Quantum Critical Metals samples mica from NMX East

Executive Summary

• Quantum Critical Metals reports that mica-rich pegmatite samples from the NMX East project contain high concentrations of critical elements (Ga, Li, Nb, Rb, Sn, Ta), confirming mica as a primary host mineral.
• The highest‑mica sample (72.7 wt% mica) recorded 186 ppm Ga, 959 ppm Li, 320 ppm Nb, 3,220 ppm Rb, 347 ppm Sn and 71.5 ppm Ta, markedly above a low‑mica control sample.
• Ongoing detailed mineralogical work at SGS Lakefield will feed into hydrometallurgical studies aimed at efficient extraction of these metals from mica, supporting the company’s strategy to develop a domestic critical‑metal supply chain.

Key Details

• Samples Tested: Three hand‑selected pegmatite core samples (two mica‑rich, one low‑mica) sent to Agat Laboratories for assay and X‑ray diffraction analysis.
• Mica Content & Element Grades:
• Sample 2 – 72.7 wt% mica: 186 ppm Ga, 959 ppm Li, 320 ppm Nb, 3,220 ppm Rb, 347 ppm Sn, 71.5 ppm Ta.
• Sample 1 – (mica‑rich, exact % not disclosed) showed similarly elevated grades.
• Sample 3 – 0.7 wt% mica: 21.3 ppm Ga, 23 ppm Li, 10 ppm Nb, 1,180 ppm Rb, 4 ppm Sn, 1.4 ppm Ta.
• Interpretation: Strong positive correlation between mica proportion and critical element enrichment; suggests mica is the principal host mineral for these metals in NMX East pegmatites.
• Methodology: Samples hand‑picked from quarter‑cut drill core; analyzed via sodium peroxide fusion followed by ICP‑OES/ICP‑MS at Agat Laboratories (ISO 9001:2015, SCC accredited). Results are not representative of the full 107 m interval or the orebody.
• Next Steps:
• Detailed mineralogical studies ongoing at SGS Lakefield to confirm host relationships and define processing pathways.
• Planned hydrometallurgical testing to evaluate extraction efficiency of Ga, Rb, Cs, Nb, Sn, Ta from mica concentrates.
• Strategic Context:
• NMX East is 100 % owned by Quantum; recent regional land acquisition (167 km²) underscores exploration potential.
• Findings align with company’s goal to fast‑track resource definition and support North American critical‑metal independence amid global supply constraints (e.g., China’s Ga export ban).

Notable Quotes

• “If the detailed mineralogical studies being conducted at SGS align with the preliminary assay results, it likely will confirm that the critical elements are hosted within the mica. This makes it easier to remove these elements from the rock.” – Company commentary on significance of results.