Apex Critical Metals Outlines Ambitious Exploration Strategy Following Promising Results

Apex Critical Metals CA03753D1042

Apex Critical Metals has concluded its 2025 field season with a detailed review and has now charted its exploration course for 2026. The company's focus remains on its Cap project in British Columbia, where recent drilling has expanded known mineralization of niobium, rare earth elements (REE), and phosphate. The latest data provides a stronger foundation for the company's narrative as a developer of critical raw materials.

Analytical results released on December 31st have significantly extended the known niobium mineralization at the Cap property. One drill hole, CAP25-006, delivered particularly compelling results:
* 124.5 meters grading 0.27% Nb₂O₅
* Including 36 meters of 0.59% Nb₂O₅
* With a high-grade peak interval of 10 meters at 1.08% Nb₂O₅

These findings confirm the presence of a near-surface, high-grade niobium zone that was previously highlighted as a key success of the 2025 program. According to CEO Sean Charland, the new data not only widens the mineralized section in CAP25-006 but also points to additional niobium, phosphate, and rare earth occurrences in regional target areas. The company interprets this as evidence of a large, metal-rich carbonatite system.

The 2025 campaign also underscored significant rare earth and phosphate potential, suggesting a robust multi-commodity profile for the project. Notable intercepts include:
* Rare Earth Elements: CAP25-005 returned 3.0 meters of 1.08% Total Rare Earth Oxides (REO), while CAP25-006 intersected 3.4 meters of 1.33% REO.
* Phosphate: CAP25-007 cut 3.8 meters of 16.2% P₂O₅ within a broader 45-meter section averaging 6.22% P₂O₅. Another hole, CAP25-012, intersected 58.2 meters grading 5.63% P₂O₅.

New Geophysical Target and a Dual-Pronged 2026 Plan

A recently completed airborne magnetic survey has identified a pronounced magnetic anomaly measuring approximately 2.2 by 1.8 kilometers, interpreted as a concealed intrusive body. This feature has only been marginally tested by a single historical drill hole from 2017, which did not reach the suspected target depth. The magnetic signature correlates with a roughly 1.8-kilometer-long niobium soil anomaly outlined in 2024, which the 2025 drilling has now confirmed at depth. This convergence of geophysical and geochemical data makes the area a high-priority exploration target.

Building on these results, Apex has adopted a two-pronged exploration strategy for the Cap project in 2026:
1. Step-Out Drilling around the CAP25-006 discovery to better define the extent and continuity of the high-grade niobium mineralization.
2. Initial Drill Testing of the newly identified magnetic anomaly in the southeastern part of the project area.

Financial Position and Parallel Projects

This operational update follows the company's release of its Q1 FY2026 financial results on December 19th. Apex reported a net loss of CAD $2.68 million, a significant increase from the CAD $0.406 million loss in the prior-year period. The company attributed the larger loss primarily to heightened exploration expenditures.

To fund its programs, Apex completed a CAD $10 million private placement in October 2025, issuing 4 million units at CAD $2.50 each. As of the end of October 2025, the company held approximately CAD $5.86 million in cash and cash equivalents, providing a clear link between its strengthened balance sheet and its more aggressive exploration strategy.

Parallel to its activities in British Columbia, Apex has a fully funded drill program scheduled for its Rift Rare Earth Project in Nebraska, set to commence early in Q1 2026. The company also anticipates receiving the first analytical results from a re-sampling program at the Nebraska project in the coming weeks.

Next Steps: Modeling and Execution

The 2025 drill data and geophysical survey results are now being integrated into an updated geological model for the Cap project. This model will guide the specific 2026 drill planning, targeting both the step-out drilling near the niobium discovery and the initial tests of the magnetic anomaly.

The immediate operational milestones include the start of drilling in Nebraska early in the first quarter and the subsequent assay results, followed by the launch of the dual-track drill program in British Columbia. The execution of these planned programs will be crucial for further quantifying the resource potential of both projects.