North American Niobium's Seigneurie Drill Hole SGN-2026-003 Yields Record Niobium and Nearly Triple Dysprosium Grades in Quebec Rare Earth Exploration

SGN-2026-003 Assay Results Highlight Niobium, Dysprosium, Heavy Rare Earths, and Copper

North American Niobium reported that hole SGN-2026-003 intersected four overlapping composite intervals defining a mineralized zone approximately 7.7 metres in core length between 71.15 and 78.85 metres downhole. The niobium oxide composite averaged 863.58 ppm Nb2O5 over 4.75 metres from 71.15 to 75.90 metres, marking the highest niobium oxide grade recorded in the Seigneurie drill program to date. The dysprosium oxide composite measured 211.17 ppm Dy2O8 over 2.0 metres from 73.20 to 75.20 metres within the niobium interval, highlighting the spatial overlap of critical mineral enrichment.

The heavy rare earth oxide composite of 946.25 ppm HREO spans the full 7.7-metre interval and includes a copper intercept of 910.89 ppm Cu over 4.65 metres from 74.20 to 78.85 metres. The yttrium assay within this mineralized zone exceeded the laboratory's upper detection limit of 1,000 ppm, with a capped value of 1,000 ppm used in calculating the HREO grade. Consequently, the actual yttrium content—and the reported 946.25 ppm HREO over 7.7 metres—may be understated. Investors should consider this analytical limitation when evaluating the heavy rare earth grades.

Comparison of SGN-2026-003 to Initial Seigneurie Drill Hole

The July 14 announcement positions SGN-2026-003 as a significant advancement compared to the first reported hole, SGN-2026-007. Dysprosium oxide grades in SGN-2026-003 are nearly triple those of SGN-2026-007, though specific figures for the earlier hole were not reiterated. The release also confirms SGN-2026-003 contains the highest niobium oxide grade recorded to date, indicating an improvement over initial results.

CEO Murray Nye commented, "This is the intercept we were watching for at Seigneurie. The niobium, dysprosium, and copper grades represent a clear improvement from the first results and occur within the same pegmatite system. While it is only one hole with narrow intervals, the assays and updated geological model will guide our interpretation. This confirms a higher-grade zone within the Seigneurie system, sharpening our focus for the next drilling phase." The company maintains a cautious tone, acknowledging the single-hole limitation while confirming the presence of a higher-grade zone.

Geological Context: Pegmatite-Hosted Mineralization in Quebec's Grenville Province

Hole SGN-2026-003 was drilled at coordinates 480732E, 5381978N (UTM NAD83 Zone 18) with an azimuth of 10 and a dip of approximately -45, reaching a total depth of about 227 metres. The intersected sequence comprises primarily quartzofeldspathic gneiss, with intervals of gneiss, amphibolite, and pegmatite. The higher-grade composites occur in and just below a pegmatite between 71.15 and 78.85 metres core length.

The Seigneurie Project lies within Quebec's Grenville Province, part of NIOB's district-scale land package spanning 29,936 hectares. The broader Quebec portfolio hosts rare earth element, niobium, and nickel-copper occurrences. The Grenville Province is considered prospective for critical mineral pegmatites, though further work is necessary to establish whether Seigneurie hosts economically viable rare earth, niobium, or copper mineralization.

Composite Interval Calculation and Cut-Off Grades

Composite intervals were calculated as length-weighted averages applying cut-off grades of 500 ppm for Nb2O5, 100 ppm for Dy2O8, 500 ppm for HREO, and 500 ppm for copper. Internal dilution up to 4 metres was allowed if interval boundaries met cut-off grades. Rare earth oxide values were derived from elemental assays using standard stoichiometric conversions; reported intervals represent core (downhole) lengths.

True widths have not yet been determined and will be estimated after updating the geological model with remaining drill data. This standard early-stage disclosure means reported core lengths are downhole measurements, not true thicknesses, which can affect volumetric assessments.

