Critical Elements Reports High Grade Lithium, Tantalum and Cesium IN the Last Holes of the Winter Drill Program
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PRESS RELEASE
CRITICAL ELEMENTS REPORTS HIGH GRADE LITHIUM, TANTALUM AND CESIUM IN
THE LAST HOLES OF THE WINTER DRILL PROGRAM
May 21th, 202 6 - MONTRÉAL, QUÉBEC – Critical Elements Lithium Corporation (TSX -V: CRE) (US
OTCQX: CRECF) (FSE: F12) ( "Critical Elements" or the "Corporation”) is pleased to provide the last
assay results and an update on its Phase 1 Winter 2026 drill program , at the 100% owned Rose West
Discovery (“Rose West”), located in Eeyou Istchee, Québec.
Highlights
• The Phase 1 Winter 2026 drill program has delivered positive results demonstrating the successful
expansion of the Rose West mineralized footprint from 450 m x 370 m to 1,250 m x 800 m ,
thicknesses that typically range from 10 to 40 m, and excellent lateral grade continuity.
• Newly discovered Pegmatite 5 is delivering substantial and laterally continuous intersections in the
southern portion of the Main Target Area, part of a stacked and generally flat lying system.
• The geological model continues to prove to be highly effective and productive.
• Preparation is underway for an upcoming follow-up Summer 2026 Drilling Program.
Assay results were received for the four remaining holes RW-26-38 to 40 , and RW-26-43, and returned
some significant lithium and tantalum composite assays, as highlighted below:
• 1.03% Li2O and 233 ppm Ta 2O5 over 14.65 m (including 1.68% Li2O and 224 ppm Ta 2O5 over
8.25 m), through Pegmatite 2, in hole RW-26-38
• 1.71% Li2O and 210 ppm Ta 2O5 over 14.75 m (including 2.47% Li2O and 165 ppm Ta 2O5 over
8.05 m), through Pegmatite 3, in hole RW-26-39
• 0.98% Li2O and 121 ppm Ta2O5 over 11,20 m, through Pegmatite 5 (new), and
1.73% Li2O and 94 ppm Ta2O5 over 15.60 m (including 2.90% Li2O and 106 ppm Ta2O5 over 7.35
m), through Pegmatite 3, in hole RW-26-40
• 0.47% Li2O and 832 ppm Ta 2O5 over 6.25 m (including 2.28% Li2O, 2,796 ppm Ta 2O5 and 876
ppm Cs2O over 1.20 m), through Pegmatite 2, in hole RW-26-43
* Core length; the true thickness is between 80 to 95% of the core length.
Rose West is situated within 10 km of the highly advanced Rose Lithium -Tantalum Project (“Rose”). Rose
West is a near surface lithium -rich pegmatite bearing zone, initially intercepted by drilling over a 450 m x
370 m footprint area in the winter of 2024 (see Press Release dated February 3, 2026 ), now covering an
overall footprint of 1,250 m x 800 m. The lithium-rich pegmatites typically range from 10 to 40 m in thickness
and display a sub-horizontal geometry. Recent drilling has identified three (3) new spodumene -bearing
pegmatitic bodies within the target area; a significant addition to the working model as it could potentially
lead to rapid growth of the mineral inventory within the footprint of the project.
To date, the Winter 2026 drill program has covered most of the Line A, Line E and Line K planned holes
(Figure 1). As previously mentioned, holes were planned to reach three specific goals:
1. Expand laterally all around the existing mineralized footprint (RW-26-29 to 34, RW-26-45 & 46);
2. Test the area for continuity to the northeast (RW-26-47 to 50), to the southeast (RW-26-40 to 44);
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3. Verify the potential of discovering additional lithium-bearing pegmatites below the currently defined
area.
Figure 1 below presents the 2026 collars location with, as well as the revised footprint on surface of the
interpreted spodumene-rich pegmatitic dykes. Nineteen (19) holes have been drilled to date for a total of
4,037.75 meters. Table 1 presents the collar locations along with final length and the azimuth / dip of the
holes drilled during this campaign.
