Critical One Energy Extends Antimony-Gold Mineralization and Provides Drill Program Update at Howells Lake
Reported intercepts are core lengths; true widths have not been estimated because geological information is insufficient.
Sentiment and the balance of points
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Rhea-AI Summary
Critical One Energy (CTLOF) extended antimony mineralization 30 m northeast of Howells Lake’s East Zone in new drilling. Hole HWL-2026-017 returned 11.9 m at 1.75% antimony, including 3.6 m at 3.78%. East Zone hole HWL-2026-009 returned antimony intervals of 1.15 m at 3.32% and 3.75 m at 0.90%.
Beneath the East Zone, HWL-2026-014 returned 7.0 m at 1.49 g/t gold, including 3.0 m at 2.69 g/t, and a separate 6.0 m interval containing antimony, gold and zinc. West Zone hole HWL-2026-013 returned 5.0 m at 0.57 g/t gold. Critical One targets 15,000 m of drilling by the end of its 2026 campaign and plans a mineral resource estimate. More assays are pending, including from part of HWL-2026-017; the company also plans deeper drilling and larger-core drilling for metallurgical analysis.
Positive
- Minor pointHWL-2026-017 extended East Zone antimony mineralization 30 m northeast, returning 11.9 m at 1.75% antimony.
- Minor pointHWL-2026-009 returned East Zone antimony intervals of 1.15 m at 3.32% and 3.75 m at 0.90%.
- Minor pointHWL-2026-014 returned 7.0 m at 1.49 g/t gold beneath the East Zone, including 3.0 m at 2.69 g/t.
- Minor pointHWL-2026-014 also returned 6.0 m at 0.39% antimony, 0.43 g/t gold and 0.40% zinc.
- Minor pointHWL-2026-013 returned 5.0 m at 0.57 g/t gold in the West Zone.
4 minor points
- Minor pointHWL-2026-009 also returned 7.64 m at 0.46 g/t gold.
- Minor point. Forward-looking: it has not happened yet and may not happen.15,000 m is Critical One’s updated drilling target for the end of its 2026 campaign.
- Minor point. Forward-looking: it has not happened yet and may not happen.Deeper drilling is ongoing; the company plans larger-core drilling for metallurgical analysis.
- Minor point. Forward-looking: it has not happened yet and may not happen.Mineral resource estimate is planned, with gold-bearing horizons under evaluation for potential inclusion.
Negative
- Minor pointAssays remain pending for several holes and from 168 m to 236 m in HWL-2026-017.
- Minor pointTrue widths have not been estimated because geological information is insufficient.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - September 29, 2026) - Critical One Energy Inc. (CSE: CRTL) (OTCQB: CTLOF) (FSE: 4EF) ("Critical One" or the "Company") is pleased to announce assay results from four drill holes at its flagship Howells Lake Antimony-Gold Project ("Howells Lake Project"), located approximately 120 kilometres west of the Ring of Fire access corridor in Ontario, Canada. The results extend antimony ("Sb") mineralization 30 metres ("m") northeast of the high-grade East Zone intersections, add near-surface antimony, further confirm gold ("Au") mineralization beneath the East Zone, and intersect additional gold mineralization in the West Zone.
Highlights:
Antimony zone extended northeast: HWL-2026-017 returned 11.9 m grading
1.75% Sb, including 3.6 m at3.78% Sb. HWL-2026-017 was drilled down-dip of HWL-2026-016 (released August 20, 2026) and extends Sb mineralization 30 m to the northeast of the Howells Lake East Zone. Assays from 168 m to 236 m are pending.Additional near-surface antimony: HWL-2026-009 returned 1.15 m grading
3.32% Sb and 3.75 m grading0.90% Sb in the East Zone, and 7.64 m grading 0.46 g/t Au.Gold confirmed beneath the East Zone: HWL-2026-014 returned 7.0 m grading 1.49 g/t Au, including 3.0 m at 2.69 g/t Au, and a polymetallic interval of 6.0 m grading
0.39% Sb, 0.43 g/t Au and0.40% Zn.Gold in the West Zone: HWL-2026-013 returned 5.0 m grading 0.57 g/t Au.
"The 2026 Howells Lake drill program is going according to plan, delivering strong, high-grade, near-surface antimony results that have exceeded expectations at this stage," said Duane Parnham, Executive Chairman and CEO of Critical One Energy. "We're continuing to move forward quickly to drill at Howells Lake, with more data coming this fall. These results are building toward a planned mineral resource estimate while also helping define the next steps needed to position Howells Lake for future development."
2026 Drill Program Update
Drilling has progressed on both the East and West Zones at Howells Lake, with an updated target of 15,000 m to be completed by the end of the 2026 campaign. The program has focused on defining shallow and high-grade mineralization. Initial drilling was conducted from a limited number of drill pads near the surface expression of the Howells Lake antimony-gold zones and the historical drill holes. Assays are pending for West Zone hole HWL-2026-010 and East Zone holes HWL-2026-015, HWL-2026-018 to HWL-2026-028.
