Ares Strategic Mining Inc. (CSE: ARS) (OTCQX: ARSMF) (FRA: N8I1) has achieved two major infrastructure milestones at its Lost Sheep Fluorspar Processing Facility in Utah, the company announced Wednesday. The installation of the plant’s conveyor belt system and the completion of the electrical and Motor Control Center (MCC) systems mark a significant step toward transitioning from mine development to full-scale processing operations.
According to the company, the newly completed infrastructure includes the full installation of the primary material handling and conveyor belt systems, the facility-wide electrical distribution network, and the integration of the plant’s MCC systems. These systems are now energization-ready to support crushers, screens, flotation circuits, pumps, and processing equipment.
James Walker, President and CEO of Ares Strategic Mining, emphasized the importance of these components in a statement. “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.”
The conveyor network is described as the operational backbone of the facility, enabling continuous and automated movement of ore between crushing, sorting, and processing stages. Meanwhile, the MCC and electrical systems provide centralized power distribution, process control, equipment protection, and operational automation throughout the plant.
The company noted that these milestones substantially de-risk the project and position 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 reliability and safety. The conveyor system enables continuous ore flow, efficient material handling, reduced 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 Strategic Mining is focused on 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 Delta, Utah, is 100% owned and comprises 5,982 acres with 353 claims. It is fully permitted, including mining permits, and is located in the Spor Mountain area, Juab County, approximately 214 km southwest of Salt Lake City. A NI 43-101 Technical Report identified extensive high-grade fluorspar with low levels of impurities, and the mining plan has been approved by the Bureau of Land Management.
