Apex Mobilizes Drill Rig and Commences 2026 Exploration Program at the Cap Critical Minerals Project
Apex Mobilizes Drill Rig and Commences 2026 Exploration
Program at the Cap Critical Minerals Project
Highlights:
• NQ diamond drill rig from Proterra Drilling has been mobilized to site, with drilling now
underway
• Approximately four (4) drillholes totaling ~1,200 metres planned
• Two deeper drillholes designed to test the large ~2.2 km × 1.8 km buried magnetic
anomaly located to the southeast of the 2025 drill corridor (News Release Dated November
12, 2025)
o high-priority geophysical target previously tested by a single 2017 historical drill
hole that did not reach the interpreted target depth
• Two follow-up holes targeting extensions of the CAP25-006 niobium discovery (See
News Release Dated August 27, 2025), which returned 36 m at 0.59% Nb2O5 including
10 m at 1.08% Nb2O5 within a broader mineralized zone of 62.6m at 0.39% Nb2O5, and
remains open in multiple directions
Sean Charland, CEO of Apex Critical Metals, commented: “ Our 2025 program delivered an
emerging niobium discovery at Cap, which remains open in multiple directions. Our fall
geophysical survey also identified a large-scale untested 2.2 by 1.8 km geophysical anomaly that
we believe has strong potential to represent a deeper carbonatite system at the Project. The
Company’s primary focus is advancing the Rift Rare Earth Project towards an inaugural MRE,
but Cap presents a compelling opportunity to provide shareholders with additional discovery
exposure and expand on last year’s successes with a focused drill program this summer.”
Vancouver, British Columbia – June 30, 2026 – Apex Critical Metals Corp. (CSE: APXC |
OTCQX: APXCF | FWB: KL9) ("Apex" or the "Company"), a mineral exploration company
focused on advancing its Rift Rare Earth Project in Nebraska, USA and additional strategic critical
mineral projects in Canada, is pleased to announce the mobilization of a drill rig to its 100% -
owned Cap Critical Minerals Project (the "Cap Project"), located 85 k m northeast of Prince
George, British Columbia. One NQ diamond drill rig from Proterra Drilling Ltd. has mobilized to
site with drilling now underway.
The 2026 program is expected to include four (4) drillholes totaling approximately 1,200 metres
and is designed around two principal objectives: testing the large buried geophysical anomaly to
the west of the 2025 drill corridor and following up on the Company's 2025 niobium discovery at
CAP25-006.
2026 Drill Program Objectives
Objective 1 — Testing the Magnetic Anomaly
A high- resolution airborne geophysical survey completed in November 2025 defined a strong
magnetic high measuring approximately 2.2 km × 1.8 km, located to the southeast of the 2025
drilling area (Figure 1, See News Release Dated November 12, 2025) . This large-scale anomaly
has been tested by only a single historical (2017) drillhole that did not reach the interpreted target
depth. The 2026 program includes two deeper holes designed to penetrate the core of this anomaly
for the first time, with the objective of determining whether it reflects a deeper carbonatite body
prospective for niobium and rare earth mineralization.
Objective 2 — Extending the CAP25-006 Niobium Discovery
The 2025 exploration program confirmed a significant niobium discovery in drillhole CAP25-006,
which returned 124.5 m at 0.27% Nb2O5, encompassing a higher-grade interval of 36 m at 0.59%
Nb2O5 that included 10 m at 1.08% Nb2O5 (See News Release Dated August 27, 2025) . This
discovery, situated within a 1.8 km long niobium mineralized trend (See News Release Dated
November 12, 2024), remains open in multiple directions. The 2026 program includes two planned
follow-up holes designed to test for extensions of this mineralization along strike and at depth.
Image 1. ProTerra drill rig mobilized on the first drill pad at
the CAP Project, central northeastern British Columbia, Canada.
Figure 1. Map showing Total Magnetic Intensity (TMI) relative to historical and 2025 drillholes.
Apex Critical Metals 2026.
The 2026 program is fully permitted under the Company's existing Multi -Year Area-Based
(MYAB) permit. Assay results will be reported as they are received and interpreted.
Qualified Person
The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Nathan Schmidt, P.
