Vancouver, British Columbia — January 15, 2026 — Leads & Copy —
North American Niobium and Critical Minerals Corp. has announced geochemical results from rock grab samples collected during its Q4 2025 prospecting program. The samples were taken from the company’s Blanchette, Bardy, and Sabot properties in Québec, approximately 40 km from the Municipality of La Tuque. The company owns 100% of these properties.
The results confirm the presence of magnet rare earth elements and niobium within pegmatite-hosted systems. North American Niobium believes its Québec portfolio is prospective for critical minerals, which are essential to clean energy, electrification, and defense applications.
A select outcrop rock grab sample from Blanchette returned 1.82% TREO, including 3,979.41 ppm MREO (2,892.67 ppm Nd₂O₃, 935.15 ppm Pr₆O₁₁, 123.95 ppm Dy₂O₃ and 27.64 ppm Tb4O7) and 0.14% Nb₂O₅. A select outcrop rock grab sample from Bardy returned 0.319% TREO, including 682.50 ppm MREO. A select outcrop rock grab sample from Sabot returned 0.155% TREO, including 313.12 ppm MREO.
The company plans to conduct follow-up soil-gas radon surveying at Bardy and Blanchette, along with a backpack drilling program. A high-resolution magnetic survey is also planned to further define and prioritize target areas.
The Q4 2025 program included reconnaissance prospecting and selective outcrop sampling across the Blanchette, Bardy, and Sabot properties. The aim was to validate historical grab assay results and guide follow-up exploration. The results are derived from select outcrop rock grab samples, which may not be representative of underlying mineralization. During its 2025 Fall Program, the company collected 98 samples at Bardy, 86 samples at Blanchette, and 15 samples at Sabot. The 20 best assay results were collected from granitic rocks, predominantly pegmatite, located approximately 40 km northwest of the Municipality of La Tuque. These results exceeded either the 0.10% TREO threshold or 500 ppm Nb₂O₅. Pegmatite sample G170126 from Blanchette returned 0.48% Cu and 158.53 ppm Nd₂O₃. The company confirmed that the 2.7% TREE sample (including 4,090 ppm Nd) was a channel sample collected across the full 40 cm width of the dyke. The historical Bardy sample (0.69% TREE total, including 1,150 ppm Nd) could not be located.
The presence of elevated magnet REEs and niobium in surface samples across multiple properties indicates a fertile mineral system within the Grenville Province. The company plans to advance toward subsurface validation and systematic target delineation.
The company plans to advance priority areas at Bardy and Blanchette with a soil-gas radon survey and a low-impact backpack drilling program. A high-resolution magnetic survey is also planned to further define and prioritize target areas and guide subsequent exploration.
Rock grab samples were collected from outcrop during the Q4 2025 prospecting program and submitted to ALS Laboratories in Lachine, Québec for analysis. Samples were analyzed using ALS method ME-MS71L, which includes ammonium bifluoride (ABF) decomposition / near-total extraction with ICP analytical techniques for multi-element geochemistry.
Murray Nye, Chief Executive Officer of North American Niobium, said the results validate the company’s geological thesis and confirm the presence of magnet rare earth elements and niobium in key target areas. He added that the company is moving into follow-up programs designed to test continuity and scale at Blanchette, Bardy, and Sabot.
North American Niobium and Critical Minerals Corp. is 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 land package in Quebec’s Grenville Province. The Quebec properties add exposure to rare earth elements (REE), niobium (Nb), and nickel-copper (Ni-Cu) occurrences.
Murray Nye, CEO can be reached at info@northamericanniobium.com or by phone at +1 (647) 984-4204.
Source: North American Niobium and Critical Minerals Corp.
