Thickest rare earth element carrying pegmatite interval 33.10 metres
Vancouver, British Columbia, July 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- North American Niobium and Critical Minerals Corp. (CSE: NIOB) (FSE: KS82.F) (OTCQB: NIOMF) ("NIOB" or the "Company") has hit encouraging early indications that Blanchette hosts a meaningful rare earth bearing pegmatite system. The first hole drilled on the property in Québec's Grenville Province intersected 66 metres in total of pegmatite carrying disseminated rare earth element (REE)-bearing minerals—potentially allanite—and associated magnetite.
"These visual results are from the first of eight holes planned for Blanchette," said Murray Nye, Chief Executive Officer. "We chose our drill targets based on where radon data, high-resolution magnetics, and surface mapping all line up with the newly identified intrusion on the property. Our overall goal is to intersect niobium and rare earth element bearing pegmatite systems, and we appear to be on the right track."
Highlights from visual core logging (assays pending)
Cumulative 66 metres of pegmatite carrying disseminated REE-bearing minerals with associated magnetite at Blanchette.
Pegmatite first intersected from 26.05 metres downhole, with multiple pegmatite intervals logged through the hole.
Thickest single pegmatite interval measured 33.10 metres, from 102.30 metres to 135.40 metres.
Rare earth element-bearing minerals up to approximately 2 centimetres wide were observed in the core.
Strong possibility REE minerals includes allanite, which would indicate a REE-fertile magmatic system capable of concentrating light rare earths at scale, with strong potential for neodymium and praseodymium. Trace monazite and possibly thorite were also noted.
Locally elevated handheld scintillometer response was recorded over REE-mineral-bearing intervals, including a discrete radioactive mineral grain that returned a strong scintillometer anomaly.
Coincident anomalies tested: drilling targeted the Blanchette 1 surface-showing dyke discovered by the Ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts, Québec's ministry of natural resources and forests, and a coincident radon anomaly within an interpreted pegmatite system defined by radiometric and magnetic data. A NIOB grab sample from this dyke showed 1.8% total rare earth oxides (TREO), including 774 ppm praseodymium (Pr), 2480 ppm neodymium (Nd), and 108 ppm dysprosium (Dy). It also contained 1030 ppm of niobium (Nb) and 8700 ppm of zirconium (Zr).
Assays pending: drill core is being submitted for multi-element and REE laboratory analysis; results will be disclosed once received and verified by the Company.