Apex Critical Metals Corp. (CSE: APXC; OTCQX: APXCF; FWB: KL9), has released an update on its 2025 diamond drilling program at the Cap Critical Minerals Project, located in central British Columbia. The company is currently conducting an exploration campaign targeting carbonatite-hosted niobium and rare earth element (REE) mineralization.

Sean Charland, CEO of Apex, commented in a press release: “As drilling continues, we are encouraged with the initial mineral observations by our geological team by what we’ve now identified within drill core samples, based on visual observations and portable XRF results, as mineralized carbonatite at our Cap project.”

Drill Program Overview

The Cap Project, 100% owned by Apex, spans approximately 2,500 hectares and is situated about 85 kilometers northeast of Prince George, British Columbia. The 2025 exploration initiative, fully funded and permitted under a five-year Multi-Year Area-Based (MYAB) permit, includes plans for up to 1,500 metres of diamond drilling.

To date, four drill holes — designated CAP25-005, CAP25-006, CAP25-007, and CAP25-008 — have been completed, totaling 1,097 metres. Drilling has taken place near the eastern edge of a previously identified coincident soil geochemical and geophysical anomaly. The company reports that all completed holes intersected various intervals of carbonatite, fenite, and/or syenite lithologies. These intersected intervals range from a few metres to over 300 metres in core length, although the true thickness and geometry of the carbonatite body remain unconfirmed. Geological observations currently suggest a near-vertical orientation of the carbonatite.

Preliminary Observations and Sampling

Geological logging of drill core and spot checks using portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) instruments have identified visible occurrences of pyrochlore — a niobium-bearing mineral — as well as various rare earth minerals. However, the company emphasizes that these findings are based on visual identification and preliminary spot XRF readings. As such, no definitive conclusions can be drawn regarding niobium or REE content until laboratory assay results are received and verified.

Core samples from the first two completed drill holes (CAP25-005 and CAP25-006) have already been processed and sent to Activation Laboratories Ltd. in Kamloops, British Columbia, for analysis. The company’s onsite geological team continues to process core from the remaining holes. Laboratory assay results from submitted samples are expected over the coming weeks and are anticipated to continue into the fall.

Sampling and Analytical Protocols

Drilling operations have utilized a helicopter-supported diamond drill rig producing NQ-size core. All core samples are being prepared at Activation Laboratories’ Kamloops facility under standard sample preparation procedures. This includes drying, crushing (to ensure 80% passes 2 mm), splitting (250 grams), and pulverizing to 95% passing 105 µm.

Analytical methods will include:

• XRF analysis (Code 8) for niobium (Nb₂O₅), zirconium (ZrO₂), and tantalum (Ta₂O₅).
• REE Assay via lithium metaborate/tetraborate fusion followed by analysis with ICP and ICP/MS.
• Fire Assay (1A2) for gold content.

Samples were collected by sawing drill core in half, with one half sent for analysis and the other half retained onsite. The sampling program incorporates a Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) protocol, including the insertion of certified reference materials and silica blanks at a rate of approximately 5% each.

Project Background

The Cap Project is one of several exploration-stage properties held by Apex Critical Metals focused on identifying and developing critical mineral deposits in Canada. The Cap property covers a 25-square-kilometre area that hosts a 1.8-kilometre niobium-in-soil geochemical trend, initially identified in earlier fieldwork. The site is of particular interest due to its carbonatite-hosted mineral potential, which is considered globally rare.

Carbonatites, the target rock type at the Cap Project, are known globally for hosting a wide range of economically important minerals, including niobium, REEs, tantalum, and phosphate, along with occasional copper and gold mineralization. Globally significant niobium deposits such as Araxá and Catalão in Brazil, and Niobec in Quebec, are hosted in carbonatite systems. Similarly, major REE operations such as Mountain Pass (USA), Mount Weld (Australia), and Bayan Obo (China) are carbonatite-hosted.

In addition to the Cap Project, Apex Critical Metals holds other exploration-stage carbonatite and alkaline rock projects:

• Bianco Project in northwestern Ontario, covering 3,735 hectares over a known carbonatite complex.
• Lac Le Moyne Project in Quebec, spanning 4,025 hectares, situated near Commerce Resources Corp.’s Eldor Carbonatite Complex.

Each of these properties is considered prospective for critical minerals, with a particular focus on REEs and niobium.

Apex Critical Metals will continue processing and sampling drill core from the 2025 Cap drill program. Laboratory assay results are expected to inform the next phase of exploration, including potential follow-up drilling and geological modeling.