Vancouver, British Columbia, August XX, 2025 — CleanTech Vanadium Mining Corp. (“CleanTech” or the “Company”) (TSX-V: CTV, OTCQB: CTVFF) is pleased to announce that, through its 100%-owned subsidiary US Fluorspar LLC (“USF”), it has entered into a binding option-to-purchase agreement (the “OTP”) with an arm’s-length private party (the “Vendor”) to acquire mineral rights to the Kentucky–Illinois Fluorspar Projects, totaling approximately 5,140 acres in Kentucky and Illinois, USA (the “Projects”).
Kentucky–Illinois Fluorspar Projects Summary[1]
The Projects cover approximately 5,140 acres within the Kentucky-Illinois fluorspar district, where Mississippian-age limestones are cut by NW–SE normal faults and locally by dikes related to Hicks Dome. Fluorspar is the principal commodity and accessory sphalerite and galena, occurring in steep fault-fill veins, breccia zones, and localized replacements along favorable beds. Shoots typically thicken at bends, step-overs, relay ramps, and fault–dike intersections, providing predictable structural controls and repeatable targets across the belt.
Table 1. Kentucky–Illinois Fluorspar Projects Description
| Property name | Area acres | Historic resource estimate tons[2] | CaF2 % | Zn % |
| Robinson-Lasher | 1,524 | 74,000 | 34.40% | – |
| Bethel Horizon | – | 105,000 | 36.70% | – |
| Shelterville Horizon | – | 100,000 | n/a | 3% |
| Fredonia Limestone Horizon | – | 399,000 | 5-10% | 12.15% |
| Babb-Barnes | 324 | 437,000 | 44% | n/a |
| Tabb Fault System (Tabb, Lafayette, Crouch – Simpkins, Travis, Mexico) | 1,008 | 335,600 | 32% | 3% |
| Big 4, Patillo, Beard-Jones | 751 | – | – | – |
| Memphis | 587 | – | – | – |
| Franklin | 104 | – | – | – |
| Moore Hill Fault System (Eagle-Watson & Kirk-Tyner-Wring ) | – | – | – | – |
| Susie Beeler | 342 | – | – | – |
A historic mineral resource estimate is 1.45 million tons with fluorspar grades ranging between 5% and 44%[3]. The Company has not reviewed or validated the historic data, and caution should be taken as a qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify these historical resource estimates as a current mineral resource and the Company is not treating them as a current mineral resource.
The Robinson–Lasher and Carr properties lie on the district’s western to northern flank and are characterized by steep vein sets and ladder veins where dense fault corridors intersect minor dikes. Mineralization is vein-dominant with pockets of replacement within Ste. Genevieve–St. Louis limestones, and historic workings suggest narrow but locally high-grade shoots focused at structural intersections. These blocks are best tested along jogs and splays of the principal faults.
Pitillo/Pattillo, Big 4, Babb–Barnes, Beard–Jones, Memphis, Franklin, Tabb/Lafayette, Crouch–Simpkins, Travis, Mexico, Marion, Kirk–Tyner–Wring, Eagle–Watson, and Susie Beeler track major district structures around Hicks Dome and the Marion–Hurricane trend. They host robust fluorite veins and small breccia or chimney bodies with local stratabound replacements, showing the greatest continuity along master faults such as Big 4 and Mexico and where cross-faults segment the blocks. Priority targets concentrate at fault bends and splays, relay ramps between parallel strands, carbonate–sandstone contacts, and dike intersections that consistently control thicker, mineable widths.
Figure 1. Kentucky–Illinois Fluorspar Projects Map
“Securing an option on this multi-property package in the heart of the Kentucky-Illinois Fluorspar District is a logical follow-on to our recent acquisition of the Campbell Crotser Project,” commented Ron Espell, President of CleanTech Vanadium Mining Corp. “Bringing these properties under the same umbrella as Campbell Crotser positions CleanTech as the leading U.S. developer of fluorspar—an officially designated critical mineral essential to steel, aluminum and battery production.”
Proposed Transaction Summary
Under the OTP, the Vendor agrees to sell to CleanTech, and CleanTech agrees to purchase from the Vendor, the Projects for a total purchase price of US$4,000,000 (the “Purchase Price”), funded as follows (the “Option Money”):
- US$250,000 upon OTP signing;
- US$250,000 on or before September 1, 2026;
- US$250,000 on or before September 1, 2027; and
- US$250,000 on or before September 1, 2028.
CleanTech may purchase the Projects at any time by paying the Vendor the Purchase Price less any Option Money paid as of the exercise date.
