Apex Extends Trinity Zone 200 m with 3.55% REO over 116.0 m and 2.35% over 171.5 m in Western Step-out Drilling at Rift
Western step-out holes intersected grades above 4.00% REO, while the two southernmost holes showed weaker hematite alteration.
Sentiment and the balance of points
Rhea-AI Sentiment reads the wording of the document, how positive or negative its language is on a 1 to 5 scale. The balance of points shown with the takes weighs what the document actually discloses, so the two can disagree, for example when a trial that missed its main goal is described in upbeat language.
Rhea-AI Summary
Apex Critical Metals (APXCF) extended the Trinity Zone approximately 200 m west through step-out drilling at its Rift Rare Earth Project. RIFT26-024 returned 3.55% rare earth oxide (REO) over 116.0 m, including 3.99% over 18.8 m and 4.75% over 22.9 m. RIFT26-022 returned 2.35% REO over 171.5 m, including 4.07% over 37.0 m.
Southern drilling returned 1.82% REO over 48.9 m in RIFT26-023, 1.37% over 20.4 m in RIFT26-021, and 1.71% over 42.7 m in RIFT26-020. The two southernmost holes showed weaker hematite alteration than higher-grade intersections to the north. Mineralization has been traced along approximately 500 m north-south and more than 300 m westward down-dip. Results have been released for 24 of 37 completed holes. Apex plans drilling well into Q4/2026 and an inaugural mineral resource estimate before the end of Q1/2027. Reported lengths are downhole intervals, not true widths.
How this balance works
Rhea-AI gives every point it takes from this document a weight. Minor counts 1, Moderate 3 and Major 9, so one Major point outweighs several Minor ones. The bar adds up the weights on each side, and when neither side holds more than 65% of the total the balance reads Mixed.
It reads the document as published, with the same rules for every company, and it does not look at what the market expected or at how the stock traded, so a point can be objectively good on a day the stock falls.
Rhea-AI Sentiment measures something else, the tone of the wording.
Hollow bars mark forward-looking points. How the balance works
Positive
- Moderate pointWestern step-out drilling extended Trinity Zone mineralization approximately 200 m west of RIFT26-012.
- Moderate pointRIFT26-024: 3.55% REO over 116.0 m, including 3.99% over 18.8 m and 4.75% over 22.9 m.
- Moderate pointRIFT26-022: 2.35% REO over 171.5 m, including 4.07% over 37.0 m.
- Minor pointRIFT26-023: 1.82% REO over 48.9 m, including 2.66% over 8.5 m; grade and interval length increased westward.
- Minor pointRIFT26-021: 1.37% REO over 20.4 m, including 1.38% over 16.7 m and 3.17% over 4.1 m.
4 minor points
- Minor pointRIFT26-020: 1.71% REO over 42.7 m, including 2.47% over 19.5 m.
- Minor pointTrinity Zone mineralization now spans approximately 500 m north-south and more than 300 m westward down-dip.
- Minor point. Forward-looking: it has not happened yet and may not happen.Apex plans continued drilling well into Q4/2026, prioritizing the Trinity Zone's eastern extent.
- Minor point. Forward-looking: it has not happened yet and may not happen.Apex targets its inaugural Rift mineral resource estimate before the end of Q1/2027.
Negative
- Minor pointRIFT26-020 and RIFT26-021 showed weaker hematite alteration than higher-grade intersections to the north.
- Minor point. Forward-looking: it has not happened yet and may not happen.Potential further 150 m western extension rests on visual indications; assays are required to confirm mineralization.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / October 5, 2026 / Apex Critical Metals Corp. ("Apex" or the "Company") (CSE:APXC)(OTCQX:APXCF)(FWB:KL9)(Euronext Access Paris:MLAPX), a mineral exploration company focused on advancing its strategic
Sean Charland, CEO of Apex Critical Metals, commented: "The results from western step-out drillholes RIFT26-022 and RIFT26-024 mark an exciting milestone for the project, representing material intersections of greater than
To date, the Company has had consistent success defining the Trinity Zone along two primary E-W drill fences, which currently span approximately 600 m east-west and 100 m north-south with continuous mineralization between and beyond the two fences (see Figure 1 and news release dated August 12, 2026). Apex is currently prioritizing drilling to the east along these fence lines to define the eastern extent of the Trinity Zone ahead of the Company's planned mineral resource estimate (MRE) by the end of Q1/2027.
Key Observations and Takeaways
Current analytical results targeting the down-dip extension of the Trinity Zone (RIFT26-022 and RIFT26-024) confirm that the high-grade, west-plunging mineralized body extends an additional ~200 m west of previously reported RIFT26-012, which returned 26.0 m at
RIFT26-024 returned two high-grade intervals of
Comparing these results with the drill fence containing RIFT26-019 (see news release dated September 8, 2026) suggests that the mineralization is continuous over the 100 m separating the two drill fences. Results reported herein occur primarily within hematite-altered carbonatite, further validating the importance of hematite alteration in the mineralized system. Visual indications from the drillholes further to the west along the drill fence highlight the potential for a further 150 m of extension (see Figure 2 above).
Drilling Targeting Southern Extensions
Drillholes RIFT26-020, RIFT26-021 and RIFT26-023 are all located further to the south where the Company has completed two smaller fences to continue testing the limits of the ~500 m north-south strike length defined to date (refer to Figure 1 plan view map above).
