Apex Critical Metals Acquires Key REE Rights at Highly Prospective Elk Creek Carbonatite Complex, Nebraska

Company grows portfolio with underexplored 50-year-old Rare Earth Elements discovery with historically significant high-grade drill intercepts

Highlights

• The Company has secured highly prospective rare earth element ("REE") mineral rights to key underexplored areas of the Elk Creek Carbonatite Complex in Nebraska, USA, (the "Rift Project").

• Two target areas of known REE mineralization acquired (East Zone and West Zone).

• Project includes multiple historical drill holes that are well-mineralized in REEs, highlights include:

  • 155.5 metres ("m") of 2.70% TREO^[1],Including 54.9 m at 3.30% TREO (EC-93).

  • 236.2 m of 2.10% TREO, including 68.2 m of 3.32% TREO (NEC11-004).

• Apex's Rift Project area (~2,784 acres) now represents the largest position in the Elk Creek Carbonatite Complex (NioCorp Developments Ltd. holding the other commanding position in the district with ~1,397 acres)

• Nebraska, USA is considered a favourable jurisdiction for development with private land ownership facilitating streamlined permitting path.

• The Company is continuing to compile historically available data and is actively planning an inaugural Q4-2025 exploration program, including drilling.

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / October 1, 2025 / Apex Critical Metals Corp. (CSE:APXC)(OTCQX:APXCF)(FWB:KL9) ("Apex" or the "Company"), a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on the identification and development of critical and strategic metals, is pleased to provide an update regarding the acquisition of certain mineral rights within the Elk Creek Carbonatite Complex in southeastern Nebraska, U.S.A, (see Figure 1 and news release dated Sept. 3, 2025).

The Rift Project includes exploration rights and purchase options for approximately 2,784acres (~1,127 ha), flanking NioCorp Developments Ltd. to the east and west within the Elk Creek Carbonatite Complex. The Company's property position is considered highly prospective for rare earth element (REE) mineralization based on extensive historical exploration data.

Sean Charland, CEO of Apex Critical Metals notes, "This acquisition positions Apex at the forefront of U.S. critical minerals exploration and development, particularly in rare earths, which are vital for advanced technologies, renewable energy, and US National Security. The Elk Creek area has long been recognized for its geological promise, and we're eager to advance exploration on these underexplored extensions to unlock their full REE potential. Coupled with a favourable jurisdiction and the exploration expertise of Dahrouge Geological, which has multiple globally significant critical metals discoveries to their credit, the Company is primed for further discovery."