Apex Acquires Additional REE Rights and Consolidates Priority Target Area at The Elk Creek Rift Project, Nebraska

Executive Summary

• Apex Critical Metals acquired additional rare‑earth exploration rights, expanding its Elk Creek Rift Project in Nebraska to approximately 3,024 acres.
• The company is refining a Phase I drill program targeting historic high‑grade REE intervals (e.g., EC‑43 and EC‑04) with plans to commence drilling before year‑end.
• Historical re‑analysis data show notable intercepts such as 1.22 % TREO over 134.1 m (EC‑43) and 1.18 % LREO over 185.2 m (EC‑04), underscoring the project's potential scale.

Key Details

• Total acreage after acquisition: ~3,024 acres (1,224 ha) encompassing key portions of the Elk Creek Carbonatite Complex adjacent to NioCorp Developments Ltd.
• Target drill zones:
• EC‑43 – 189.0–323.1 m: 134.1 m @ 1.22 % TREO (including 12.2 m @ 3.18 % TREO and 27.4 m @ 1.83 % TREO).
• EC‑04 – 217.1–402.3 m: 185.2 m @ 1.18 % LREO; 429.8–445.0 m: 15.2 m @ 1.14 % TREO.
• Historical context: Intercepts are from Molycorp drill holes (1973‑1986) re‑analyzed by Quantum Rare Earth Development Corp. in 2010; EC‑04 lacks 2010 data and relies on original analyses limited to light REEs.
• Phase I drilling plan: Company is modeling historic data to design the inaugural drill program, aiming to start before the end of 2025.
• Strategic relevance: Acquisition aligns with U.S. initiatives to reduce import dependence on critical minerals; complements recent large‑scale U.S. investments in domestic REE supply chains (e.g., DoD stake in MP Materials, Apple supply agreement).
• Qualified Person: Nathan Schmidt, P.Geo., Senior Geologist, Dahrouge Geological Consulting Ltd., reviewed technical content per NI 43‑101.
• Cautionary note: Historical results are not NI 43‑101 compliant; further verification required before they can be considered proven resources.

Notable Quotes

“This acquisition consolidates a key area within our Elk Creek Rift Project, and our team is actively refining our Phase I drill plan and advancing permitting with a view towards commencing our inaugural program before the end of the year.” – Sean Charland, CEO, Apex Critical Metals Corp.