North American Niobium Completes 2026 Bardy Drilling with Eight Pegmatite Hits; Awaiting Assay Results

100% Pegmatite Intersection Achieved in Eight Drilled Holes at Bardy

On July 28, 2026, North American Niobium and Critical Minerals Corp. announced the successful completion of its 2026 drilling campaign at the Bardy property, with all eight drill holes intersecting pegmatite mineralization. The 1,554.00-metre drilling program targeted zones identified through integrated soil-gas radon surveys, high-resolution drone-borne magnetic surveys, and surface geological mapping within Quebec's Grenville Province, specifically in the La Tuque area of Mauricie.

CEO Murray Nye highlighted that each hole enhances the company's understanding of the pegmatite systems in the Grenville District. The company focuses on these systems due to their potential for niobium and rare earth elements, aligning with its long-term objective to become a leading critical minerals supplier. The consistent pegmatite intersections validate the company's exploration approach, which integrates geochemical, geophysical, and geological data to delineate a coherent pegmatite system warranting further study.

Allanite Identified as Principal Rare-Earth Mineral in Drill Core

Visual core logging throughout the Bardy drilling program detected rare-earth bearing minerals, predominantly allanite. Coarse allanite grains, up to approximately 2 centimetres wide, were observed in multiple drill holes, indicating a pervasive mineralization pattern within the targeted pegmatite dyke swarm.

Hole BBY-2026-006 notably intersected an 8.0-metre syenitic pegmatite interval between 139.70 and 147.70 metres depth, including a 0.20-metre zone with visible allanite. Visual documentation provided includes pegmatitic intervals with allanite grains and strong scintillometer anomalies linked to rare-earth mineralization. However, the company stresses that these observations are preliminary, based on visual core logging and handheld scintillometer readings, and await laboratory confirmation.

Drill Core Submitted for Comprehensive Multi-Element Assays

All drill core from the 2026 Bardy program has been sent to SGS Canada Inc. in Val-d'Or, Quebec, for multi-element and rare earth element assay analysis. The company will disclose assay results after verification under its stringent quality assurance and quality control protocols, which include certified reference materials, blanks, and duplicate samples reviewed by a Qualified Person.

No quantitative data on rare earth elements, niobium, or other metals are included in the current release. The company emphasizes that handheld scintillometer readings serve only as qualitative indicators and are not substitutes for laboratory assay results. Final assay data will confirm elemental concentrations and validate preliminary mineralogical interpretations. Investors should expect separate disclosures of assay results and any updated resource estimates once laboratory analyses and quality assurance reviews are complete.

Multi-Disciplinary Data Integration Drives Targeting Success

The Bardy drill targets were selected using an integrated approach combining soil-gas radon surveys, drone-borne magnetic data, and surface geological mapping. The 100% success rate in intersecting pegmatite mineralization underscores the effectiveness of this multi-disciplinary targeting methodology in identifying subsurface pegmatite bodies within the Grenville District.

While specific anomaly parameters and survey methodologies were not detailed in the announcement, these technical aspects may be available in comprehensive technical reports or on the company’s website. The success of this targeting strategy supports future exploration planning and cost-effective evaluation of NIOB’s extensive 29,936-hectare land package in Quebec’s Grenville Province.

Pegmatite Mineralogy Supports Critical Minerals Potential

The Bardy pegmatite system is characterized by syenitic-to-granitic compositions hosting rare-earth bearing minerals alongside orthopyroxene, biotite, and apatite. These mineral assemblages align with enrichment in rare earth elements and niobium, consistent with the company’s strategic focus on critical minerals essential for energy and defense sectors.

Plans include petrographic and mineralogical studies on selected pegmatite intervals to confirm rare-earth mineral identities and refine visual interpretations. The company intends to integrate data from all 16 drill holes (including the eight completed in 2026) into an updated geological model to define pegmatite orientation, continuity, and true widths, forming a foundation for future resource estimation and exploration prioritization.

Extensive District-Scale Land Holdings in Quebec and British Columbia

The Bardy property forms part of NIOB’s broader district-scale critical minerals portfolio covering 29,936 hectares in Quebec’s Grenville Province. The company’s assets also include the Silver Lake property in British Columbia’s Omineca Mining Division. This regional focus reflects the geological potential for rare earth, niobium, and nickel-copper mineralization, providing multiple exploration targets and mitigating single-project risk.

The announcement does not specify the 2027 exploration budget or timing for future drilling at Bardy or other sites. Investors await updates on exploration strategies and capital deployment as assay results from the 2026 program become available.

Quality Assurance and Qualified Person Oversight

The technical information disclosed has been reviewed and approved by Clyde McMillan, P.Geo., a consultant and Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 standards. The company underscores that visual core logging is preliminary and subject to confirmation through laboratory assays and petrographic analysis.

NIOB’s disclosure framework acknowledges the limitations of visual logging and scintillometer data, committing to report only verified quantitative geochemical results. This approach complies with Canadian securities regulations and industry best practices for exploration disclosure.

Next Steps and Timeline for Assay Reporting

NIOB outlines four main next steps: (1) submitting remaining drill core to SGS Canada Inc. for multi-element and rare earth assays; (2) reporting assay results following quality assurance verification; (3) completing petrographic and mineralogical studies to confirm rare-earth mineral identities; and (4) integrating all 16 drill holes into an updated geological model to delineate pegmatite characteristics.

The announcement does not specify exact timelines for assay completion or result disclosure. Typically, assay turnaround for rare earth elements can take several weeks to months depending on laboratory workload and analysis complexity. Investors should consider potential delays and note that no guidance on future exploration expenditures or resource estimation has been provided.

Forward-Looking Statements and Associated Risks

The announcement includes forward-looking statements concerning drill core submission, assay timing, visual core logging interpretations, the potential of Bardy and Blanchette pegmatite systems to host rare earth mineralization, and plans for sample analysis and geological modeling. These statements rely on management assumptions and involve known and unknown risks.

Risk factors include the possibility that assay results may not confirm visual observations, uncertainties in mineral identification, exploration and development risks, financing availability, laboratory delays, and commodity price fluctuations. These forward-looking statements are as of July 28, 2026, with no obligation to update except as required by law. A detailed risk discussion is available in the company’s continuous disclosure filings on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca).