# Apex Widens and Extends Newly Discovered Zone with Significant NdPr Enrichment (>30%) *2026-05-06T03:01:00-04:00* Apex Widens and Extends Newly Discovered Zone with Significant NdPr Enrichment (>30%) **Highlights:** - **Significant expansion of the newly discovered very highly-enriched NdPr Horizon (herein termed "Neo Zone") at the bottom of hole RIFT26-003 with intercepts including:** - 13.5 m at **1.08% REO**(**31.7% NdPr**) - 17.2 m at 0.89% REO (**39.4% NdPr**) - 22.7 m at 0.79% REO (**32.8% NdPr**) incl. 10.9 m at 0.99% REO (**30.1% NdPr**) - 10.5 m at 0.91% REO (**35.2% NdPr**) - 4.7 m at 0.71% REO (**51.6% NdPr**) - 4.2 m at **1.31% REO (33.0% NdPr**) highlighting potential for significantly higher REO grades at higher NdPr distributions. - **NdPr represents the highest value component in most rare earth deposits**due to its critical use in high-strength permanent magnets. - NdPr distributions of 30-50% at appreciable REO gradein RIFT26-003 are significantly higher than the 14-20% typical of carbonatite-hosted REE deposits globally. - For example, **NdPr enrichment reported on herein is consistently more than double that of the only operating rare earth mine in North America**(MP Materials' Mountain Pass), which reports an NdPr ratio of 16.4%(3) - **NdPr enrichment has now been confirmed over >120 m strike****length **between RIFT-003 and RIFT-002 (**10.0 m at 0.75% REO and 49.0% NdPr**- [See News Release Dated April 7, 2026](https://apexcriticalmetals.com/apex-drills-81-6-m-of-2-02-reo-including-50-9-m-of-2-40-reo-extending-strike-length-of-main-body-with-highly-enriched-ndpr-zone-at-rift/)). **The Neo Zone mineralization remains open in all directions.** - RIFT-003 also intersected a very high-grade zone higher up in the hole (**80.0 m at 2.29% REO**including **23.7 m at 4.02% REO**) with more typical NdPr distributions ([See News Release Dated April 28, 2026](https://apexcriticalmetals.com/apex-drills-4-02-reo-over-23-7-m-within-broader-124-m-zone-at-1-94-reo-extending-mineralization-significantly-to-the-south/)). Sean Charland, CEO of Apex Critical Metals, commented: "_These results are a major step forward for the project, demonstrating NdPr content over significant intervals and strike far greater than that of typical carbonatites. Results to-date define two seemingly distinct mineralized horizons with a high-grade shallower rare earth oxide zone and a second horizon with exceptional NdPr enrichment, both of which remain wide open for expansion. Results continue to exceed expectations and point towards the potential for a high-value rare earth discovery at a time when demand for critical magnet metals continues to grow. With the addition of four new drill holes and drilling ongoing, we are well-positioned to continue expanding and defining the extent and strength of this system."_ **VANCOUVER, BC / [ACCESS Newswire](https://www.accessnewswire.com/)/ May 6, 2026 / ****Apex Critical Metals Corp.**(CSE:APXC)(OTCQX:APXCF)(FWB:KL9) ("Apex" or the "Company"), a mineral exploration company focused on advancing its strategic 100%-controlled Rift Rare Earth Project within the Elk Creek Carbonatite Complex in southeastern Nebraska, U.S.A., is pleased to report the remaining assay results from RIFT26-003. These results from drill hole RIFT26-003 represent assays from 390.0 m to end of hole depth at 871.8 m. Assay results to date**define two seemingly distinct mineralized horizons:** - A **high-grade REO zone proximal to the unconformity**as evidenced by historical drilling (**68.2 m at 3.32% REO**in NEC11-004) and current drilling (**23.7 m at 4.02% REO**in RIFT26-003), **within a significantly larger mineralized envelope grading >2% REO**; and - A lower **highly enriched Neodymium and Praseodymium (NdPr) discovery (Neo Zone) **as evidenced in current drilling (see highlights above, Table 1 and Figure 2). Fifteen (15) drill holes completed for approximately 9,817.48 m with assays pending for twelve (12) holes (7,525 m); visual REO mineralization has been confirmed in all completed holes.  [**WATCH NOW**](https://pr.report/lar2)- [https://youtu.be/GA1vWAFKa9U](https://pr.report/lar3). EVP Joness Lang and Darren L. Smith, Co-Chair of the Technical Committee, discuss the significance of the newly discovered NdPr-enriched zone and the latest assay results from the Rift Project. **Key Observations and Takeaways** Assay results from the lower portion of RIFT26-003 confirm and significantly expand on the__NdPr-enriched horizon (Neo Zone) at depth. There is a significant increase in apparent width of the Neo Zone previously encountered in RIFT26-002 (10.0 m at 0.75% REO and 49.0% NdPr, [See News Release Dated April 7, 2026](https://pr.report/lapi)). Mineralization in the lower portion of RIFT26-003 includes distinct intervals of**13.5 m at 1.08% REO (31.7% NdPr)**and **17.2m at 0.89% REO (39.4% NdPr), with enrichment