Avalon Re-Engages Dave Marsh to Support Nechalacho Rare Earth Project Development & Advancement
Avalon Re-Engages Dave Marsh to Support
Nechalacho Rare Earth Project Development &
Advancement
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 4, 2026) -
Avalon Advanced Materials Inc.
(TSX: AVL)
(OTCQB: AVLNF) ("Avalon" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Mr. Dave Marsh has
rejoined the Company on a contract basis to support ongoing process development and the
advancement of updated feasibility work at the Nechalacho Rare Earths and Zirconium Project in the
Northwest Territories.
Mr. Marsh previously served as Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President, Metallurgy at Avalon,
where he led the metallurgical and process development programs supporting the Company's 2013
Feasibility Study for the Nechalacho Project. His re-engagement provides strategic continuity as Avalon
advances updated feasibility work for the project.
Drawing on his first-hand expertise of Nechalacho's original development and its evolution, Mr. Marsh
will work closely with Wood Engineering and Avalon's technical team to adapt the project's metallurgical
flowsheet to reflect current technical, commercial, and geopolitical realities. This includes incorporating
advances in rare earth processing technologies, evolving infrastructure and logistics considerations, and
the growing emphasis on secure, allied supply chains for critical minerals.
Over the past decade, the geopolitical importance of critical minerals has intensified, with rare earth
elements now widely recognized as essential to economic and national security. Through Mr. Marsh's
past contributions and ongoing work, Nechalacho is positioned as a technically de-risked and
strategically significant project, aligned with allied supply-chain priorities and critical to Canada's role in
strengthening North America's critical minerals resilience.
“We are very pleased to welcome Dave back to Avalon at this important stage in the advancement of the
Nechalacho Project,” said Scott Monteith, President and CEO. “Dave brings a rare combination of deep
metallurgical expertise and invaluable institutional knowledge, having played a central role in the
development of the project’s 2013 Definitive Feasibility Study. His experience will be instrumental as we
refresh the project’s technical foundation and advance Nechalacho toward its next phase of
development.”
"Nechalacho is recognized as one of North America's most advanced rare earth projects and hosts
exceptionally high concentrations of the four magnet rare earth elements most critical to defense and
advanced manufacturing. Its technical foundation provides a strong platform as we advance toward
updated feasibility and development readiness. By incorporating updated metallurgical approaches and
current market realities, we can position the project for financing and long-term integration into allied rare
earth supply chains. I'm pleased to re-engage at this pivotal stage in the project's evolution," said Dave
Marsh.
Mr. Marsh is currently the CEO of URE Consulting Inc., Canada and brings more than 30 years of global
experience in metallurgical process design, implementation and project development across a range of
commodities, including rare earth elements, uranium, gold, heavy minerals and platinum group metals.
His technical expertise spans engineering design, pilot plant development, feasibility studies and project
execution.
Project Highlights:
Nechalacho is the largest rare earth project in North America to reach feasibility-level evaluation. It
contains the continent's richest deposit of the four rare earth elements most critical to position
Canada as a secure and strategic supplier while reducing global dependence on monopolized
sources.
Strong project fundamentals are supported by a 2013 Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS)
completed by SNC-Lavalin and an NI 43-101 technical report prepared by Micon, confirming the
project's technical and economic viability. Regulatory pathway de-risked with land use permit and
water licence secured.
The Company has engaged Wood Canada Limited to commence a refresh of Nechalacho’s
technical and economic basis via an updated PEA and NI 43-101 Technical Report. Following the
PEA, the Company’s plan is to transition into a full Definitive Feasibility Study, positioning the
project for construction and financing readiness.
Actively engaging with Canadian and U.S. government stakeholders and strategic partners.
Engaged SCP Resource Finance ("SCP") as strategic capital advisor to support the development
of a long-term capital and partnership strategy in connection with Avalon's lithium and rare earth
element projects.
Mineralization in the Nechalacho deposit includes light rare earth elements (LREE) found
principally in allanite, monazite, bastnaesite and synchysite; yttrium, heavy rare earth elements
(HREE), niobium and tantalum found in fergusonite; niobium in ferrocolumbite; HREE, niobium,
tantalum and zirconium in zircon; and gallium in biotite, chlorite and feldspar in albitized feldspathic
rocks.
About Avalon Advanced Materials Inc.
Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. is a Canadian critical minerals company advancing the supply of
materials essential for Canada's future. The Company is focused on developing strategic assets that
support secure, domestic supply chains and long-term economic growth. Avalon is advancing the
Nechalacho Rare Earth Elements and Zirconium Project in the Northwest Territories, which contains all
light and heavy rare earth elements, as well as yttrium, zirconium, tantalum, and niobium—critical
minerals used in advanced technologies across the communications, defense, clean tech, and energy
sectors. The Company is also focused on vertically integrating the Ontario lithium supply chain through
the development of Lake Superior Lithium Inc., Ontario's first midstream lithium hydroxide processing
facility, located in Thunder Bay. This facility will serve as a cornerstone of North America's integrated
battery materials supply chain, transforming northern Ontario lithium into essential inputs for
transportation, grid storage, and advanced manufacturing. Through its joint venture with SCR Sibelco
NV, Avalon holds a minority interest in the Separation Rapids Lithium Project near Kenora, Ontario.
For further information regarding Avalon Advanced Materials Inc., please visit
www.avalonadvancedmaterials.com
, or call 416-364-4938.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian
securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-
looking terminology such as "add" or "additional", "advancing", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate",
"appears", "believes", "can be", "conceptual", "confidence", "continue", "convert" or "conversion",
"deliver", "demonstrating", "estimates", "encouraging", "expand" or "expanding" or "expansion",
"expect" or "expectations", "forecasts", "forward", "goal", "improves", "increase", "intends",
"justification", "plans", "potential" or "potentially", "promise", "prospective", "prioritize", "reflects",
"robust", "scheduled", "suggesting", "support", "top-tier", "updating", "upside", "will be" or "will
consider", "work towards", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events
or results "may", "could", "would", "might", or "will be taken", "occur", or "be achieved".
Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors
that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to
be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including
those risk factors discussed or referred to in the annual information form of the Company dated
November 26, 2025 (the "AIF") under the heading "Description of the Business - Risk Factors".
Forward-looking information is based on the reasonable assumptions, estimates, analysis and
opinions of management made in light of its experience and perception of trends, current conditions
and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and
reasonable in the circumstances at the date that such statements are made, but which may prove to
be incorrect. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and expectations reflected in such
forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking
information because the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be
correct. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other
factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance
that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ
materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue
reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-
looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit
https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/286188