Drill results from RIFT26-023 returned an interval of
Drillholes RIFT26-020 and RIFT26-021 are the southernmost holes completed to date, located approximately 90 m south of RIFT26-023. RIFT26-021 returned elevated intervals of
To date, twenty-four (24) of the thirty-seven (37) completed drillholes have analytical results released. Results contained herein continue to highlight significant intervals of >
Table 1: Drillhole Location and Attributes
Hole ID | Depth (m) | Azimuth(b) (°) | Dip(b) (°) | Easting (a) | Northing (a) | Elevation |
RIFT26-020 | 494 | 75 | -65 | 742017 | 4460386 | 332.64 |
RIFT26-021 | 555 | 75 | -65 | 741914 | 4460363 | 332.78 |
RIFT26-022 | 616 | 80 | -65 | 741859 | 4460667 | 332.16 |
RIFT26-023 | 597 | 75 | -65 | 741794 | 4460444 | 333.16 |
RIFT26-024 | 652 | 80 | -65 | 741754 | 4460645 | 333.19 |
| (a)Coordinates are presented in NAD83 UTMZ14 (b) Azimuth and Dip are planned and may vary downhole | ||||||
Table 2: RIFT26-024, RIFT26-023, RIFT26-022, RIFT26-021, and RIFT26-020, Assay Highlights
Program Status and Next Steps
The Company continues to drill with a single rig with drilling planned to continue well into Q4/2026. Additional assay results will be released as received, vetted and interpreted. The Company remains on track to deliver an inaugural mineral resource estimate at the Rift Project before the end of Q1/2027.
Quality Assurance / Quality Control
All drilling was completed on a track-mounted diamond drill rig with HQ-size core and all drill core samples have been or will be shipped to Activation Laboratories Ltd. (Actlabs) preparation facility in Ancaster, Ontario, for standard sample preparation (code RX1) which includes drying, crush (< 7 kg) up to
A Quality Assurance/Quality Control protocol was incorporated into the program and included the insertion of certified reference material and silica blanks at a rate of approximately
Management cautions that the interception of carbonatite and associated hematite alteration is not necessarily indicative of mineralization. Assay results are required to confirm the presence, grade, and significance of any mineralization.All intercepts reported in this news release represent core length (apparent width). True widths have not yet been determined.
(1) REO (Rare Earth Oxide) is defined as the sum of Ce2O3, La2O3, Pr2O3, Nd2O3, Eu2O3, Sm2O3, Gd2O3, Tb2O3, Dy2O3, Ho2O3, Er2O3, Tm2O3, Yb2O3, Lu2O3, and Y2O3.
(2) NdPr distribution calculated as (Nd2O3 + Pr2O3) / REO x 100
For more detailed drill results information, including REO calculations and conversions, please visit https://apexcriticalmetals.com/projects/rift-rare-earth-project/#reo_disclosure
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.
Mr. Schmidt has verified all scientific and technical data disclosed in this news release including the sampling and QA/QC results, and certified analytical data underlying the technical information disclosed. Mr. Schmidt noted no errors or omissions during the data verification process. The Company and Mr. Schmidt do not recognize any factors of sampling or recovery that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the assay data disclosed in this news release.
Rare earth oxide ("REO") values reported in this news release are calculated as the sum of individual rare earth oxide components and are not directly measured assay results. The individual rare earth oxide values underlying each reported REO grade are available at Individual Rare Earth Oxide Disclosure.
About Apex Critical Metals Corp. (CSE:APXC)(OTCQX:APXCF)(FWB:KL9)(Euronext Access Paris:MLAPX)
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 deposits. Two historical drillholes located within the 700 m corridor of interest returned broad intervals of >
In Canada, Apex continues to advance its
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, in Germany on the Börse Frankfurt under the symbol KL9 and/or WKN: A40CCQ, and in France on Euronext Access Paris under the symbol MLAPX.
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: info@apexcriticalmetals.com
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 information" or "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). 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 drill program and any subsequent drill programs and statements regarding the Company's prospective assets (more particularly described above), and statements regarding future assay results and the potential for future exploration and drilling to confirm the source of magnetic anomalies, to test the extent of mineralization along strike and at depth, and ongoing refinement of the 3D geological modelling and understanding of the mineralized system. 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
FAQ
AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
What did Apex Critical Metals find in the western Rift step-out holes?
RIFT26-024 returned 3.55% REO over 116.0 m, and RIFT26-022 returned 2.35% REO over 171.5 m. These holes extended the Trinity Zone approximately 200 m west of RIFT26-012. Both included higher-grade intervals, with RIFT26-024 reaching 4.75% REO over 22.9 m and RIFT26-022 returning 4.07% over 37.0 m.
When does Apex Critical Metals plan to deliver the first Rift mineral resource estimate?
Apex plans to deliver its inaugural Rift mineral resource estimate before the end of Q1/2027. Drilling is planned to continue well into Q4/2026, with priority given to defining the eastern extent of the Trinity Zone.
Are Apex Critical Metals' reported Rift REO grades directly measured assay results?
The reported REO grades are calculated sums of individual rare earth oxide components, rather than directly measured assay results. The individual oxide values underlying each reported REO grade are available through the company's Individual Rare Earth Oxide Disclosure.