Critical One Energy Confirms Broad Near-Surface Antimony Mineralization in First Drill Hole at Howells Lake Antimony-Gold Project
Critical One Energy Confirms Broad Near-
Surface Antimony Mineralization in First Drill
Hole at Howells Lake Antimony-Gold Project
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2026) -
Critical One Energy Inc.
(CSE: CRTL) (OTCQB:
MMTLF) (FSE: 4EF) ("
Critical One
" or the "
Company
"), a leading Canadian mining exploration
company focused on critical metals and minerals, is pleased to announce that the first diamond drill hole
at its flagship
Howells Lake Antimony-Gold Project
("Howells Lake Project") has confirmed broad near-
surface antimony mineralization with multiple zones of visible stibnite across approximately 100 metres
of core length. Phase 1 drill program has commenced at the historic Howells Lake East Antimony Zone,
located in the Thunder Bay Mining Division of northwestern Ontario, approximately 120 kilometres west
of the Ring of Fire access corridor.
Highlights:
First hole of the Phase I diamond drill program (HWL-2026-001) completed to a depth of 201
metres, the first modern drilling since the original discovery in 1979
Visual inspection confirms broad near-surface mineralization with multiple zones of stibnite
(Sb
₂
S
₃
) mineralization and strong alteration within the first 100 metres, starting at just 24 metres
downhole
Disseminated to semi-massive stibnite stringers observed along rock foliation and in brecciated
quartz-carbonate veins within chlorite-fuchsite altered feldspar porphyry and proximal lithologies,
consistent with the Company's geological model for the East Zone
Pyrite-pyrrhotite-sphalerite sulphide mineralization also observed disseminated throughout the drill
hole, indicating a broader sulphide-bearing system
Core logging, photography, cutting, and sampling underway; samples submitted to AGAT
Laboratories in Thunder Bay for processing and analysis. Results will be reported once received
"We put our first hole into a deposit that hasn't been drilled in over 45 years, and the system delivered
visible antimony mineralization from near surface, right where we expected it," said Duane Parnham,
Founder, Executive Chairman and CEO of Critical One. "This is the first of approximately a dozen
planned holes and we are off to a strong start. At a time when antimony is critical to military and defence
supply chains and trading at levels that didn't exist when first discovered, we have a full program ahead
of us and we look forward to reporting assays and further results as they become available."
Drill Hole Observations
Visual logging of HWL-2026-001 has confirmed broad antimony mineralization, alteration, and veining
within the first approximately 100 meters. Stibnite occurs as disseminated to semi-massive stringers
along rock foliation and in brecciated quartz-carbonate veins within chlorite-fuchsite altered feldspar
porphyry and proximal lithologies, the same host lithology and mineralization style documented in the
original 1979 discovery work. The drill hole was oriented to intersect the East Zone target; the
relationship between core length and true width will be confirmed as additional holes and survey data
become available.
The following intervals are highlighted as representative of the stibnite zones within the broader 100-
metre mineralized envelope:
24.0 m to 26.5 m
(2.5 m core length): Semi-massive stibnite in stringers along quartz vein
boundaries with patches up to 4 cm diameter within a zone of chlorite-fuchsite alteration, quartz
veining, an estimated 3-10% stibnite, and minor pyrite-pyrrhotite (Figure 1A).
35.0 m to 37.0 m
(2.0 m core length): Disseminated stibnite up to an estimated 6% locally
concentrated along foliation in chlorite-altered feldspar porphyry within a wider zone of an
estimated 2% stibnite (Figure 1B).
75.0 m to 78.0 m
(3.0 m core length): An estimated 1-5% stibnite with the highest concentrations
associated with 5-15 cm quartz-carbonate veins (Figure 2).
These observations are based on visual logging only and remain subject to assay confirmation. Samples
have been submitted to AGAT Laboratories in Thunder Bay for processing and analysis.
Figure 1. (A) Semi-massive stibnite mineralization in stringers along quartz boundaries and local
centimetre-scale patches within a zone of chlorite-fuchsite alteration and quartz veining from 24.0 metres
to 26.5 metres core length. NQ core diameter of 4.7 cm shown for scale. (B) Disseminated stibnite
concentrated locally along foliation in chlorite-altered feldspar porphyry from 35.0 metres to 37.0 metres
core length.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/12034/291602_1ae6ac7764392be7_002full.jpg
Figure 2. Semi-massive stibnite within quartz-carbonate veins in chlorite-altered feldspar porphyry.
Veins shown occur within a zone of disseminated pyrite-pyrrhotite from 75m to 78m down hole.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/12034/291602_1ae6ac7764392be7_003full.jpg
Phase I Program
The Phase I program is designed to confirm and expand the historic high-grade antimony-gold zones at
Howells Lake. Drilling will continue in the vicinity of the East Zone before advancing to the West
antimony-gold zone, where historical drilling reportedly returned higher gold grades in addition to
antimony.
The Howells Lake Project represents one of Canada's largest known undeveloped antimony systems,
with a historical resource of 1.7 million tons at a grade of 1.4% antimony with associated gold
mineralization (Themistocleous, 1980)*. Historical drilling includes individual assays of up to 75%
antimony and over 14 grams per tonne gold, as well as intervals such as 5.37% antimony over 8.35
metres and associations with high-grade gold. The project spans a substantial land package of
approximately 25,000 hectares across a 30 km strike in a proven greenstone belt, positioning it as a key
asset in addressing North America's growing demand for critical minerals amid supply chain constraints
and elevated antimony prices.
*Note:
Historic geological and assay information contained in this document requires verification and
the Qualified Person ("QP") responsible for the technical disclosure in this release is unable to
determine if any of that data would meet current NI 43-101 regulations regarding disclosure of
scientific and technical information. Additionally, the QP has not done sufficient work to make the
resource current. The historical resource uses "Inferred + Speculated" categories which are not
comparable to or compliant with CIM definitions of resources. Drill intersections in the historical report
are reported as downhole intervals and no true width could be determined at this time. Historical
grades will need to be replicated and expanded upon with new drilling where uniform and dense drill
intercepts, a defined orientation and size to the ore body, and cut-off grades, are to be established to
meet modern resource standards. The information in the data recovered is considered of value and
relevant to the Company's project. However, the Issuer is not treating the estimate as current.
References:
Themistocleous, S.G., 1980. Miminiska Lake Project, Northwestern Ontario, Geological Report, New
Jersey Zinc Exploration Company (Canada) Ltd.
Qualified Person
Matthew Trenkler, P.Geo. and Chief Geological Officer, Critical One Energy Inc., a Qualified Person
("QP") under NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical content of this news
release. All technical information in this release pertaining to historical data cannot be verified by the QP.
Visual identification of mineralization without assays does not guarantee grades. Assays must be
reported to confirm the presence and grade of antimony and/or gold.
About Critical One Energy Inc.
Critical One Energy Inc. is a forward-focused critical minerals and upstream energy company, powering
the future of clean energy and advanced technologies. The Howells Lake Antimony-Gold Project focuses
the Company's exposure on antimony, one of the most in-demand critical minerals, as well as gold,
which is known to occur at numerous locations on the Howells Lake Project. Backed by seasoned
management expertise and prime resource assets, Critical One is strategically positioned to meet the
rising global demand for critical minerals and metals. Its mine exploration portfolio is led by antimony-
gold exploration potential in Canada and uranium investment interests in Namibia, Africa. By leveraging
its technical, managerial, and financial expertise, the Company upgrades and creates high-value
projects, thereby driving growth and delivering value to its shareholders.
Additional information about Critical One Energy Inc. can be found at
criticaloneenergy.com
and on the
Company's
SEDAR+ profile
at
www.sedarplus.ca
.
For further information, please contact:
Duane Parnham
Executive Chairman & CEO
Critical One Energy Inc.
+1 (416) 489-0092
Media inquiries:
Adam Bello
Manager, Media & Analyst Relations
Primoris Group Inc.
+1 (416) 489-0092
Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor CIRO accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.
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