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Highlights:Significant expansion of the newly discovered very highly-enriched NdPr Horizon (herein termed "Neo Zone") at the bottom of hole RIFT26-003 with intercepts including:13.5 m at 1.08% REO (31.7% NdPr)17.2 m at 0.89% REO (39.4% NdPr)22.7 m at 0.79% REO (32.8% NdPr) incl. 10.9 m at 0.99% REO (30.1% NdPr)10.5 m at 0.91% REO (35.2% NdPr)4.7 m at 0.71% REO (51.6% NdPr)4.2 m at 1.31% REO (33.0% NdPr) highlighting potential for significantly higher REO grades at higher NdPr distributions.NdPr represents the highest value component in most rare earth deposits due to its critical use in high-strength permanent magnets.NdPr distributions of 30-50% at appreciable REO grade in RIFT26-003 are significantly higher than the 14-20% typical of carbonatite-hosted REE deposits globally.For example, NdPr enrichment reported on herein is consistently more than double that of the only operating rare earth mine in North America (MP Materials' Mountain Pass), which reports an NdPr ratio of 16.4% (3)NdPr enrichment has now been confirmed over >120 m strike length between RIFT-003 and RIFT-002 (10.0 m at 0.75% REO and 49.0% NdPr - See News Release Dated April 7, 2026). The Neo Zone mineralization remains open in all directions.RIFT-003 also intersected a very high-grade zone higher up in the hole (80.0 m at 2.29% REO including 23.7 m at 4.02% REO) with more typical NdPr distributions (See News Release Dated April 28, 2026).Sean Charland, CEO of Apex Critical Metals, commented: "These results are a major step forward for the project, demonstrating NdPr content over significant intervals and strike far greater than that of typical carbonatites. Results to-date define two seemingly distinct mineralized horizons with a high-grade shallower rare earth oxide zone and a second horizon with exceptional NdPr enrichment, both of which remain wide open for expansion. Results continue to exceed expectations and point towards the potential for a high-value rare earth discovery at a time when demand for critical magnet metals continues to grow. With the addition of four new drill holes and drilling ongoing, we are well-positioned to continue expanding and defining the extent and strength of this system."

May 06, 2026