North American Niobium Adds Sabot to Technical Review Pipeline
Rare earth element and niobium anomalies found in sediments and surrounding rocksVancouver, British Columbia, Feb. 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Initial prospecting results and geological observations suggest that the broader area encompassing North American Niobium and Critical Minerals Corp.’s (CSE: NIOB) (OTCQB:NIOMF)(FSE: KS82.F) Bardy, Blanchette and Sabot projects in Québec may be comparable in style to the large rare-earth element (REE) deposits found in Greenland. As such, the Company has begun a technical review aimed at assessing Sabot’s potential to be incorporated into near-term exploration planning alongside the priority Bardy and Blanchette projects.HighlightsSabot added to near-term technical review pipeline based on recent prospecting results and geological context; Sabot is adjacent to the Company’s priority Bardy and Blanchette properties, supporting operational and logistical efficienciesProspecting grab sample (G170073) returned 0.155% total rare earth oxides (TREO) and 313.12 parts per million of magnet rare earth oxides (MREO), including 76.72 parts per million praseodymium (Pr) and 228.61 parts per million neodymium (Nd)Geological setting at Sabot includes an alkaline intrusion in contact with metasediments; textures observed in the intrusion suggest interaction between the alkaline magma and the metasedimentary host rocks - conditions that may have been ideal for the formation of a rare earth element (REE) and/or other critical element depositConceptual exploration targets include potential silica-rich roof/contact zones and/or upper portions of an alkaline system that may be associated with REE mineralization and other elements such as Niobium; additional surface work is required to refine and prioritize targets North American Niobium’s 100% owned Sabot Project is approximately 45 kilometres northwest of the La Tuque Municipality in Québec. Although the Company’s exploration strategy in the province has consistently focused on its Bardy, Blanchette, and Seigneurie projects, Sabot is close to Bardy and Blanchette. It benefits from existing regional access and the Company’s established stakeholder engagement efforts in the area. Sabot’s location supports a coordinated approach to target development and potential drill planning, subject to review and approvals.Sabot prospecting grab sample returns elevated rare earth element valuesA prospecting grab sample collected during Q4 2025 returned elevated rare earth element values. Results are summarized below.Table 1: Sabot Prospecting Grab Sample (Selected Result). MREO in this release refers to the combined content of Nd + Pr + Dy + Tb (reported in ppm) whereas TREO refers to total rare earth oxides.Sample IDProjectRock TypeTREO (%)MREO (ppm)*Pr (ppm)Nd (ppm) G170073 Sabot Granite 0.155 313.12 76.72 228.61 Grab samples are selective by nature and may not be representative of mineralization hosted on the Project.Geologic rationale and conceptual targetingThe Company has identified a syenitic intrusion in contact with silica-rich metasediments (the Wabamask metasedimentary complex is associated with quartzites) near the Sabot Prospect area. The intrusion is interpreted as part of a regional alkaline syenitic complex (~1019-1025 Ma) and is younger than the niobium-rare earth element pegmatite occurrences observed at Bardy and Blanchette (~1060-1070 Ma), suggesting that at least two temporally distinct Nb-REE mineralizing events are present within NIOB’s area of interest in the Grenville Proterozoic belt. Uranium-lead (U-Pb) age dating was completed in 2018 by the late Jean David (report MB201817).Government geologists in the field observed the presence of sedimentary xenoliths within the syenitic intrusions, which indicates interaction between the alkaline magma and the silica-rich country host rocks. This geological setting has proven to be associated with major deposits, such as the Motzfeldt Project in Greenland.Alkaline intrusion-related REE systems like the Motzfeldt Project can be large-tonnage in some cases. Motzfeldt has reported a large, inferred resource at the Aries deposit (JORC-compliant), cited in public disclosure as 340 million tonnes grading 0.26% TREO, 0.185% Nb205 and 0.46% ZrO2. The Company emphasizes that mineralization, resources, or deposits on other properties are not necessarily indicative of mineralization on Sabot, and such comparisons are provided for geological context only.On Sabot, the southern contact at the centre of the property of the Syenite intrusion (Rheaume Intrusive Suite) is associated with bottom-lake sediment anomalies (approx. 