Figure 1: Location map of the 2026 drillholes with respect to those from the winter 2024 campaign.
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Drillhole Grid UTM NAD 83 ZN18 Length Azimuth Dip
Position Easting Northing (m) () ()
RW-26-29 E-08 411277 5763656 207.00 245 -80
RW-26-30 E-06 411195 5763599 72.00 245 -70
RW-26-31 K-10 411129 5764041 126.00 245 -70
RW-26-32 K-11 411211 5764098 165.00 245 -70
RW-26-33 K-12 411293 5764156 287.70 245 -70
RW-26-34 K-13 411375 5764213 147.00 245 -70
RW-26-38 C-16 411965 5763893 218.90 245 -70
RW-26-39 A-08 411506 5763328 262.35 245 -70
RW-26-40 A-11 411670 5763443 195.00 245 -70
RW-26-41 A-13 411834 5763558 218.50 245 -70
RW-26-42 A-15 411998 5763673 9.00 245 -70
RW-26-43 A-17 412162 5763788 264.00 245 -70
RW-26-44 A-21 412489 5764017 301.90 245 -70
RW-26-45 E-14 411686 5763943 277.30 245 -80
RW-26-46 E-15 411768 5764000 222.00 245 -80
RW-26-47 E-17 411932 5764115 194.30 245 -70
RW-26-48 E-19 412096 5764230 207.00 245 -70
RW-26-49 E-21 412260 5764345 255.00 245 -70
RW-26-50 E-23 412423 5764459 407.8 245 -70
Table 1 – 2026 Winter drillholes location and summary description
Table 2 following presents the composite assay results from the Winter 2026 Drill Program . New and
updated results presented in the current press release are highlighted in grey.
Hole RW-26-38 was drilled on Line C (Figure 1), and intersected two thin zones within the projection of the
new Pegmatite 5 and did not intersect the projection of Pegmatite 3, likely marking a pinching of the zones
at this location. Pegmatite 2 was intersected over 14.65 m lower down the hole, consistent with the reported
thickness in holes drilled on Line K, 200 m to the north.
Holes RW-26-39 and RW-26-40 were drilled on Line A (Figure 2), along the southern extent of the initial
mineralized area. The two (2) holes intersected two significant pegmatites interpreted to be Pegmatite 5
(new) and Pegmatite 3; both showing a thickness still in the range of 10 -15 meters, and extending the
footprint of the main Pegmatite 3 by approximately 500 m to the south. It is noticeable that Cesium oxide
(Cs2O) grade appears to increase towards the south; from the usual 50 -125 ppm Cs 2O observed in the
previous holes, both holes 39 and 40 show values ranging from 125 to 500 ppm, with spikes close to the
1,000 ppm threshold.
Hole RW-26-43, also on Line A, did not intersect the projection of neither Pegmatite 5 nor 3, but returned
0.47 % Li2O over 6.25 m through Pegmatite 2; extending the latter by an additional 100 m towards the East.
Although relatively thin, this intersection returned very high Ta2O5 (832 ppm over 6.25 m, including 2,796
ppm over the length of a 1.20 m sample) as well as high values Cs2O, averaging 876 ppm over 6.25 m,
and as high as 4,018 ppm (0.4 %) Cs2O along with 2.28 % Li2O over the length of the 1.20 m sample.
