NioCorp Completes All Land Acquisition Needed to Launch the Elk Creek Critical Minerals Project

Rhea-AI Summary

NioCorp (Nasdaq: NB) announced completion of all land acquisitions required to site its proposed Elk Creek critical minerals mine and integrated surface processing facility in Johnson County, Nebraska, giving the company ownership of a full square mile (one Section).

The company retains additional purchase options on surrounding parcels and says the project is permitted for construction, has a Feasibility Study, a demonstration plant validating continuous metallurgical performance, and a Regulation S-K 1300 technical report summary on file. NioCorp also noted it raised over $360 million in gross equity proceeds over the past year; construction remains subject to successful project financing.

Positive

• Full Section landownership (1 square mile) secured for Elk Creek
• Raised $360 million in gross equity proceeds over past year
• Feasibility Study completed and demonstration plant validated metallurgy
• Regulation S-K 1300 technical report summary filed with SEC

Negative

• Construction and development remain subject to successful project financing

Insights

Project Development Analyst

NioCorp has secured a full square mile for Elk Creek and cites > $360,000,000 raised, an important construction milestone.

NioCorp now owns the full Section where it plans to site both the underground mine and the integrated surface processing facility. The company states it retains additional land purchase options for future operations and expansion. The release confirms project-level technical work completed to feasibility and a Regulation S-K 1300-compliant Technical Report Summary.

The company conditions next steps on the successful completion of project financing, and notes it raised more than $360,000,000 in gross proceeds from equity markets. This implies land is no longer a gating constraint, but progression to construction remains finance-dependent and requires exercising remaining options if needed. Watch the company for announcements that financing closes and that pre-construction activities commence; monitor any formal notice that land options are exercised and for filings that document construction permits or financing milestones.

NioCorp Now Owns an Entire Square Mile Where it Plans to Site Both its Proposed Critical Minerals Mine and Surface Processing Facility

Company Retains Additional Land Purchase Options to Support Potential Future Operations and Expansion

CENTENNIAL, CO / ACCESS Newswire / November 10, 2025 / NioCorp Developments Ltd. ("NioCorp" or the "Company") (Nasdaq:NB), a leading U.S. critical minerals developer, announced today that it has completed the acquisition of additional land in Johnson County, Nebraska associated with its Elk Creek Critical Minerals Project (the "Elk Creek Project") in Nebraska. As a result of this transaction, NioCorp now owns a full square mile of land (known as a "Section") in Nebraska where it plans to site both its underground critical minerals mine and its integrated surface processing facility, subject to the successful completion of project financing.

The Company retains multiple land purchase options on surrounding parcels to support potential future operations, additional mineral exploration activities, and expansion.

"This acquisition secures ownership of all land needed to site our planned Elk Creek Critical Minerals mine and integrated processing facility, which is a major milestone for the Company," said NioCorp CEO and Chairman Mark A. Smith. "We now have all surface and mineral rights necessary to begin construction and start operations. Having ownership across an entire square mile section positions us to begin pre-construction and other activities as funds become available and ensures we remain good neighbors to the people of Southeast Nebraska."

"These acquisitions were made possible by our ability over the past year to raise more than $360 million in gross proceeds from the equity markets," he added," which helps to ensure that land will not be a constraint once construction begins.

Mr. Smith added: "I deeply appreciate the fantastic support we have received from local landowners and area residents over the years of our development of this project. We are committed to being a responsible neighbor and to maintaining our working partnerships for many years to come."

All of the major minerals in NioCorp's resource at the proposed Elk Creek Project - including niobium, scandium, titanium, and rare earths - are U.S government-designated critical minerals. As a result, NioCorp believes that the Elk Creek Project is one of the most strategic pure-play critical minerals projects in the U.S. that is permitted for construction, has been completed at the Feasibility Study level, including completion of a demonstration plant to verify metallurgical performance under continuous operating conditions, and has a mineral resource supported by a Regulation S-K 1300-compliant Technical Report Summary filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Jim Sims, Chief Communications Officer, NioCorp Developments Ltd., (720) 334-7066, jim.sims@niocorp.com

Alex Guthrie, Director, Investor Relations, NioCorp Developments Ltd., (720) 334-7066, aguthrie@niocorp.com

@NioCorp $NB #Niobium #Scandium #rareearth #neodymium #dysprosium #terbium #ElkCreek

ABOUT NIOCORP

NioCorp is developing the Elk Creek Project that is expected to produce niobium, scandium, and titanium. The Company also is evaluating the potential to produce several rare earths from the Elk Creek Project. Niobium is used to produce specialty alloys as well as High Strength, Low Alloy steel, which is a lighter, stronger steel used in automotive, structural, and pipeline applications. Scandium is a specialty metal that can be combined with Aluminum to make alloys with increased strength and improved corrosion resistance. Scandium is also a critical component of advanced solid oxide fuel cells. Titanium is used in various lightweight alloys and is a key component of pigments used in paper, paint and plastics and is also used for aerospace applications, armor, and medical implants. Magnetic rare earths, such as neodymium, praseodymium, terbium, and dysprosium are critical to the making of neodymium-iron-boron magnets, which are used across a wide variety of defense and civilian applications.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding where NioCorp plans to site both its underground critical minerals mine and its integrated surface processing facility; NioCorp's expectation that its multiple land purchase options on surrounding parcels may support potential future operations, additional mineral exploration activities, and expansion; NioCorp's expectation that land will not be a constraint once construction begins; NioCorp's expectation of producing niobium, scandium, and titanium, and the potential of producing rare earths, at the Elk Creek Project; and NioCorp's ability to secure sufficient project financing to complete construction of the Elk Creek Project and move it to commercial operation. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as "plan," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "outlook," "estimate," "forecast," "project," "continue," "could," "may," "might," "possible," "potential," "predict," "should," "would" and other similar words and expressions, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking.

The forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations of the management of NioCorp and are inherently subject to uncertainties and changes in circumstances and their potential effects and speak only as of the date of such statement. There can be no assurance that future developments will be those that have been anticipated. Forward-looking statements reflect material expectations and assumptions, including, without limitation, expectations and assumptions relating to: NioCorp's ability to receive sufficient project financing for the construction of the Elk Creek Project on acceptable terms, or at all; the future price of metals; and the stability of the financial and capital markets. Such expectations and assumptions are inherently subject to uncertainties and contingencies regarding future events and, as such, are subject to change. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or other factors that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those discussed and identified in public filings made by NioCorp with the Securities and Exchange Commission and with the applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities and the following: NioCorp's ability to operate as a going concern; NioCorp's requirement of significant additional capital; NioCorp's ability to receive sufficient project financing for the construction of the Elk Creek Project on acceptable terms, or at all; NioCorp's ability to achieve the required milestones and receive the full $10.0 million in reimbursement under the DoW Agreement; NioCorp's ability to receive a final commitment of financing from the Export-Import Bank of the United States or other debt financing or financial support on acceptable timelines, on acceptable terms, or at all; NioCorp's ability to access the full amount of the expected net proceeds under the standby equity purchase agreement (the "Yorkville Equity Facility Financing Agreement") with YA II PN, Ltd., an investment fund managed by Yorkville Advisors Global, LP; NioCorp's ability to continue to meet the listing standards of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC; risks relating to NioCorp's common shares, including price volatility, lack of dividend payments and dilution or the perception of the likelihood of any of the foregoing; the extent to which NioCorp's level of indebtedness and/or the terms contained in agreements governing NioCorp's indebtedness, if any, the Yorkville Equity Facility Financing Agreement or other agreements may impair NioCorp's ability to obtain additional financing, on acceptable terms, or at all; covenants contained in agreements with NioCorp's secured creditors that may affect its assets; NioCorp's limited operating history; NioCorp's history of losses; the material weaknesses in NioCorp's internal control over financial reporting, NioCorp's efforts to remediate such material weaknesses and the timing of remediation; the possibility that NioCorp may qualify as a passive foreign investment company under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"); the potential that the business combination with GX Acquisition Corp. II and other related transactions could result in NioCorp becoming subject to materially adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences as a result of the application of Section 7874 and related sections of the Code; cost increases for NioCorp's exploration and, if warranted, development projects; a disruption in, or failure of, NioCorp's information technology systems, including those related to cybersecurity; equipment and supply shortages; variations in the market demand for, and prices of, niobium, scandium, titanium and rare earth products; current and future offtake agreements, joint ventures, and partnerships, including our ability to negotiate extensions to existing agreements or to enter into new agreements, on favorable terms or at all; NioCorp's ability to attract qualified management; estimates of mineral resources and reserves; mineral exploration and production activities; feasibility study results; the results of metallurgical testing; the results of technological research; changes in demand for and price of commodities (such as fuel and electricity) and currencies; competition in the mining industry; changes or disruptions in the securities markets; legislative, political or economic developments, including changes in federal and/or state laws that may significantly affect the mining industry; trade policies and tensions, including tariffs; inflationary pressures; the impacts of climate change, as well as actions taken or required by governments related to strengthening resilience in the face of potential impacts from climate change; the need to obtain permits and comply with laws and regulations and other regulatory requirements; the timing and reliability of sampling and assay data; the possibility that actual results of work may differ from projections/expectations or may not realize the perceived potential of NioCorp's projects; risks of accidents, equipment breakdowns, and labor disputes or other unanticipated difficulties or interruptions; the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated expenses in development programs; operating or technical difficulties in connection with exploration, mining, or development activities; management of the water balance at the Elk Creek Project site; land reclamation requirements related to the Elk Creek Project; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities of grades of reserves and resources; claims on the title to NioCorp's properties; potential future litigation; and NioCorp's lack of insurance covering all of NioCorp's operations.

Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should any of the assumptions made by the management of NioCorp prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements.

All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning the matters addressed herein and attributable to NioCorp or any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to herein. Except to the extent required by applicable law or regulation, NioCorp undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

SOURCE: NioCorp Developments Ltd.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

FAQ

What land did NioCorp (NB) acquire for the Elk Creek project on November 10, 2025?

NioCorp acquired ownership of a full one square mile (one Section) in Johnson County, Nebraska to site the mine and processing facility.

Does NioCorp (NB) have the necessary permits and technical studies for Elk Creek?

Yes; Elk Creek is described as permitted for construction, has a Feasibility Study, a demonstration plant, and an S-K 1300 technical report summary filed.

How much capital has NioCorp (NB) raised toward Elk Creek as of November 2025?

The company said it raised more than $360 million in gross proceeds from equity markets over the past year.

Will NioCorp (NB) start construction immediately after the land acquisition?

No; the company says construction is planned but remains subject to successful project financing.

What critical minerals does the Elk Creek resource contain for NioCorp (NB)?

Elk Creek contains niobium, scandium, titanium, and rare earths, all cited as U.S. government-designated critical minerals.

Does NioCorp (NB) retain additional land options around Elk Creek for expansion?

Yes; the company retains multiple land purchase options on surrounding parcels to support future operations and exploration.