Apex Critical Metals Nears Key Drilling Milestone at Nebraska Rare Earths Project

Apex Critical Metals CA03753D1042

The exploration timeline for Apex Critical Metals is accelerating, with a major drilling campaign at its Rift Rare Earth project in Nebraska now imminent. This shift marks a pivotal transition for the company, moving from preparatory work into active resource confirmation. The core objective is to verify historical, high-grade results, a step that will test the project's underlying potential and the market's already significant expectations.

All necessary approvals are now secured. The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) granted the required exploration permit on January 5, 2026, clearing the final administrative hurdle. The company has formally contracted the drilling services firm Boart Longyear, and equipment mobilization is currently underway.

The initial phase of drilling is scheduled to commence before the end of January 2026. This program represents the most substantial field activity within the Elk Creek Carbonatite Complex in over a decade. The upcoming months are therefore critical, as the company begins to generate fresh, verifiable data from the ground.

Phase I Drill Program Specifications

The plan for this first phase is detailed and targeted, focusing on confirmation rather than purely greenfield exploration. The goal is to establish a data foundation for a future NI 43-101-compliant resource update.

Key parameters of the Phase I campaign include:
* Total Meterage: Approximately 8,000 meters of diamond core drilling.
* Scope: Between 10 and 15 drill holes, with depths ranging from 600 to 900 meters each.
* Primary Aim: To confirm high-grade historical datasets from past operators, including work by Molycorp (1973–1986) and Quantum (2010–2011).

Building on a Foundation of Historical Data

The upcoming drilling targets are informed by compelling historical intercepts, which serve as a benchmark for success. Notably, the company expanded the Rift project land package to 3,500 acres in 2025, encompassing these documented high-grade rare earth zones.

Among the historic results highlighted by management are intervals such as:
* 155.5 meters grading 2.70% Total Rare Earth Oxides (TREO)
* 68.2 meters grading 3.32% TREO

To further refine its understanding, Apex Critical Metals collaborated with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Q4 2025 to re-sample and re-log archived historical drill core from the site.

Share Performance and Market Sentiment

Despite these concrete operational advances, the company's share price continues to exhibit significant volatility. Trading in Germany, the equity recently closed at €2.02. This price sits approximately 33% below its 52-week high but remains notably above both its 50-day and 200-day moving averages—a pattern indicative of a strong multi-month rally followed by a period of consolidation.

The market's sensitivity is underscored by an annualized 30-day volatility reading exceeding 100%. Following a 12-month gain of over 200%, substantial project expectations are already reflected in the valuation. Consequently, the room for disappointment should the upcoming drill results fail to meet forecasts is limited.

The Roadmap for 2026

The calendar for the year is well-defined. Initial assay results from the Phase I drill program are anticipated between the first and second quarters of 2026. Based on this data, Apex Critical Metals plans to publish a maiden NI 43-101-compliant resource estimate in the latter half of the year, followed by the commencement of a Phase II drilling program.

The immediate focus is on the successful deployment and operation of Boart Longyear's rigs. Confirmation of the historic high-grade mineralization and its conversion into a formal resource estimate could either validate or recalibrate the project's current market valuation. The coming months will serve as a definitive test for the optimistic narrative already priced into the stock.