HWL-2026-006, HWL-2026-007 and HWL-2026-016 have defined a high-grade corridor in the East Zone, with near-pure stibnite hosted within an intrusive porphyry. HWL-2026-006 included 4.0 m grading
Beneath the high-grade East Zone antimony, a zone with anomalous antimony ± zinc and significant gold mineralization has been defined within volcanosedimentary horizons, now confirmed in HWL-2026-014. These horizons extend to the West Zone, where HWL-2026-013 adds to previously reported gold mineralization, including 12.0 m grading 1.30 g/t Au in HWL-2026-011. These gold-bearing horizons will continue to be evaluated for potential inclusion in a future mineral resource.
Next Steps
NQ-diameter diamond drilling is ongoing with the goal of identifying antimony-gold mineralization at depths greater than 200 m. Drilled holes pending assays are shown in Table 3. HQ-diameter drilling will be initiated for larger-scale metallurgical analysis and further geological understanding of the high-grade antimony mineralization in the East Zone. Assays will be released as they are received.
Figure 1. Cross-section A-B, highlighting drilling and Sb assays reported to date, including HWL-2026-017 and the conceptual antimony envelope. Sb assays above
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/12034/316426_848afafb64db1bc7_001full.jpg
Figure 2. Cross-section A-B, highlighting drilling and Au assays reported to date, with conceptual gold envelopes in the West Zone and beneath the East Zone antimony mineralization. Au assays above 0.1 g/t are shown as colour-coded bars by grade. The conceptual envelopes represent illustrative geological interpretations. Section is 100 m thick and northwest-looking.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/12034/316426_848afafb64db1bc7_002full.jpg
Table 1. Length-weighted Sb assay results from the current batch of drill holes. Note: Reported intervals represent core lengths; true widths have not been estimated due to insufficient geological information. All individual samples included in weighted intercept averages are >
| Drill Hole ID | From (m) | To (m) | Intercept (m) | Sb (%) |
| HWL-2026-009 ⁰190 / -55⁰ | 58.75 | 62.5 | 3.75 | 0.90 |
| 109.85 | 111 | 1.15 | 3.32 | |
| HWL-2026-014 ⁰200 / -50⁰ | 68 | 68.6 | 0.6 | 6.95 |
| 113 | 119 | 6 | 0.39 | |
| HWL-2026-017 ⁰300 / -72⁰ | 104 | 106.3 | 2.3 | 0.81 |
| 121.1 | 133 | 11.9 | 1.75 | |
| Including | 3.6 | 3.78 | ||
| 141 | 145.45 | 4.45 | 1.59 | |
Table 2. Length-weighted Au assay results from the current batch of drill holes. Note: Reported intervals represent core lengths; true widths have not been estimated due to insufficient geological information. All individual samples included in weighted intercept averages are >0.1g/t Au and between 0.3 m and 1.0 m in length.
| Drill Hole ID | From (m) | To (m) | Intercept (m) | Au (g/t) |
| HWL-2026-009 ⁰190 / -55⁰ | 111 | 114 | 3 | 0.49 |
| 116.5 | 124.14 | 7.64 | 0.46 | |
| HWL-2026-013 ⁰192 / -71⁰ | 39 | 44 | 5 | 0.57 |
| 71 | 74 | 3 | 0.58 | |
| 75 | 78 | 3 | 0.40 | |
| 79 | 82 | 3 | 0.44 | |
| HWL-2026-014 ⁰200 / -50⁰ | 104 | 111 | 7 | 1.49 |
| including | 3 | 2.69 | ||
| 113 | 119 | 6 | 0.43 | |
Table 3. Drillhole summary and highlight table for the 2026 drill program at Howells Lake. Drillholes highlighted in bold are from this release.
