North American Niobium and Critical Minerals Corp. Launches its C$2.69 Million District-Scale Fully-Funded Comprehensive 2026 Quebec Exploration Program Focused on Niobium and Rare Earth Elements Discoveries
Executive Summary
- North American Niobium and Critical Minerals Corp. announced a fully‑funded $2.69 M exploration program for 2026 covering its 29,936‑hectare Quebec land package.
- The plan includes geophysical surveys, surface geochemistry, bedrock sampling and a 6,000‑m diamond drilling campaign targeting rare earth element (REE) and niobium occurrences at four key properties (Seigneurie, Bardy, Blanchette, Sabot).
- Historic grab samples show promising grades (e.g., 2.7 % total REE at Blanchette, 0.32 % Nb at Seigneurie), positioning the targets within ranges of established global producers.
Key Details
- Exploration Budget: Approximately $2.69 million CAD/USD for 2026.
- Program Stages & Costs:
- Surface Geochemistry Surveys – C$80,000 (soil‑gas radon/helium and fluorine‑hydrogeochemistry).
- Airborne Geophysical Surveys – C$250,000 (magnetics, radiometrics; to be completed Q1 2026).
- Overburden‑Penetrating Bedrock Sampling – C$200,000 (non‑hydraulic gas‑drilled sampling; to be completed Q1 2026).
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Diamond Drilling – $1.9 million (6,000 m total; to be completed Q3 2026).
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Drill Program Allocation:
- Seigneurie – 3,000 m (REE‑Nb pegmatite & carbonatite targets).
- Bardy – 2,000 m (REE‑bearing pegmatite corridor).
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Blanchette – 1,000 m (carbonatite‑associated and pegmatite‑associated REE mineralization).
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Historic Assay Highlights:
- Blanchette pegmatite – 2.7 % total REE.
- Bardy pegmatite – 0.68 % total REE.
- Sabot syenite – 0.21 % total REE.
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Seigneurie pegmatite – 0.4 % total REE + 0.3 % Nb (grab sample).
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2025 Program Recap: Completed first‑pass prospecting, reconnaissance mapping, sampling, and verification of historic SOQUEM airborne radiometric anomalies; spent ~C$200,000 on early‑stage work and property acquisition.
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Future Technical Milestones (contingent on drill results):
- Initiate mineralogical characterization and baseline metallurgical testing for REE and Nb recovery.
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Conduct additional processing studies and prepare a maiden mineral resource estimate.
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Strategic Rationale: Niobium is designated a critical mineral by Canada and the U.S.; domestic supply reduces reliance on a single global source (>90 % of supply). Quebec’s Grenville Province offers favorable geology, infrastructure, and government support for critical‑mineral projects.
Notable Quotes
- “We are drilling across the company’s entire portfolio in 2026 to maximize our chances of making a significant critical element discovery,” said Murray Nye, CEO.
All forward‑looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties; actual results may differ materially.