The 2024 summer exploration program was completed on July 29th, 2024, with a total of 32 rock samples, 373 soil samples and 26 stream concentrate samples collected over three weeks onsite. The objectives were to validate and expand upon previously identified niobium mineralization from historical surface samples and drilling in 2017, which intersected 0.51% Nb2O5 over 4.01 m (CAP17-004). All assay results from the 2024 program have been received and exploration work proved highly successful, with multiple anomalous zones identified from rock, soil and stream concentrate sampling. The analytical data will be utilized to generate targets for a planned 2025 drill program.
A total of seven (7) of the fourteen (14) carbonatite grab samples collected from the Cap Property during the 2024 exploration program returned niobium values exceeding 0.1%, with two (2) boulder samples assaying 1.45% and 1.79% Nb₂O₅ and one (1) outcrop sample assaying 3.33% Nb₂O₅. The mineralized outcrops that were mapped and sampled represent a potential mineralized strike length of up 250 m (Figure 1), with mineralization remaining open in multiple directions. The rock samples also yielded elevated phosphate (P₂O₅), and total rare earth oxides (TREO) (see Table 1 below).
Table 1. Select Mineralized Rock Sample Results from the Cap Property
Soil sampling at the Cap Property outlined a distinct anomalous niobium trend, extending nearly 1.8 km northwest of the known mineralization (Figure 2). The anomaly directly coincides with the radiometric anomaly historically identified from airborne geophysics. The anomaly is interpreted to be the potential extension along strike of newly discovered carbonatite outcrop that returned 3.33% Nb₂O₅ based upon the correlation to the radiometric anomaly. The soil sampling grid also identified highly elevated TREO results with one (1) sample returning 1.21% TREO and three (3) additional samples returning between 0.33% and 0.34% TREO.
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Figure 1. Apex Critical Metals Cap Property in British Columbia.
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Figure 2. Niobium Trend, Apex Critical Metals Cap Property in British Columbia
In addition to the soil and rock sampling, results from stream concentrate sampling displayed elevated niobium results with four (4) samples returning values greater than 275 ppm Nb up to a maximum of 360 ppm. These anomalous samples correlate with the known mineralized outcrop and the niobium soil anomaly (Figure 2). Despite much of the Cap Project area being covered by thick soil profiles and glacial till, Stream concentrate and soil sampling has proven to be an effective method for identifying mineralization potential in areas with limited outcrop exposure.
All rock samples were collected in the field using a hammer and chisel. Soil samples were collected from the presumed B horizon using a hand auger and/or geotool. Stream concentrate samples were collected by fill approximately ¾ of a 12×20 cm sample bag with stream sediment. The material was first passed through a 1/8-inch sieve yielding a fine fraction that was then processed using both 14” LeTrap plastic pans to concentrate the heavy fraction, resulting in approximately tens of grams per sample. The concentrate was then carefully transferred to a pre-labeled zip-lock sample bag with a corresponding sample book tag and sample number Locations for all sample types were obtained using a handheld GPS or tablet with samples placed in pre-labelled sample bags. Metal tags with the sample numbers and flagging tape were left at each sample location.
Samples were shipped using Manitoulin Transport to Actlabs Laboratory in Kamloops BC. Rock samples were prepped via RX1, Dry, crush (< 7 kg) up to 80% passing 2 mm, riffle split (250 g) and pulverize (mild steel) to 95% passing 105 µm. Analysis consisted of Code 8 by XRF Nb₂O₅, ZrO2 and Ta2O5 (0.003%), Code 8 – REE Assay, and 1A2 Au Fire Assay – AA, 30g weight, 5-5,000 ppb. Soil and stream concentrate samples were prepped using code S1-230, which requires drying (60ºC) and sieving (-63 µm). Analysis consisted of packages 4B2-STD, Lithium Borate Fusion / ICP-MS Trace Element package, and 1A2 Au Fire Assay – AA, 30g weight, 5-5,000 ppb
A Quality Assurance/Quality Control protocol was incorporated into the rock sampling program and included the insertion of two certified reference material (“CRM’s) and one quartz blank representing approximately 9% of submitted samples. For the soil sampling and stream concentrate sampling, a total of five CRMs were inserted into the sample stream representing approximately 1% of the submitted samples, with the Company also relying on the internal QA/QC procedures of Actlabs.
Management cautions that prospecting surface rock samples, soil samples, stream concentrate samples and associated assays, as discussed herein, are selective by nature and represent a point location, and therefore may not necessarily be fully representative of the mineralized horizon sampled.
The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Nathan Schmidt, P. Geo., Senior Geologist for Dahrouge Geological Consulting Ltd., and a Qualified Person under NI 43-101 on standards of disclosure for mineral projects, who has prepared and reviewed the content of this press release.
Mr. Schmidt has verified all scientific and technical data disclosed in this news release including the sampling and QA/QC results, and certified analytical data underlying the technical information disclosed. Mr. Schmidt noted no errors or omissions during the data verification process. The Company and Mr. Schmidt do not recognize any factors of sampling or recovery that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the assay data disclosed in this news release.
