Apex Critical Metals Nears Key Drilling Milestone at Nebraska Rare Earths Project

The exploration phase is set to transition into action for Apex Critical Metals at its Rift Rare Earth Project in Nebraska. With a key permit secured and a drilling contractor now appointed, the company is preparing to launch its inaugural drill campaign before the end of January. This pivotal step will test whether historical, high-grade rare earth element intercepts on the property can be confirmed and extended.

The commencement of field operations coincides with heightened political attention on securing supplies of critical minerals. G7 finance ministers are scheduled to meet in Washington on January 12, with discussions expected to cover rare earth supply chains and potential price mechanisms for strategic commodities. This policy drive aims to reduce Western industrial reliance on Chinese processing and supply capabilities. Apex’s Rift Project, alongside its niobium discovery at the Cap Project in British Columbia confirmed in 2025, positions the company as a potential contributor to a more resilient North American supply chain.

Drilling Contractor and Program Details Finalized

Apex has engaged Boart Longyear to conduct the upcoming drill program. The contractor is a well-established provider with specific regional expertise, having recently operated at the adjacent Elk Creek Critical Minerals Project owned by NioCorp using LF160 diamond drill rigs. This selection allows Apex to leverage existing local knowledge rather than introducing a completely new team to the area.

The operational green light was received on January 5, 2026, when the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy and Environment approved the drilling plan. Company preparations are now in their final stages for mobilizing equipment, with spud-in anticipated prior to January’s end. The planned program entails approximately 8,000 meters of drilling across 10 to 15 holes within the Elk Creek Carbonatite Complex.

Building on a Foundation of Historical Data

The Rift Project now encompasses roughly 3,500 acres of the larger Elk Creek Carbonatite Complex. A significant advantage for Apex is the property’s exploration history, which is not starting from scratch. Previous operators, including Molycorp (1973–1986) and Quantum Rare Earth Developments (2010–2011), generated substantial historical data.

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Past campaigns reported drill intercepts with notably high rare earth oxide (REO) grades, such as:
* 155.5 meters grading 2.70% REO, including a subsection of 54.9 meters at 3.30% REO
* 236.2 meters grading 2.10% REO, including a subsection of 68.2 meters at 3.32% REO

The imminent drilling aims to verify these historical results and potentially expand upon them. The market will be watching closely to see if Apex can replicate similar grades and thicknesses and determine if the mineralized zones have a larger footprint.

Technical Oversight and Forthcoming Catalysts

Nathan Schmidt, P.Geo., of Dahrouge Geological Consulting, is the Qualified Person under NI 43-101 standards responsible for supervising the exploration work and has reviewed the technical disclosure. Dahrouge has been contracted by Apex to plan and oversee the entire exploration program.

The coming weeks are likely to hold two primary catalysts for investor attention:
1. The release of detailed drill plans, including hole locations, target zones, and precise meterage, following the program's start.
2. The initial assay results from the core samples, which will be compared against the historical high-grade data.

Market anticipation is already evident in the equity's performance. The shares advanced approximately 5% today to trade at 2.17 euros, a level significantly above the 50-day moving average of 1.51 euros. However, the truly decisive phase will begin with the results from the drill campaign. Confirmation of the historical high-grade zones in the first quarter of 2026 would represent the next clear potential catalyst for the stock.