Apex Critical Metals Corp. has intersected 197.5 metres grading 2.12% rare earth oxides from drillhole RIFT26-019 at the Rift Rare Earth Project within the Elk Creek Carbonatite Complex in southeastern Nebraska.

The latest assay results extend the high-grade Trinity Zone mineralization approximately 120 metres further down-dip to the west. The intercept from RIFT26-019 includes a higher-grade core of 26.9 metres at 3.15% rare earth oxides, forming part of a broader envelope that also yielded 5.1 metres at 4.60% rare earth oxides and 55.9 metres at 2.87% rare earth oxides.

Drilling along the southernmost fence line, comprising holes RIFT26-016, RIFT26-017, and RIFT26-018, extended the mineralised strike length by a further 100 metres to the south. These southern holes returned intervals including 46.1 metres at 1.74% rare earth oxides, 77.3 metres at 1.38% rare earth oxides, and 33.7 metres at 2.00% rare earth oxides. The Trinity Zone is now defined across an approximate 500-metre north-south strike length and 300 metres down-dip.

“The results from western step-out drillhole RIFT26-019 confirms the western plunge of the upper Trinity Zone and demonstrates continuity of the high-grade REO mineralization with one of the strongest grade x width intervals to-date. Assays remain pending for several additional holes further to the west, and the visual observations and favourable geology suggest there's a significant opportunity to expand the mineralized footprint with each western step-out. We have made a tremendous amount of progress over the past 12 months and remain on track for an inaugural mineral resource estimate in Q1 2027.” — Sean Charland, CEO of Apex Critical Metals

The ongoing 2026 drill campaign has completed 34 drillholes totaling approximately 22,000 metres. Analytical results are currently pending for fifteen completed drillholes. Drilling is scheduled to continue through September and October with a single rig, supporting work toward an inaugural mineral resource estimate targeted for the first quarter of 2027.

The flagship asset is 100%-controlled by Apex. To fund expanded drilling and accelerate the development timeline, the company closed a $15,000,500 brokered LIFE offering on June 2, 2026.

Read the full announcement: Apex Expands Trinity Zone with Step-out Hole Returning 197.5 m Interval of 2.12% REO at the Rift Rare Earth Project in SE Nebraska