Star Metro - Apex Summarizes Progress to-date and 2026 Outlook at the Rift Rare Earth Project

Throughout 2025, Apex accumulated and expanded its private holdings within the Elk Creek Carbonatite complex with a focus on the most prospective ground for rare earth (REE) and niobium mineralization, and completed comprehensive technical and modeling work, enabled by the multiple strategic financings completed during the year.

Rift Rare Earth Project: A Transformative Year Summarized

• After evaluating numerous known global carbonatites the Company identified Elk Creek as its highest priority and by September 3, 2025, had secured 2,407 acres.

• Project size subsequently expanded to 3,500 acres including key consolidation pieces incorporating the most significant historical REE intersections from previous drilling.

• Apex launched and completed a re-logging and re-assaying program of preserved drill core from the Rift Project during Q4/2025 in partnership with the Conservation and Survey Division, School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (see news releases November 24^th and December 8^th).

• Received approval from the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy and Environment (NDEE) for its mineral exploration/drill permit (see news release Jan 5, 2026).

• Secured drill contractor with extensive local drilling experience in the Elk Creek Carbonatite (Boart Longyear) for Phase I drilling (see news release Jan 12, 2026).

• Apex is completing final logistical steps with mobilization of drill equipment and crews now imminent (see 2026 Phase I Drill Plan section below).

WATCH: Video with Director and Technical Advisor, Jody Dahrouge, outlining the opportunity to define a significant REE deposit in the heart of America. (https://apexcriticalmetals.com/apex-critical-metals-corporate-video/).

Apex CEO, Sean Charland, commented: "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."

2026 Phase I Drill Program at Rift

The Company moved quickly during Q4/2025, completing re-logging and re-assaying of preserved historical drill core, creating and updating a 3D geological model, securing its necessary permit, engaging an experienced drill contractor, and advancing logistics in preparation for Phase I drilling.

Phase I drilling contemplates 8,000 m of coring across 10 to 15 drill holes, with depths anticipated to range from 600 to 900 m. The primary objective of the program is to validate and expand upon the historically significant intervals drilled by Molycorp (1973-1986) and Quantum Rare Earth Developments (2010-2011), which demonstrated a significant zone of REE mineralization that remains open in all directions. Additional step-out exploration drilling is also planned to the north and south within the favourable geophysical anomaly (see red outline in Figure 1 above), with the aim of ascertaining better controls on the REE mineralization orientation in advance of mineral resource focused Phase II drilling.

Additional Outlook Items at Rift in 2026:

• Completion of NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Project.

• Collection of downhole Optical and Acoustic Televiewer survey data on select holes to improve structural interpretation and inform geological model.

• Collection of samples for geochemical and mineralogical testing.

• Assay results from Phase I drilling (Q1-Q2/2026).

• Updated 3D model incorporating all data from re-logging/re-assaying and Phase I.

• Refinement of regional niobium and REE targets across the 3,500-acre Project area.

• H2/2026 expected to include Phase II drilling and advancement towards inaugural mineral resource estimate.

Qualified Person

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Nathan Schmidt, P. Geo., a Qualified Person under NI 43-101 on standards of disclosure for mineral projects. Mr. Schmidt is a Geologist with Dahrouge Geological Consulting Ltd., the consulting firm engaged by Apex Critical Metals Corp. to conduct and oversee all of the Company's exploration work, including the 2026 drill program

About Apex Critical Metals Corp. (CSE:APXC)(OTCQX:APXCF)(FWB:KL9)

Apex Critical Metals Corp. is a Canadian exploration company focused on advancing rare earth element (REE) and niobium projects that support the growing demand for critical and strategic metals across the United States and Canada. The Company's flagship Rift Project, located within the highly prospective Elk Creek Carbonatite Complex in Nebraska, U.S.A., hosts extensive rare earth rights surrounding one of North America's most advanced niobium-REE deposits. Historical drilling across the complex has reported broad intervals of high-grade REE mineralization, including intercepts such as 155.5 m of 2.70% REO and 68.2 m of 3.32% REO.

In Canada, Apex continues to advance its 100%-owned Cap Project, located 85 kilometres northeast of Prince George, British Columbia. The 2025 drill program confirmed a significant niobium discovery with 0.59% Nb₂O₅ over 36 metres, including 1.08% Nb₂O₅ over 10 metres, within a 1.8-kilometre-long niobium trend. The Cap Project continues to demonstrate strong potential for niobium mineralization within a large and previously unrecognized carbonatite system.

With a growing portfolio of critical mineral projects in both Canada and the United States, Apex Critical Metals is strategically positioned to help strengthen domestic supply chains for the minerals essential to advanced technologies, clean energy, and national security. Apex is publicly listed in Canada on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) under the symbol APXC and quoted on the OTCQX market in the United States under the symbol APXCF, and in Germany on the Borse Frankfurt under the symbol KL9 and/or WKN: A40CCQ. Find out more at www.apexcriticalmetals.com and watch our videos at https://apexcriticalmetals.com/apex-critical-metals-corporate-video/ and make sure to stay in touch by signing up for free news alerts at https://apexcriticalmetals.com/news/news-alerts/, or by following us on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook or LinkedIn.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

APEX CRITICAL METALS CORP.,

Sean Charland
Chief Executive Officer
Tel: 604.681.1568
Email: [email protected]

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION:

This news release may contain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Forward-looking statements in this news release include (without limitation) statements regarding the Company's US-based prospective assets (more particularly described above), including the potential for additional acquisitions and the potential for exploration, and statements regarding the potential for future exploration and drilling to confirm the source of magnetic anomalies. Forward-looking statements are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements. Risks that could change or prevent these events, activities or developments from coming to fruition include: the Company's properties are at an early stage of development and no current mineral resources or reserves have been identified by the Company thereof, that we may not be able to fully finance any additional exploration on the Company's properties; that even if we are able to raise capital, costs for exploration activities may increase such that we may not have sufficient funds to pay for such exploration or processing activities; the timing and content of any future work programs; geological interpretations based on drilling that may change with more detailed information; potential process methods and mineral recoveries assumptions based on limited test work and by comparison to what are considered analogous deposits that, with further test work, may not be comparable; testing of our process may not prove successful or samples derived from our properties may not yield positive results, and even if such tests are successful or initial sample results are positive, the economic and other outcomes may not be as expected; the anticipated market demand for REE and other minerals may not be as expected; the availability of labour and equipment to undertake future exploration work and testing activities; geopolitical risks which may result in market and economic instability. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements herein are made as of the date hereof, and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

SOURCE: Apex Critical Metals Corp.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

A.Bergeron--SMC