90th percentile) in La-Nb-Y (as compiled by the Government of Québec, report PRO 2009-03). These three elements can be indicative of REE-bearing syenitic intrusions. Finally, the syenite and the metasediments are associated with REE anomalies. This observation is conceptual and requires follow-up work, including additional geochemical coverage and geological validation.At this stage, the Company’s working interpretation is equally conceptual: Sabot may represent an upper portion of an alkaline system and/or a silica-rich roof/contact zone, either of which can be prospective environments for REE mineralization, and other critical elements such as Niobium, in certain geological settings. The Company cautions that additional geochemical and geological work is required to refine these conceptual targets and to assess the extent, style, and continuity of any potential mineralization.Figure 1: Sabot is located in the vicinity of the Blanchette and Bardy properties, immediately north of the Blanchette project, approximately 45 km northwest of La Tuque; across the area shown, multiple rare earth element (REE) prospects are present, some of which are associated with elevated niobium values and occur in spatial association with several alkaline intrusive suites.Please click to view image"While Sabot was not initially an immediate priority for the Company, results from our recent prospecting program, together with the geological setting, appear to warrant additional work,” said Murray Nye, Chief Executive Officer of North American Niobium. "Over the coming weeks, our technical team will review Sabot alongside our Québec portfolio to determine the most effective next steps ahead of any drilling decisions.”ABOUT NORTH AMERICAN NIOBIUM AND CRITICAL MINERALS CORP.North American Niobium and Critical Minerals Corp. is a North American mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition and development of precious, base, and critical mineral assets. Its portfolio includes the Silver Lake property in British Columbia’s Omineca Mining Division and a recently acquired land package in Québec’s Grenville Province. The Québec properties add exposure to rare earth elements (REE), niobium (Nb), and nickel-copper (Ni-Cu) occurrences, expanding the Company’s footprint into critical minerals that are strategically important for energy and defense applications.ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS:Murray NyeChief Executive Officer1055 West Georgia Street, Suite 1500Vancouver, BC V6E 0B6CanadaFor further information, please contact:Murray Nye, CEOEmail: info@northamericanniobium.comPhone: +1 (647) 984-4204CSE:NIOBOTCQB: NIOMFFSE:KS82.FFORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTSThis news release contains "forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical fact, that address events, results, outcomes or developments that the Company expects, anticipates or intends to occur in the future, or that otherwise reflect management’s expectations or beliefs about future events, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are generally, but not always, identified by the use of words and phrases such as "expects,” "plans,” "anticipates,” "believes,” "intends,” "estimates,” "projects,” "potential,” "opportunity,” "strategy,” "target,” "forecast” and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions or results "will,” "would,” "may,” "could,” or "should” occur or be achieved.Forward-looking statements in this release include, but are not limited to: (i) statements regarding the Properties and their mineral prospectivity; (ii) the Company’s planned exploration, development and evaluation activities on the Properties; and (iii) the potential for the Grenville Province to host significant rare earth element, niobium, nickel-copper or other critical mineral deposits. Such forward-looking statements are based on the Company’s current plans, intentions, expectations and beliefs and are subject to certain assumptions, including, without limitation, assumptions that exploration results will continue to support the prospectivity of the Properties.Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements are not guarantees of future performance or outcomes and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated include, but are not limited to: the timing and receipt of required regulatory approvals; changes in commodity prices and market conditions; the availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms; general economic, business and political conditions; risks inherent in mineral exploration and development, including operational risks, geological uncertainties, environmental risks and accidents; changes in government regulation or policy; and the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development. Additional information regarding risks and uncertainties faced by the Company is available in the Company’s public disclosure record on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca).Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and undue reliance should not be placed on them. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are made as of the date hereof and are based on information currently available and management’s beliefs, estimates, expectations and opinions at that time. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.Qualified PersonThe scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101”). Clyde McMillan, P.Geo., a consultant to the Company and a Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information contained herein.The Company also wishes to acknowledge and pay tribute to the late Jean David for his important contributions to Québec geoscience, including the U-Pb geochronological work referenced herein.The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release
2026-02-26 12:48:00