<div id="readability-page-1"><div><div> Issued on behalf of Ares Strategic Mining Inc. Vancouver – Baystreet.ca News Commentary – The narrative has shifted from &#34;Green Energy&#34; to &#34;Industrial Survival.&#34; S&amp;P Global projects a massive 10 million metric ton copper deficit by 2040[1], but this is just the first domino in a broader supply chain collapse. The same physical shortages plaguing copper are now fracturing the markets for uranium[2] and specialized defense minerals, forcing a repricing of assets that can guarantee domestic delivery. This structural scarcity is directing institutional flows into Ares Strategic Mining Inc. (CSE: ARS) (OTCQX: ARSMF), MAX Power Mining (CSE: MAXX) (OTCID: MAXXF), ATEX Resources (TSXV: ATV) (OTCQB: ATXRF), CanAlaska Uranium (TSXV: CVV) (OTCQX: CVVUF), and Vizsla Copper (TSXV: VCU) (OTCQB: VCUFF). The setup is creating a unified &#34;Security Premium.&#34; With critical mineral supply chains facing unprecedented concentration risks[3], Western industry is aggressively consolidating capital into discovery-stage assets located in stable regulatory corridors. Whether for copper grids or defense manufacturing, the market is rewarding capital-efficient projects with clear permitting visibility[4], shifting the focus from speculative exploration to execution-ready platforms that solve the immediate deficit. Ares Strategic Mining (CSE: ARS) (OTCQX: ARSMF) has been awarded a Pentagon contract to supply acid-grade fluorspar to the U.S. Department of Defense. The multi-year deal carries an initial value of $169 million, with potential task orders reaching $250 million over five years through an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity agreement. The contract establishes Ares as the sole domestic supplier of acidspar to the U.S. government, supporting the replenishment of strategic mineral stockpiles. &#34;This is the kind of contract that transforms companies, and secures the future of U.S. industry,&#34; said James Walker, CEO of Ares Strategic Mining. &#34;We're not just producing fluorspar; we're helping build a more resilient and secure domestic supply chain for critical minerals.&#34; The contract addresses a significant supply chain vulnerability. The United States currently imports 100% of its fluorspar, a critical mineral used in steel production, lithium-ion batteries, semiconductors, defense systems, and nuclear fuel development. Ares operates the Lost Sheep mine in Utah, the only permitted fluorspar operation in the United States. Recent operational progress supports the production timeline. In December, Ares completed major infrastructure work at both its underground mine and Delta, Utah processing facility. The company completed the installation of its ramp and adit system to intersect giant, high-grade, fluorspar orebodies, and advanced construction at its processing plant where foundations and the assembly of the mechanical plant components was completed, as well as digging out the ponds. The Company is in the final stages of fitting the electrics and Control and Instrumentation systems to the assembled plant to enable first production and the commencement of the manufacturing operation. The company is building two plants that will produce both metallurgical-grade and acid-grade fluorspar, with an initial production output of 50,000 tons per year, which has the potential to be increased with the installation of additional ramps at Ares’ district scale fluorspar project. In November, the company completed its secondary ventilation system, meeting the final regulatory requirement for industrial-scale operations. The 75-horsepower system delivers 30,000 cubic feet per minute of airflow in compliance with Mine Safety and Health Administration standards. Financing has proceeded through non-dilutive structures. Ares closed its LIFE offering in October, raising $10.5 million total. Sharing agreements with UK firm Sorbie Bornholm delivered approximately $3.66 million in additional capital through hedging arrangements tied to the company's share price performance. The structure has delivered returns of 180% and 266% on Sorbie's initial $1 million investment without issuing new shares, with funds accelerating construction of the Acidspar Flotation Plant. The Lost Sheep project encompasses 5,982 acres across 353 claims in Juab County, Utah. Beyond fluorspar, the company has identified germanium and gallium in its ore through a research partnership with Iowa State University and Ames National Laboratory. Both minerals appear on U.S. critical supply risk lists, and gallium has not been produced domestically since 1987. CONTINUED… Read this and more news for Ares Strategic Mining at: https://usanewsgroup.com/2024/04/29/this-company-is-bringing-essential-mining-back-to-the-u-s-fueled-by-government-action/ In other industry developments and happenings in the market include: MAX Power Mining (CSE: MAXX) (OTCID: MAXXF) has confirmed Canada's first natural hydrogen drilling discovery at Lawson, establishing hydrogen concentrations up to 286,000 ppm in the company's first well on the 475-km-long Genesis Trend in Saskatchewan. The discovery features free-flowing hydrogen to surface and reservoir drive at Lawson, accelerating the project beyond conceptual stage to resource modelling and commercial evaluation, with a confirmatory well planned during H1 2026 following upcoming 3D seismic survey to delineate the projected high purity apex of the structure. The Lawson discovery supports MAX Power's geological model for Natural Hydrogen accumulations and allows for potential repeatability and scalability across the 475-km-long Genesis Trend and elsewhere on the company's 1.3-million acre permitted land package. This Saskatchewan discovery marks a major milestone in the global development of an emerging clean energy source and underscores the scalability potential of Natural Hydrogen along an entire belt that stretches into Montana and the Dakotas. ATEX Resources (TSXV: ATV) (OTCQB: ATXRF) has announced additional high-grade assays from Phase VI drill hole ATXD26B at the Valeriano Copper-Gold Project, reporting an intercept of 88 metres of 2.70% copper equivalent including 1.61% copper and 0.99 g/t gold within broader intervals of 186m of 2.13% CuEq and 448m of 1.50% CuEq. The results confirm extension of the current limits of the B2B Zone by 100 meters down dip, with chalcopyrite and bornite mineralization intersected from approximately 1,050m to 1,400m downhole before entering well mineralized early porphyry. &#34;The continuation of drill results from ATXD26B has improved both the thickness and grades of the B2B breccia, reinforcing the continuity and growth potential of this high-grade zone,&#34; said Ben Pullinger, President and CEO of ATEX Resources. &#34;The robustness of this high-grade system continues to be shown through repeated intersections of consistent, high-grade mineralization, underscoring its potential to support further resource growth.&#34; The Phase VI drill program has six diamond drill rigs currently active on site and has achieved over half of the targeted 25,000 metres of exploration drilling. ATEX now sees a zone with approximate dimensions of 400 meters of strike, up to 200 meters in horizontal width and a vertical extent of 500 to 600 meters. CanAlaska Uranium (TSXV: CVV) (OTCQX: CVVUF) is planning significant exploration programs on multiple projects across its 500,000 hectare portfolio focused on the eastern Athabasca Basin, with winter drill programs starting in the coming weeks on the Key Extension and Nebula projects located immediately south of the Key Lake Mine and Mill. The Key Extension and Nebula drill programs will focus on a series of high-priority exploration target areas identified through recent airborne geophysical surveys, with the Company fully funded to complete its exploration programs in 2026. &#34;The CanAlaska portfolio of projects is a world class opportunity for discovery of new uranium deposits,&#34; said Cory Belyk, CEO of CanAlaska. &#34;The Nebula project targets outlined for 2026 represent some of the best early-stage Eagle Point uranium deposit style exploration discovery opportunities I have seen in my career.&#34; The Company is also evaluating ground-based electromagnetic surveys on the Waterbury South and Cree East projects and has approved a geophysical exploration program for the Moon Lake South Joint Venture with Denison Mines Corp. CanAlaska is advancing numerous priority targets to generate exploration drill opportunities across its extensive land position. Vizsla Copper (TSXV: VCU) (OTCQB: VCUFF) announced preparations are underway for an aggressive drill program at the Poplar Project in central British Columbia with up to 8,000 meters of drilling across approximately 16 drill holes. The program will focus on investigating the extent of the Thira porphyry copper-molybdenum discovery as well as evaluating new targets across the extensive eight-kilometer-long Thira alteration corridor. &#34;With a strong treasury, fantastic targets, and copper hitting $6 per pound, 2026 is shaping up to be the most exciting year to date for Vizsla Copper,&#34; said Craig Parry, Chairman and CEO of Vizsla Copper. &#34;Thira discovery expansion is up first for our year-round exploration plans for 2026.&#34; Two drill rigs are scheduled to mobilize in the coming weeks with drilling to commence in the first week of February. Vizsla Copper will investigate both the lateral and vertical extent of known copper-molybdenum mineralization at Thira while also testing two high-priority targets along trend from the discovery. CONTACT: Baystreet.ca [email protected] (805) 649-0042 Article Source: https://usanewsgroup.com/2024/04/29/this-company-is-bringing-essential-mining-back-to-the-u-s-fueled-by-government-action/ DISCLAIMER: Nothing in this publication should be considered as personalized financial advice. We are not licensed under securities laws to address your particular financial situation. No communication by our employees to you should be deemed as personalized financial advice. Please consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decision. This article is being published by Baystreet.ca Media Corp., which shares common ownership with Market IQ Media Group, Inc. (“MIQ”). MIQ was previously compensated by Ares Strategic Mining Inc. for advertising and digital media services, but that agreement has since expired. No compensation was received for the preparation or distribution of this article. However, due to the past financial relationship and current share ownership, a conflict of interest exists. There may also be third parties who own shares of Ares Strategic Mining Inc. and may liquidate their positions, which could negatively affect the stock price. The owner/operators of MIQ currently own shares of Ares Strategic Mining Inc., which were purchased in the open market and through private placements in the past, and reserve the right to buy or sell shares at any time without further notice commencing immediately and ongoing. All material, including this article, was previously approved by Ares Strategic Mining Inc. during the course of the original campaign. Readers should not rely solely on this communication for any investment decision and are encouraged to conduct their own due diligence. While all information is believed to be reliable, it is not guaranteed to be accurate. Individuals should assume that all information contained in this publication is not trustworthy unless verified through independent research. Because events and circumstances frequently do not occur as expected, there will likely be differences between any forward-looking statements and actual results. Always consult a licensed investment professional before making any investment decision. Investing in securities carries a high degree of risk and may result in the loss of some or all of your investment. SOURCES: 1. https://press.spglobal.com/2026-01-08-Substantial-Shortfall-in-Copper-Supply-Widens-as-the-Race-for-AI-and-Growing-Defense-Spending-Add-to-Accelerating-Demand,-New-S-P-Global-Study-Finds 2. https://www.mining.com/ai-boom-set-to-turbocharge-uranium-demand-in-2026/ 3. https://www.weforum.org/stories/2026/01/circular-economy-clean-energy-supply-chain-critical-minerals/ 4. https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/from-surplus-to-scarcity-how-slower-production-growth-is-driving-a-structural-copper-deficit-by-2026</div></div></div>

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Ares Strategic Mining Inc. has secured a Pentagon contract worth up to $250 million to supply fluorspar, addressing critical mineral shortages in the U.S. The company is the sole domestic supplier and is advancing its production capabilities at the Lost Sheep mine in Utah. The contract highlights the shift towards securing domestic supply chains for critical minerals amid a projected copper deficit and broader supply chain challenges. Other companies like MAX Power Mining are also making significant discoveries in the hydrogen sector, indicating a trend towards resource consolidation in critical materials.

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The Supply Cliff: Why The Critical Materials Shortage Is Bigger Than Just Copper