saint-Jean were chosen because their pH, Calcium,
Magnesium and Silica values were considered low, thereby allowing Agrinova to assess the
impact of wollastonite inputs as a liming agent and crop supplement in a nutrient-deficient
context. Treatments, including Vertical’s wollastonite, apatite and controls of granular lime and
conventional fertilizers, were applied in spring and measurements were taken during the season
and samples were harvested in accordance with the management of these crops. Agrinova will
compile and interpret the results of these crop trials and provide its report to Vertical in the first
quarter of 2024. Additionally, a planting of black spruce seedlings treated with Vertical’s
wollastonite, apatite and controls was carried out at a nearby mining site in the Saguenay region
and a trial application of wollastonite was also applied to the base of established maple trees.
These two trials will also be followed up and documented during the 2024 season, and a full
plan will be drawn up in early 2024 to determine future crop experiments utilizing Vertical’s
wollastonite in the final year of the project.
Finally, Vertical is gratified to have received confirmation this year that its premium Global
Wollastonite Agricultural Calcium Silicate product from St-Onge meets the highest organic and
agricultural standards possible. This includes first receiving organic certification approval from
the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) for both USA and Canada in three classes this
past March (see Vertical’s March 28th, 2023 news release), followed by its recent approval from
Ecocert Canada (see Vertical’s October 24th, 2023 news release) confirming that Vertical’s
wollastonite product is now an input approved for organic agriculture, and that it is compliant
with CAN/CGSB-32.310 and CAN/CGSB-32.311 (categories which include substances that may
be used for organic crop production as soil amendments). In order to achieve these prestigious
organic certifications, both Vertical’s St-Onge wollastonite product and the Company’s quarry
operations underwent a number of rigorous independent review processes. These independent
reviews also required Vertical to undertake extensive lab analysis at multiple acclaimed labs in
Canada including A&L Canada Laboratories and CARO Analytical Services. In all cases
Vertical’s St-Onge wollastonite exceeded the required standards for low levels of heavy metals
such as cadmium, mercury and lead, while at the same time containing high levels of valuable
plant available calcium and silica. Vertical’s OMRI and Ecocert Canada certifications and
related lab analysis results can be found under the Certifications section on the Company’s
website (www.vertxinc.com).
Peter P. Swistak, President/CEO of Vertical Exploration Inc., commented: “2023 has truly been
a year of transformation for Vertical, as we have made significant progress in all areas of the
Company including site operation advancements, important additions to the Advisory Board,
third-party product certifications, high-level rigorous testing and product development, and most
importantly the development of new Canadian and international alliances and partnerships that
should serve to unlock the significant potential and value of the Company’s world class St-Onge
wollastonite deposit. We are excited for what the new year could bring to the Company and
wish to thank all of our loyal shareholders and partners for their continued support throughout
the past year. Let’s bring on 2024!”
ABOUT VERTICAL EXPLORATION
Vertical Exploration’s mission is to identify, acquire, and advance high potential mining
prospects located in North America for the benefit of its stakeholders. The Company’s flagship
St-Onge Wollastonite property is located in the Lac-Saint-Jean area in the Province of Quebec.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
Peter P. Swistak, President/CEO
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Telephone: 1-604-683-3995
Toll Free: 1-888-945-4770
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in
the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of
this release.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release contains forward-looking statements,
which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management’s current
expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management’s current
beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the
Company. Investors are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor
guarantees and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ
materially from those expected. These forward -looking statements are made as of the date hereof
and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume
any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. All the forward-
looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and by
those made in our filings with SEDAR in Canada (available at WWW.SEDAR.COM).