NioBay Announces the Completion and Success of Metallurgical Work on the Crevier Project
NioBay’s Crevier Pilot Test Yields 70% Nb₂O₅ Recovery, Paving Way for Large‑Scale Production
On 8 April 2026 NioBay announced completion of pilot‑scale metallurgical and hydrometallurgical testing on a 10‑t bulk sample from its Crevier Nb‑Ta project. Key results:
- 70% recovery of Nb₂O₅ (grade 17‑36% across stages)
- 92.3% niobium extraction and 95.8% tantalum extraction in conventional hydrometallurgy
- Final concentrate purity 75.8% Nb₂O₅
- By‑product zirconium content 19‑32% in leach residues, creating an additional revenue stream
- Updated NI 43‑101 resource estimate (NI 43‑101) filed on SEDAR+, supporting a dedicated niobium‑oxide production model for battery and superalloy markets.
Management highlighted that results “exceeded expectations” and enable confident progression to large‑scale testing.
- Technical validation: The recovery rates and concentrate purity are markedly higher than earlier pilot data (84.6% peak Nb₂O₅ recovery on a 10 t test in Oct 2025, with lower average grades). This confirms the Crevier ore can be processed efficiently at scale.
- Economic upside: High zirconium content adds a valuable by‑product; at current market prices this could offset processing costs and improve project economics.
- Financing implications: The successful test strengthens the case for future non‑dilutive financing (government grants) and may attract strategic investors seeking exposure to North‑American critical minerals.
- Market reaction: The stock has been trending upward since early Oct 2025, breaking above the C$0.10 level on 9 Oct 2025 and reaching a recent high of C$0.14 in Jan 2026. The new results reinforce that bullish momentum and justify further upside.
Overall, the news materially improves the technical and economic narrative for Crevier, moving the project closer to a bankable feasibility study.
NioBay Metals Inc. focuses on developing North‑American critical minerals, primarily niobium (Nb) and tantalum (Ta). Its flagship is the Crevier Project in Québec (72.5% owned), targeted for dedicated Nb₂O₅ production to serve battery manufacturers and superalloy producers. A secondary asset is the 100% owned James Bay Niobium Project in Ontario, currently under exploration permit.