QA/QC Procedures and SGS Canada Laboratory Independence

Samples were analyzed by SGS Canada Inc., an independent ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratory in Val-d'Or, Quebec. Rare earth elements were measured via sodium-peroxide-fusion ICP-MS (SGS method GE_IMS91A50), niobium by fused-bead XRF (GO_XRF72NB), and copper by sodium-peroxide-fusion, nitric acid ICP-AES (GE_ICP91A50), all standard mineral exploration methods.

Quality control included certified reference materials, blanks, and field duplicates comprising ~13% of samples. Samples were NQ-size half-core split along the axis over ~0.5 to 1.0 metre intervals, with half-core retained for reference. Core recovery averaged 90–98% in mineralized zones, with no material impact on sample representivity. The Qualified Person reviewed SGS analytical certificates and company QC data, finding no data verification limitations.

NI 43-101 Qualified Person Approval

The technical information complies with National Instrument 43-101 disclosure standards. Clyde McMillan, P.Geo., a consultant and Qualified Person under NI 43-101, reviewed and approved the announcement's technical content.

NI 43-101 compliance assures investors that data meets Canadian regulatory standards for mineral exploration reporting. The Qualified Person's sign-off does not represent a resource estimate or economic evaluation but confirms technical disclosure integrity.

Copper Intercept Adds Base-Metal Aspect to Seigneurie Mineralization

Distinct from the first hole, SGN-2026-003 includes a copper intercept of 910.89 ppm Cu over 4.65 metres from 74.20 to 78.85 metres, adding a base-metal component to the mineralized system. All four composites—niobium oxide, dysprosium oxide, HREO, and copper—occur within the same ~7.7-metre pegmatite-hosted zone, indicating a spatially coherent critical and base-metal mineralization package.

The company has not assigned economic significance to the copper intercept and notes further work is needed before assessing its economic potential. The copper presence may be important for mineralogical modeling, especially for the planned TIMA automated mineralogy study aimed at identifying mineral hosts and deportment of rare earths and niobium.

Upcoming Plans for the Seigneurie Project

The company outlined four next steps: completing assays for remaining Seigneurie drill holes and updating the geological model including true width estimates; finalizing the TIMA study to determine mineral hosts and deportment of rare earths and niobium; integrating SGN-2026-003 results into targeting for follow-up drilling of the higher-grade zone; and advancing systematic exploration across its broader Quebec portfolio, prioritizing top niobium and rare earth targets.

These near-term plans represent the company's disclosed work program as of the release date. Investors will monitor assay results from remaining holes, which were not quantified in this announcement, and TIMA study outcomes critical to assessing mineral processing potential for future project stages.

NIOB's Extensive Critical Minerals Portfolio in Quebec and British Columbia

North American Niobium and Critical Minerals Corp. is a North American mineral exploration company focused on acquiring and developing precious, base, and critical mineral assets. Besides the Seigneurie Project, its portfolio includes the Silver Lake property in British Columbia's Omineca Mining Division and a 29,936-hectare land package in Quebec's Grenville Province. The Quebec properties host rare earth element, niobium, and nickel-copper occurrences.

The company emphasizes its critical minerals strategy aligned with energy and defense applications, reflecting the growing importance of domestically sourced critical minerals in Canada and North America. The announcement does not provide financial details, resource estimates, or production timelines. NIOB trades on the Canadian Securities Exchange (NIOB), Frankfurt Stock Exchange (KS82.F), and OTCQB (NIOMF). The immediate impact on share price was not evident from available public information.

Important Disclaimers on Single-Hole Data and Economic Potential

The company clearly states these results derive from a single drill hole with narrow intervals, emphasizing that further work is required to determine if Seigneurie hosts economically viable rare earth, niobium, or copper mineralization. This standard caution highlights the geological and economic uncertainty inherent in early-stage exploration, as single-hole intercepts do not constitute a mineral resource under NI 43-101.

The forward-looking statements section identifies risks that could cause actual results to differ materially, including variations in assay, mineralogical, and metallurgical results; timing of laboratory data; inherent exploration uncertainties; commodity price fluctuations; capital availability; environmental and operational risks; and regulatory changes. Readers are directed to the company’s SEDAR+ profile (www.sedarplus.ca) for comprehensive risk disclosures.