| Hole | Zone | Assays released | Result highlights |
| HWL-2026-001 | East | Sb | Shallow Sb mineralization intersected within porphyry |
| HWL-2026-002 | East | Sb | Shallow Sb mineralization intersected within porphyry |
| HWL-2026-003 | East | Sb | Shallow Sb mineralization intersected within porphyry |
| HWL-2026-004 | East | Sb | Shallow Sb mineralization intersected within porphyry |
| HWL-2026-005 | East | Sb | Shallow Sb mineralization intersected within porphyry |
| HWL-2026-006 | East | Sb, Au | High-grade, near-pure stibnite, lower Sb-Au zone beneath porphyry |
| HWL-2026-007 | East | Sb | High-grade, near-pure stibnite, lower Sb-Au zone beneath porphyry |
| HWL-2026-008 | West | Au | Broad Au mineralization in West Zone graphitic tuffs |
| HWL-2026-009 | East | Sb, Au | Shallow Sb mineralization within porphyry, lower Au zone intersected |
| HWL-2026-010 | West | Pending | Assays pending, targeting shallow Au±Sb |
| HWL-2026-011 | West | Au | Broad Au mineralization in West Zone graphitic tuffs |
| HWL-2026-012 | West | Au | Broad Au mineralization in West Zone graphitic tuffs |
| HWL-2026-013 | West | Au | Broad Au mineralization in West Zone graphitic tuffs |
| HWL-2026-014 | East | Sb, Au | Polymetallic Sb-Au-Zn intersection below porphyry |
| HWL-2026-015 | East | Pending | Assays pending, drilled down-dip of HWL-2026-014 |
| HWL-2026-016 | East | Sb, Au | Broad Sb mineralization with high-grade near-pure stibnite zone |
| HWL-2026-017 | East | Sb | Broad Sb mineralization extended northeast, assays pending from 168 m to 236 m |
| HWL-2026-018 | East | - | Assays pending - Infill drillhole between HWL-2026-017 and HWL-2026-014 targeting Sb mineralization NE |
| HWL-2026-019 HWL-2026-020 | West | - | Assays pending - Targeting deep West Zone |
| HWL-2026-021 to HWL-2026-028 | East | - | Assays pending - Step back targeting deeper East Zone |
| MET-2026-001 to MET-2026-005 | East | - | HQ drillholes to be drilled, targeting high-grade Sb for metallurgical analysis |
QA/QC and Sampling Procedures
Samples of NQ diamond drill core were sawed at Critical One Energy's operations at Howells Lake, Ontario. One-half of the core was retained for reference, and one-half was added to sample bags. Blanks of barren diabase rock, antimony-gold standards, and duplicates were inserted every 20 samples. Laboratory "Barren Wash" was completed during crushing and pulverizing, and additional blanks were inserted after visible high-grade antimony and/or visible gold. Samples, standards, and blanks were bagged, tagged, and delivered to AGAT Laboratories in Thunder Bay, Ontario, where samples are crushed and prepared for analysis in Calgary, Alberta. Antimony and 30 additional elements were analyzed by sodium peroxide fusion and ICP-OES finish (201-079). Overlimit antimony analyses (>
Qualified Person
The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed, verified and approved by Matthew Trenkler, P. Geo., Chief Geological Officer of Critical One Energy Inc., a "Qualified Person", as defined under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Verification included a review of laboratory assay certificates, drill logs, chain-of-custody records, blank/standard/duplicate statistics, and review of collar and down-hole survey data. No QA/QC failures were identified.
About Critical One Energy Inc.
Critical One Energy Inc. is a critical minerals exploration company dedicated to advancing its flagship Howells Lake Antimony-Gold Project as a new North American source of antimony for defence, energy storage, industrial applications, and high-performance technologies such as data centres and semiconductors. The Howells Lake Antimony-Gold Project, located in Ontario, Canada, hosts high-grade antimony mineralization confirmed through a modern drilling program. The Company's objective is to advance Howells Lake as a potential Canadian source of antimony and help reduce North America's dependence on foreign supply.
Additional information about Critical One Energy Inc. can be found at criticaloneenergy.com and on the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.
For further information, please contact:
Duane Parnham
Executive Chairman & CEO
Critical One Energy Inc.
+1 (416) 489-0092
ir@criticaloneenergy.com
Media inquiries:
Adam Bello
Manager, Media & Analyst Relations
Primoris Group Inc.
+1 (416) 489-0092
media@primorisgroup.com
Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor CIRO accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Forward-looking Statements
This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking information. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by words or phrases such as "may", "will", "expect", "likely", "should", "would", "plan", "anticipate", "intend", "potential", "proposed", "estimate", "believe" or the negative of these terms, or other similar words, expressions, and grammatical variations thereof, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" happen, or by discussions of strategy. Forward-looking information contained in this press release includes, but is not limited to, statements relating to the Company's business strategy and objectives.
Where the Company expresses or implies an expectation or belief as to future events or results, such expectation or belief is based on assumptions made in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. Such assumptions include, without limitation, that: the Company will have the resources required in order to conduct its business as currently operated.
However, forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed, projected, or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks include, but are not limited to, risks relating to the mining industry in general, and other risks as described in the Company's continuous disclosure record on SEDAR+.
Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements and the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained herein are made as at the date hereof and are based on the beliefs, estimates, expectations, and opinions of management on such date. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any such forward-looking statements or any forward-looking statements contained in any other documents whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required under applicable securities law. Readers are cautioned to consider these and other factors, uncertainties, and potential events carefully and not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/316426
FAQ
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What did Critical One Energy’s new drilling show at Howells Lake?
Hole HWL-2026-017 extended antimony mineralization 30 m northeast of the East Zone, returning 11.9 m at 1.75% antimony, including 3.6 m at 3.78%. The new results also include gold intervals beneath the East Zone and in the West Zone.
What is Critical One Energy’s 2026 drilling target at Howells Lake?
Critical One’s updated target is 15,000 m of drilling by the end of its 2026 campaign. Drilling is ongoing, and the company plans larger-core holes for metallurgical analysis of East Zone antimony mineralization.
Which Howells Lake drill results are still pending for Critical One Energy?
Assays remain pending for West Zone hole HWL-2026-010 and East Zone holes HWL-2026-015 and HWL-2026-018 through HWL-2026-028. Assays from 168 m to 236 m in HWL-2026-017 are also pending.
Do Critical One Energy’s Howells Lake drill intervals represent true widths?
No. The reported intervals are core lengths; true widths have not been estimated because geological information is insufficient.