{"success":true,"data":{"pressRelease":{"id":"168714","rtpr_id":"nGNX57qqCd-20261014","ticker":"NIOB","exchange":"","all_tickers":["NIOB"],"title":"NIOB Airborne Survey Identifies Rare Earth Targets at Bardy SE","author":"Globe Newswire","published_at":"2026-10-14T11:30:00.193Z","article_body":"Vancouver, British Columbia, Oct. 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- North American\nNiobium and Critical Minerals Corp. (CSE: NIOB) (FSE: KS82.F) (OTCQB: NIOMF)\n(NIOB or the Company) has found a thorium high, wrapped in an alkaline\nintrusion, inside a grab sample of rare earths. Target BSE-05 is one of two\npriority targets on the Company’s Bardy SE property that was identified by a\nfixed-wing aeromagnetic gradient and gamma-ray spectrometry survey.\n\nThe interpretation of the data from the final results of the survey flown over\nthe property in August has identified BSE-05 and BSE-04 (see Figure 1, below)\nas two priority rare earth element-niobium targets areas:\n* BSE-05 is a thorium high within the Bardy alkaline intrusion, where a\nhistorical government grab sample returned 0.14% total rare earth elements, or\napproximately 0.17% total rare earth oxides, over a uranium-thorium\nradiometric anomaly. (Note: grab samples are selective and may not represent\naverage grade.)\n* Target BSE-04 is a radiometric high at the contact between the intrusion and\nthe surrounding metasedimentary rocks.\n“We’re excited by these findings because thorium can be a pathfinder\nelement for rare earth and niobiumthat may indicate the existence of an\nalkaline system,” said Murray Nye, NIOB’s Chief Executive Officer.\n“These two targets will feature in our Phase 2 drilling program at Bardy SE,\nwhich we have begun to plan. We expect drills to be turning once the fall\nhunting season ends in late October.”\n\nNIOB’s Bardy SE property is near La Tuque, Québec. It hosts an alkaline\nintrusion that is approximately 981 million years old (Ma), which is similar\nin age to the Crevier alkaline–carbonatite complex dated at 957.5 ± 2.9 Ma\n(U-Pb zircon; Groulier et al., 2014). