Ares Strategic Mining Inc. (CSE: ARS) (OTCQX: ARSMF) (FRA: N8I1) announced the successful completion of two critical infrastructure components at its Lost Sheep Fluorspar Processing Facility in Utah: the conveyor belt system and the facility's electrical and Motor Control Center (MCC) systems. These milestones advance the plant toward commissioning and production readiness, transitioning the company from mine development to integrated processing operations.
The newly completed infrastructure includes full installation of the plant’s primary material handling and conveyor belt systems, completion of the facility-wide electrical distribution network, installation and integration of the MCC systems, and energization-ready infrastructure to support crushers, screens, flotation circuits, pumps, and processing equipment. The conveyor network enables continuous and automated movement of ore between crushing, sorting, and processing stages, while the MCC and electrical systems provide centralized power distribution, process control, equipment protection, and operational automation.
James Walker, President and CEO of Ares Strategic Mining, stated: “The completion of the conveyor and MCC systems is one of the most important construction milestones we have achieved to date. These are not cosmetic additions - they are the central nervous system of the processing facility. Without these systems, industrial-scale processing cannot occur. Their completion marks a huge leap toward operational readiness and future production.”
The completion of these systems substantially de-risks the project and allows Ares to accelerate final mechanical installations and commissioning activities. The MCC infrastructure controls and distributes power across the entire plant, enables synchronized operation of processing equipment, supports future automation and scalability, and provides industrial-grade operational reliability and safety. The conveyor system enables continuous ore flow, efficient material handling and throughput, reduced operating downtime and labor requirements, and consistent feed rates for optimized processing performance.
“You cannot operate a modern processing facility without these systems,” Walker added. “This is foundational infrastructure - the kind of progress that transforms a construction project into an operating industrial facility.”
Ares continues advancing toward becoming the leading domestic supplier of acidspar in the United States. Fluorspar is designated a critical mineral by the U.S. government and is essential for semiconductor manufacturing, fluorochemicals, nuclear fuel processing, steel and aluminum production, and defense and aerospace applications. With mining operations underway, ore stockpiling ongoing, and plant infrastructure nearing completion, the company is positioning itself for initial processing and future deliveries into domestic and international markets.
The Lost Sheep Fluorspar Project, located in the Spor Mountain area of Juab County, Utah, approximately 214 km southwest of Salt Lake City, is 100% owned and spans 5,982 acres with 353 claims. It is fully permitted, including mining permits, and a NI 43-101 Technical Report identified extensive high-grade fluorspar with low levels of impurities. The mining plan was approved by the Bureau of Land Management, first by Rex Rowley on August 24, 1992, and renewed by Paul B. Baker on December 12, 2016.
As Ares moves forward, the company intends to rely on historical engineering work, geological reports, historical production data, and current engineering to develop its Utah asset without a formal prefeasibility or feasibility study, acknowledging the associated risks. The company disclaims any intention to update forward-looking statements except as required by law.
