North American Niobium Adds to Québec Niobium and Rare Earths Holdings
North American Niobium Adds to Québec Niobium and Rare Earths
Holdings
The Miskam Project is just west of the Sabot Project, in a similar geological environment
Vancouver, British Columbia – March 12, 2026 – North America Niobium and Critical Minerals
Corp. (CSE: NIOB) (FSE: IOR) (OTCQB: NIOMF) (“North American Niobium” or the
“Company”) is pleased to announce that it continues to increase its exposure to alkaline intrusive settings
associated with niobium and rare earth element ge ochemical anomalies identified by government datasets
from the Government of Québec. This is in keeping with North American Niobium’s strategic focus on
identifying alkaline systems capable of producing niobium-rare earth element mineralization
The Company has staked approximately 4,222 hectares consisting of 73 mineral claims 45 km northwest
of La Tuque, Québec (“Miskam”). Transfers of 21 of the 73 mineral claims remain pending approval. The
property is approximately 2 km west of Sabot and shares a similar geological setting. Highly anomalous
bottom lake sediments and rock s samples collected by the govern ment on Miskam align with mapped
syenitic intrusions and favourable host rocks (see Figure 1), supporting a silicate-alkaline exploration model
for niobium-rare earth element mineralization.
“We saw an opportunity to secure this land package based on intriguing signs in a favourable geological
environment, with nearby prospects that support our targeting concept,” said Murray Nye, Chief Executive
Officer. “Our technical team believes the acquisition made sense, so we moved to purchase the claims. The
geological setting we’re targeting is consistent with alkaline intrusive environments that can host niobium–
rare earth elements mineralization. Importantly, we expect the permitting pathway and stakeholder
engagement approach for this area to be consistent with our established Québec process, which we believe
will help streamline near-term planning.”
Highlights
Acquired 73 mineral claims over 4,222 hectares in the La Tuque area, expanding the Company’s footprint
within the Grenville Province
Targeting niobium-rare earth elements potential in an alkaline system supported by Québec government
data, including SIGÉOM and PRO 2009-03 (Labbé, 2009) bottom-lake sediment geochemistry
Highly anomalous (approx. 99th pe rcentile) niobium-lanthanum-yttrium geochemical responses in the
area stand out within the referenced dataset and are considered prospective in the context of alkaline
niobium-rare earth elements systems in Québec
Mapped syenitic intrusions near potentially silica -rich metasediments (e.g., quartzites and other
metasedimentary units) are consistent with an alka line silicate niobium–rare earth elements exploration
model
Next steps include field validation and sampling to refine targets and prioritize follow-up work
Strategic Rationale and Exploration Model
The Company is focused on identifying alkaline systems capable of producing niobium-rare earth element
mineralization. This concept draws on the explora tion framework described by Beard et al (2022), and
includes:
A typically oval alkaline intrusive complex can provide several pathways to concentrate niobium and
rare earth elements such as:
o near-surface and contact zones where alkaline melts and late-stage fluids react with silica-rich host
rocks, potentially creating mineralized breccias, xenoliths and sheeted syenite bodies
o mineralization within the intrusion where the magma becomes layered and progressively more evolved
o late-stage, highly evolved intrusive phases (central/apical plugs, sheets and dikes, and related pegmatite
or hydrothermal zones) where rare earths and other critical elements may be concentrated as the system
cools and differentiates
carbonatite-associated niobium-rare earth element systems.
The Company has reviewed Québec government bottom-lake sedi ment geochemistry available through
SIGÉOM, including information reported in PRO 2 009-03 (Labbé, 2009). The dataset includes 11,719
sample locations within the Company’s area of interest.
A cluster of anomalous bottom-lake sediment in ni obium, lanthanum, and yttrium has been identified
occurring directly over, and immediately adjacent to, a mapped alkaline intrusive oval-shaped body
interpreted to be at least 7x10 km . The anomalous response appears to be strongest near the interpreted
intrusion and extends outward into adjacent metasedi mentary units of the Wabash Complex. Two rock
samples collected by government geologists also returned elevated total rare earth element values, grading
713.9 ppm and 785.67 ppm.
Taken together, this spatial association between the bottom-lake sediment anomaly pattern, the interpreted
alkaline intrusive body, and favourable host rocks makes for a compelling, early-stage niobium-rare earths
target on the property.
Figure 1 below presents the Compan y’s current compilation, including the mapped alkaline intrusion
outline and the anomalous bottom-lake sediment responses at Miskam.
Figure 1: The Miskam Project shows a strong niobum, lanthanum, and yttrium anomaly up to 99th percentile. It is strongest within
the intrusion and near its southern contact with the paragnei ss metasediments of the Wabash Complex, which are commonly
associated with silica-rich sediments such as quartzites and cherts.
Note: The technical rationale described herein is inte rpretive and early stage and is based primarily on
public-domain government mapping and geochemical datasets and the presence of regional mineral
occurrences. These indications do not confirm the presence of mineralization on the Property, and there has
been insufficient exploration on the Property to define a mineral resource.
Selected references:
Labbé, J.-Y. (2009). Nouvelles données géochimiques de sédiments de fond de lac dans la partie
occidentale du Grenville québécois : secteurs de Va l-d’Or, Chibougamau et La Tuque. Ministère des
Ressources naturelles et de la Faune (Québec), PRO 2009-03, 8 p. (Available through SIGÉOM).
Beard, C.D., Goodenough, K.M., Borst, A.M., Wall, F., Siegfried, P.R., Deady, E.A., Pohl, C., Hutchison,
W., Finch, A.A., Walter, B.F., Elliott, H.A.L., & Brauch, K. (2022). Alkaline-silicate REE-HFSE systems.
Economic Geology, 118(1), 177–208. doi:10.5382/econgeo.4956.
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 a nd a Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101, has
reviewed and approved the technical information contained herein.
ABOUT NORTH AMERICAN NIOBIUM AND CRITICAL MINERALS CORP.
North American Niobium and Critical Minerals Corp. (CSE: NIOB | OTCQB: NIOMF | FSE:KS82.F)
is a North American mineral exploration compa ny focused on the acquisition and development of
precious, base, and critical mineral assets. Its portf olio includes the Silver Lake property in British
Columbia’s Omineca Mining Divi sion and a recently acquired land package in Quebec’s Grenville
Province. The Québec properties add exposure to rare earth elements, niobium, and nickel-copper
occurrences, expanding the Company’s footprint into critical minerals that are strategically important for
nergy and defense applications.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
Murray Nye
Chief Executive Officer
+1 (647) 984-4204
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicab le Canadian securities legislation. All s tatements in this
release, other than statements of historical fact, that addre ss events, results, outcomes or developments that the Company expe cts, anticipates or
intends to occur in the future, or that otherwise reflect manage ment’s expectations or beliefs about future events, are forward -looking statements.
Forward-looking statements are generally, but not always, identified by the use of word s 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 m ineral prospectivity;
(ii) the Company’s planned exploration, development and evaluation activities on the Properties; and (iii) the potential for th e Grenville Province
to host significant rare earth element, niobium, nickel-copper or other critical mineral deposits. Such forward-looking stateme nts are based on the
Company’s current plans, intentions, exp ectations and beliefs and are subject to certain assumptions, including, without limita tion, 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 ma terially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looki ng 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 availa bility of capital and financing on acceptabl e terms; general
economic, business and political conditions; risks inherent in mi neral exploration a nd development, incl uding 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.
The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility fo r the adequacy or accuracy of this release and has neither ap proved nor
disapproved the contents of this press release