Apex Critical Metals Commences Major Drilling Initiative at Nebraska Rare Earths Project

The Canadian exploration firm Apex Critical Metals has initiated a significant drilling program at its Rift Project in Nebraska, marking a pivotal operational milestone. The campaign, which commenced in late January 2026, represents the first drilling activity on the Elk Creek Carbonatite Complex since the company acquired the asset. This area is known for its historically documented rare earth element (REE) mineralization.

Apex has contracted Boart Longyear to execute the Phase I program, which is designed for approximately 8,000 meters of drilling across 10 to 15 holes. The work is concentrated on an 850-meter north-south trending zone within the southeastern section of the project. This specific corridor was selected because prior operators reported encountering significant rare earth oxide (REO) grades there.

The company’s targeting leverages a contemporary 3D model that synthesizes historical drill results with recent geophysical and geochemical data. To expedite progress, a second drill rig is scheduled to be mobilized to the site shortly.

Key Program Details:

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• Planned Drilling: ~8,000 meters
• Number of Holes: 10-15
• Project Area: ~3,500 acres (private land)
• Funding Source: CAD $10 million private placement completed in late 2025
• Permits: Issued on January 5, 2026

Building on Historical Results

The drilling aims to verify historical intercepts reported from earlier work on the property. According to Apex, previous operators identified intervals including 155.5 meters grading 2.70% total REO and 68.2 meters grading 3.32% REO. In 2025, the company expanded its land package from 2,407 acres to roughly 3,500 acres, consolidating ground that hosts the most promising historical intersections.

Success in confirming these grades would pave the way for the company’s inaugural mineral resource estimate.

Corporate Updates and Incentives

In recent corporate actions, Apex granted 200,000 stock options to a consultant on February 2, 2026. These options carry an exercise price of CAD $2.75 per share and expire on January 30, 2028. Earlier, on January 23, 2026, the board awarded a director 750,000 Restricted Share Units. These units vest in two equal tranches after 12 and 24 months, respectively.

Anticipated Timeline for Results

Initial assay results from the laboratory are anticipated during the first half of 2026. Should the findings validate the historical data, the company is expected to pursue follow-up drilling phases and advance the project toward a formal resource definition.