Monday, September 14, 2026
MiningNewsTerminal
Monday, September 14, 2026 Admin

NIOB.CN ·

Bedrock Sampling

North American Niobium to Commence Systematic Bottom-of-Till and

Bedrock Sampling at Sabot Project, Quebec

Vancouver, British Columbia – March 5, 2026 – North American Niobium and Critical Minerals Corp.

(CSE: NIOB) (OTCQB: NIOMF) (FSE: KS82.F) announces that it will commence a 3 to 4 week bedrock

sampling and bottom -of-till sampling program at its 100% -owned Sabot project, located approximately 45

kilometres northwest of the Municipality of La Tuque, Québec.

The program is designed to advance the Company’s niobium (Nb) and rare earth element (REE) targeting by

collecting new bottom-of-till information suitable for heavy fraction mineralogy, together with shallow bedrock

core information collected from surface using a backpack drill. Based on results and logistical considerations,

the program may be expanded to include follow-up coverage on the Company’s Bardy and Blanchette properties.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

• Bedrock and bottom- of-till sampling program will commence at the Sabot project, Québec, and is

expected to run approximately 3 to 4 weeks.

• The Company has planned 187 sampling points on an approximate 400- metre spacing, positioned to

optimize homogeneity of coverage across the target area.

• The program will focus on collecting bottom-of-till material for heavy fraction mineralogy and obtaining

bedrock information via shallow core drilling from surface.

• Bedrock sampling is expected to comprise up to ~2 metres of core from surface per point, depending on

overburden conditions.

• Field activities are expected to be conducted by a crew that may consist of up to three operators, with

work supervised by consulting geologists working alongside the Company.

• The program may be expanded to include additional sampling on the Company’s Bardy and Blanchette

areas based on results and logistics.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The planned work is intended to refine and prioritize exploration targets through systematic collection of both

bottom-of-till and bedrock information in areas where multiple datasets support elevated potential for Nb–REE

prospectivity. The program is structured to provide two complementary datasets: (i) bottom -of-till material

suitable for heavy fraction mineralogy, and (ii) shallow bedrock core intervals to support direct geological

observation and sampling where overburden permits.

At Sabot, the Company has planned 187 sampling points at approximately 400- metre spacing, with point

positioning selected to optimize the uniformity of coverage across the area of interest while remaining responsive

to local access and site conditions.

Bedrock information will be collected using a backpack drill, with shallow drilling expected to return up to ~2

metres of core from surface, subject to overburden thickness and ground conditions encountered at each site.

TARGETING RATIONALE

The sampling program is focused on areas of interest defined through the Company’s ongoing interpretation of

its Québec datasets, including:

• Geophysical signatures interpreted to be consistent with prospective intrusive and/or structural settings;

• Rock and soil geochemical anomalies identified within the project area;

• Structural interpretation used to inform the prioritization of corridors, contacts, and potential controls on

emplacement and alteration; and

• Geological indicators interpreted to be consistent with alkaline intrusive environments that can be

associated with Nb–REE mineral systems.

The Company cautions that geophysical and geochemical anomalies are exploration indicators only and do not

confirm the presence of mineralization. Sampling results and associated mineralogical work will require

interpretation in the context of the broader geological setting and may or may not support follow-up work.

“This program is an important step in building higher -quality drill targets at Sabot,” said Murray Nye, Chief

Executive Officer. “By combining bottom-of-till sampling suitable for heavy fraction mineralogy with shallow

bedrock core information , we aim to strengthen our geological understanding and improve our chances of hitting

niobium and rare earth elements mineralization in our upcoming 2026 drill program”

ABOUT NORTH AMERICAN NIOBIUM AND CRITICAL MINERALS CORP.

North American Niobium and Critical Minerals Corp. is a North American mineral exploration company

focused on the acquisition and development of precious, base, and critical mineral assets. Its portfolio

includes the Silver Lake property in British Columbia’s Omineca Mining Division and a recently acquired

land package in Québec’s Grenville Province. The Québec properties add exposure to rare earth elements

(REE), niobium (Nb), and nickel-copper (Ni-Cu) occurrences, expanding the Company’s footprint into

critical minerals that are strategically important for energy and defense applications.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

Murray Nye

Chief Executive Officer

1055 West Georgia Street, Suite 1500

Vancouver, BC V6E 0B6

Canada

For further information, please contact:

Murray Nye, CEO

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +1 (647) 984-4204

CSE:NIOB

OTCQB: NIOMF

FSE:KS82.F

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian

securities legislation. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical fact, that address

events, results, outcomes or developments that the Company expects, anticipates or intends to occur in the

future, or that otherwise reflect management’s expectations or beliefs about future events, are forward-

looking statements. Forward-looking statements are generally, but not always, identified by the use of words

and phrases such as “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “intends,” “estimates,” “projects,”

“potential,” “opportunity,” “strategy,” “target,” “forecast” and similar expressions, or statements that events,

conditions or results “will,” “would,” “may,” “could,” or “should” occur or be achieved.

Forward-looking statements in this release include, but are not limited to: (i) statements regarding the

Properties and their mineral prospectivity; (ii) the Company’s planned exploration, development and

evaluation activities on the Properties; and (iii) the potential for the Grenville Province to host significant

rare earth element, niobium, nickel-copper or other critical mineral deposits. Such forward-looking

statements are based on the Company’s current plans, intentions, expectations and beliefs and are subject to

certain assumptions, including, without limitation, assumptions that exploration results will continue to

support the prospectivity of the Properties.

Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are

reasonable, such statements are not guarantees of future performance or outcomes and actual results may

differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause

actual results to differ materially from those anticipated include, but are not limited to: the timing and receipt

of required regulatory approvals; changes in commodity prices and market conditions; the availability of

capital and financing on acceptable terms; general economic, business and political conditions; risks

inherent in mineral exploration and development, including operational risks, geological uncertainties,

environmental risks and accidents; changes in government regulation or policy; and the speculative nature of

mineral exploration and development. Additional information regarding risks and uncertainties faced by the

Company is available in the Company’s public disclosure record on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca).

Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and undue

reliance should not be placed on them. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are made as

of the date hereof and are based on information currently available and management’s beliefs, estimates,

expectations and opinions at that time. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company

undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new

information, future events or otherwise.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been prepared in accordance with

National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”). Clyde McMillan,

P.Geo., a consultant to the Company and a Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101, has reviewed and

approved the technical information contained herein.

The Company also wishes to acknowledge and pay tribute to the late Jean David for his important

contributions to Québec geoscience, including the U–Pb geochronological work referenced herein.

The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this

release and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release