Apex Critical Metals Advances as Key Drill Results Approach

Apex Critical Metals surpasses 50% of Phase I drilling at its Rift Rare Earth Project, backed by a strong treasury. Assay results are expected in Q2 2026, with a clear path to a maiden resource.

The initial phase of drilling at the Rift Rare Earth Project in Nebraska is progressing ahead of schedule for Apex Critical Metals. The company has now completed over half of its planned meterage, bringing the first batch of assay results from the program into clear view.

Solid Financial Backing and Share Performance

Apex Critical Metals enters this pivotal period from a position of financial strength. The company concluded a private placement near the end of 2025, raising approximately CAD $10 million. Its current treasury stands at about $14.8 million, which management states is sufficient to fund the ongoing two-rig operation in Nebraska. On the markets, the stock has gained roughly 7% since the start of the year, though it remains notably below its 52-week high of €3.00, recorded in October 2025.

Drilling Progress Confirms Geological Model

To date, the program has seen 5,175 meters drilled across six completed holes, with two additional holes currently in progress. This surpasses the 50% mark of the Phase I target of approximately 8,000 meters. Sean Charland, the company's CEO, emphasized that drilling is consistently intersecting the targeted carbonate-hosted unit—a positive geological indicator supporting the continuity of the mineralized system.

Core logging, portable XRF analysis, and televiewer surveys for the completed holes are finished. The company has already dispatched two batches of samples to Activation Laboratories for processing. The Phase I drilling campaign is scheduled for completion in April, with the assay results anticipated in the second quarter of 2026.

A Defined Path Forward for 2026

Following the conclusion of Phase I, Apex has outlined a structured sequence of technical work. This includes commissioning a NI 43-101 compliant technical report, developing an updated 3D geological model, and initiating a Phase II drilling program in the latter half of the year. The long-term objective is to establish an initial mineral resource estimate—a critical milestone for advancing the project's valuation.

Concurrent Success in Canada

In parallel with its Nebraska activities, Apex has reported concrete results from its Cap Project in British Columbia. The 2025 drilling program there confirmed a niobium discovery, returning an intercept of 0.59% Nb?O? over 36 meters, including a higher-grade zone of 1.08% Nb?O? over 10 meters.