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Drillhole From To Length Li2O Ta2O5 Zone
(m) (m) (m) (%) (ppm)
RW-26-29 12.60 16.20 3.60 1.51 242 4
176.95 192.00 15.05 0.77 170 6 (new)
including 180.00 188.00 8.00 1.39 111 6 (new)
RW-26-30 3.45 6.40 2.95 0.40 239 4
RW-26-31 54.00 60.50 6.50 0.15 191 3
96.00 101.85 5.85 0.58 170 2
RW-26-32 39.00 52.50 13.50 1.89 207 3
105.10 110.85 5.75 0.79 208 n.a
116.90 118.25 1.35 0.18 23 n.a
RW-26-33 60.35 78.10 17.75 1.29 169 3
including 63.00 72.00 9.00 2.13 105 3
122.05 123.60 1.55 0.01 432 2
RW-26-34 37.00 51.50 14.50 1.19 167 3
including 37.00 49.20 12.20 1.41 170 3
RW-26-38 71.60 73.50 1.90 0.80 118 5 (new)
83.70 85.60 1.90 0.30 137 n.a
194.25 208.90 14.65 1.03 233 2
including 194.25 202.50 8.25 1.68 224 2
RW-26-39 68.65 71.35 2.70 1.31 238 5 (new)
112.05 126.80 14.75 1.71 210 3
including 114.95 123.00 8.05 2.47 165 3
132.15 137.50 5.35 0.13 328 n.a.
RW-26-40 26.20 27.90 1.70 0.03 303 n.a
55.90 67.10 11.20 0.98 121 5 (new)
104.40 120.00 15.60 1.73 94 3
including 108.00 115.35 7.35 2.90 106 3
150.40 155.30 4.90 0.03 180 n.a
RW-26-41 68.55 87.05 18.50 1.51 93 5 (new)
including 68.55 78.15 9.60 2.49 50 5 (new)
112.00 122.00 10.00 0.89 175 3
189.70 192.85 3.15 0.02 258 n.a
RW-26-42 - 9.00 Abandoned
RW-26-43 204.95 211.20 6.25 0.47 832 2
including 206.45 207.65 1.20 2.28 2,796 2
RW-26-44 - 301.90 No significant results
RW-26-45 113.20 141.00 27.80 1.27 111 3
including 119.00 141.00 22.00 1.43 122 3
163.25 175.90 12.65 1.00 192 2
RW-26-46 70.60 81.05 10.45 0.93 291 5 (new)
including 72.00 75.00 3.00 2.75 553 5 (new)
125.60 138.20 12.60 2.18 68 3
including 126.60 134.00 7.40 3.11 48 3
168.20 182.80 14.60 1.82 176 2
Including 168.20 178.70 10.50 2.42 146 2
RW-26-47 69.30 79.60 10.30 1.72 117 5 (new)
Including 70.25 76.60 6.35 2.61 117 5 (new)
140.15 151.90 11.75 1.91 74 3
165.25 175.60 10.35 1.44 266 n.a
188.05 193.25 5.20 1.68 101 2
RW-26-48 130.50 138.60 8.10 0.59 200 3
168.65 175.90 7.25 0.03 156 2
RW-26-49 158.55 160.65 2.10 0.01 110 3
RW-26-50 328.20 341.10 12.90 1.13 109 7 (new)
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Including 328.20 335.45 7.25 1.67 108 7 (new)
* Core length; the true thickness is between 80 to 95% of the core length.
** Zone; n.a refers to “not assigned” to a given interpreted mineralized zone.
*** New and updated results are highlighted in grey.
Table 2 – Spodumene-rich pegmatite intervals and assay results from the Winter 2026 drill campaign.
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Figure 2: Vertical section – Line A; looking northwest
Photos 2A and 2C show a new pegmatitic zone (Zone 5), and photos 2B and 2D are examples of the main
pegmatite (Zone 3) aspect in core.
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Figure 3: Vertical section – Line E; looking northwest
Photo 3A from hole RW-26-45 represents the widest intersection of the current campaign. Photo 3B is an
example of Zone 2. Photos 3C and 3D show the new Zone 5 and Zone 7 respectively.
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Figure 4: Vertical section – Line K; looking northeast
Core photos 4A, 4B, 4D and 4E are all examples of the main Zone 3 pegmatite. Photo 4C presents a thinner
intersection through Zone 2.