Fluorspar Market Overview
According to USGS, China produced over 60% of the world’s fluorspar in 2024[4]. China produced 5.9 million tonnes in 2024, followed by Mexico (1.2 million tonnes) and Mongolia (1.2 million tonnes). The remaining countries combined produced approximately 1 million tonnes.
China has shifted from being a net exporter to a significant importer of fluorspar since 2023, due to rising demand from the booming energy storage system including batteries. Chinese customs data indicate that full-year 2024 fluorspar imports (all grades) rose 32% year-on-year to about 1.30 million tons, with Mongolia supplying roughly 88 % of the tonnage[5]. Over the same period China’s outbound shipments contracted sharply: fluorspar exports fell 35% year-on-year to roughly 245 000 t in 2024, the second annual decline as China prioritized domestic supply.
US Fluorspar price has risen from approximately $300 per tonne in 2020 to over $450 per tonne in 2025.
Qualified Person
The technical contents of this news release have been prepared under the supervision of Carlos Zamora, is a member of the American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG) and a Certified Professional Geologist (CPG) since 2024. Mr. Zamora is an independent qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.
About CleanTech Vanadium Mining Corp.
CleanTech is an exploration-stage mining company focused on critical mineral resources in the USA. The Company owns a 100% interest in the Gibellini Vanadium Mine Project in Nevada and an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Campbell Crotser Fluorspar Project in Kentucky.
Further information on CleanTech can be found at www.cleantechvanadium.com.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
“John Lee”
CEO and Director
For more information about CleanTech, please contact:
Phone: 1.877.664.2535
info@cleantechvanadium.com
www.cleantechvanadium.com
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 INFORMATION
This news release contains “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “forward-looking information”) within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information is generally identifiable by use of the words “believes,” “may,” “plans,” “will,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “could”, “estimates”, “expects”, “forecasts”, “projects” and similar expressions, and the negative of such expressions. Such forward-looking information, which reflects management’s expectations regarding CleanTech’s future growth, results of operations, performance, business prospects and opportunities, is based on certain factors and assumptions and involves known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward-looking information in this news releases includes: the acquisition of ownership in the Campbell Crotser Project, the presence of a land grab for fluorspar projects and Fluorspar as CleanTech’s major vertical, logistical advantages at the Campbell Crotser Project, the ability to advance the Project in both the near and long term, the availability of infrastructure that would assist in the advancement of the Project, . Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management of CleanTech at the date the statements are made and are based on a number of assumptions and subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Many of these assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of CleanTech, there is no assurance they will prove to be correct and are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking information involves significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as a guarantee of future performance, events or results, and may not be indicative of whether such events or results will actually be achieved. A number of risks and other factors could cause actual results to differ materially from expected results discussed in the forward-looking information, including but not limited to: changes in operating plans; ability to secure sufficient financing to advance the Company’s project; conditions impacting the Company’s ability to mine at the project, such as unfavorable weather conditions, development of a mine plan, maintaining existing permits and receiving any new permits required for the project, and other conditions impacting mining generally; maintaining cordial business relations with strategic partners and contractual counter-parties; meeting regulatory requirements and changes thereto; risks inherent to mineral resource estimation, including uncertainty as to whether mineral resources will be further developed into mineral reserves; political risk in the jurisdictions where the Company’s projects are located; commodity price variation; and general market, industry and economic conditions. Additional risk factors are set out in the Company’s latest annual and interim management’s discussion and analysis and annual information form (AIF), available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
Forward-looking information is based on reasonable assumptions by management as of the date of this news release, and there can be no assurance that actual results will be consistent with any forward-looking information included herein. Readers are cautioned that all forward- looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information in this news release to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date of this news release, except as required by applicable securities laws.
[1] Mineral Resources of the Illinois-Kentucky Mining District – Geological Survey Paper 970, October 23, 2012; Geology and Fluorspar Deposits, Big Four Fault System, Crittenden County, Kentucky – Geological Survey Bulletin 1042 S, June 27, 2011; Geology of the Illinois-Kentucky Fluorspar District, Illinois State Geological Survey – August 11, 2021
[2] Summary Report on West Kentucky Fluorite Zinc Properties, Robert S. Adamson, Silverspar Minerals Inc. – November 30, 1993; Illinois – Kentucky Fluorspar District Properties Report, Frontier Spar Corporation and US Steel Corporation, August 1983
[3] Summary Report on West Kentucky Fluorite Zinc Properties, Robert S. Adamson – November 30, 1993; Illinois – Kentucky Fluorspar District Properties Report, Frontier Spar Corporation and US Steel Corporation, August 1983
[4] chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2025/mcs2025-fluorspar.pdf
[5] https://www.indexbox.io/blog/fluorspar-china-market-overview-2024-3/
