Apex Critical Metals talks 2025 Rift work, 2026 outlook

Executive Summary

• Apex Critical Metals provided a year-end 2025 summary and 2026 outlook for its flagship Rift rare earth project in Nebraska, highlighting significant land consolidation, permitting, and contractor selection ahead of imminent Phase I drilling.
• The company expanded its Elk Creek carbonatite complex holdings to 3,500 acres, completed a comprehensive core relogging and reassaying program, and secured a drill permit from the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy and Environment.
• Phase I drilling is scheduled to commence immediately, targeting 8,000 meters across 10–15 holes to validate historical REE mineralization and conduct stepout exploration, with Phase II drilling and an inaugural mineral resource estimate targeted for H2 2026.

Key Details

• Land Package: Expanded to 3,500 acres within the Elk Creek carbonatite complex (initially secured 2,407 acres by Sept 3, 2025), incorporating key historical REE intersections.
• Permitting: Received NDEE approval for mineral exploration/drill permit (Jan 5, 2026).
• Drilling Contractor: Secured Boart Longyear, noted for extensive local drilling experience in the Elk Creek carbonatite.
• Phase I Drill Program: 8,000 meters of coring across 10–15 drill holes; anticipated depths of 600–900 meters.
• Primary Objectives: Validate and expand historically significant REE intervals drilled by Molycorp (1973–1986) and Quantum Rare Earth Developments (2010–2011); conduct stepout exploration north and south to define mineralization orientation ahead of Phase II.
• 2026 Technical Milestones: Completion of NI 43-101 technical report; collection of downhole optical and acoustic televiewer data; geochemical and mineralogical sampling; updated 3-D geological model; refinement of regional Nb and REE targets across the 3,500-acre area.
• Assay Timeline: Phase I drilling assay results expected in Q1–Q2 2026.
• Phase II Outlook: Expected in H2 2026, advancing toward the inaugural mineral resource estimate.
• Historical Intercepts: Previous drilling reported broad high-grade REO intervals, including 155.5 meters of 2.70% REO and 68.2 meters of 3.32% REO.
• Cap Project Update (BC): 2025 drilling confirmed a significant niobium discovery with 0.59% Nb2O5 over 36 meters (including 1.08% Nb2O5 over 10 meters) within a 1.8-kilometer trend.

Notable Quotes

• Sean Charland, CEO: "The past year has been transformational for Apex and we are in an outstanding position to continue that momentum as we prepare to initiate our first phase of drilling at our flagship Rift rare earth project. A successful inaugural drill campaign can quickly position Rift as a potential future source of the critical components necessary to support rare earth magnet production in the United States."