Geo. (EGBC License 48336), a Qualified Person under NI 43 -101 standards of disclosure for
mineral projects. Mr. Schmidt is a Geologist with Dahrouge Geological Consulting Ltd., the
consulting firm engaged by Apex Critical Metals Corp. to conduct and oversee all of the
Company's exploration work. Mr. Schmidt has verified all scientific and technical data disclosed
in this news release.
About Apex Critical Metals Corp. (CSE: APXC) (OTCQX: APXCF) (FWB: KL9)
Apex Critical Metals Corp. is a Canadian exploration company focused on advancing rare earth
element (REE) and niobium projects that support the growing demand for critical and strategic
metals across the United States and Canada. The Company’s flagship Rift Project, located within
the highly prospective Elk Creek Carbonatite Complex in Nebraska, U.S.A., hosts extensive rare
earth rights surrounding one of North America’s most advanced niobium deposits. Two historical
drillholes located within the 700 m cor ridor of interest returned broad intervals of >2.00% REO,
with higher grade (>3.00% REO) intervals within. The Company’s 2026 drilling has continued to
demonstrate this grade profile and have expanded the footprint of the high- grade mineralization
over approximately 380 m from the historical drillholes. Additionally, drilling has delineated a
new horizon (“Neo Zone”) of strongly elevated NdPr beneath the high- grade material with NdPr
distributions between 30-50%.
In Canada, Apex continues to advance its 100% -owned Cap Project, located 85 kilometres
northeast of Prince George, British Columbia. The 2025 drill program confirmed an emerging
niobium discovery with 0.59% Nb₂O₅ over 36 metres, including 1.08% Nb₂O₅ over 10 metres,
within a 1.8- kilometre-long niobium trend. The Cap Project continues to demonstrate strong
potential for niobium mineralization within a large and previously unrecognized carbonatite
system.
With a growing portfolio of critical mineral projects in both Canada and the United States, Apex
Critical Metals is strategically positioned to help strengthen domestic supply chains for the
minerals essential to advanced technologies, clean energy, and national security. Apex is publicly
listed in Canada on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) under the symbol APXC and quoted
on the OTCQX market in the United States under the symbol APXCF, and in Germany on the
Borse Frankfurt under the symbol KL9 and/or WKN: A40CCQ.
Find out more at www.apexcriticalmetals.com and watch our videos at https://apexcriticalmetals.com/apex-
critical-metals-corporate-video/ and make sure to stay in touch by signing up for free news alerts
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On Behalf of the Board of Directors
APEX CRITICAL METALS CORP.,
Sean Charland
Chief Executive Officer
Tel: 604.681.1568
Email: [email protected]
Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in
the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION:
This news release may contain “forward -looking statements” under applicable Canadian securities
legislation. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any
statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Forward -looking
statements in this news release include (without limitation) statements regarding the Company’ s planned
drill program and any subsequent drill programs and statements regarding the Company’ s US- based
prospective assets (more particularly described above), including the potential for additional acquisitions
and the potential for exploration, and statements regarding the potential for future exploration and drilling
to confirm the source of magnetic anomalies. Forward-looking statements are subject to various known and
unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ
materially from those contained in the statements. Risks that could change or prevent these e vents,
activities or developments from coming to fruition include: the Company’ s properties are at an early stage
of development and no current mineral resources or reserves have been identified by the Company thereof,
that we may not be able to fully finance any additional exploration on the Company’ s properties; that even
if we are able to raise capital, costs for exploration activities may increase such that we may not have
sufficient funds to pay for such exploration or processing activities; the timing and content of any future
work programs; geological interpretations based on drilling that may change with more detailed
information; potential process methods and mineral recoveries assumptions based on limited test work and
by comparison to what are considered analogous deposits that, with further test work, may not be
comparable; testing of our process may not prove successful or samples derived from our properties may
not yield positive results, and even if such tests are successful or initial sample results are positive, the
economic and other outcomes may not be as expected; the anticipated market demand for REE and other
minerals may not be as expected; the availability of labour and equipment to undertake future exploration
work and testing activities; geopolitical risks which may result in market and economic instability. There
can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could
differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue
reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward- looking statements herein are made as of the date
hereof, and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward- looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.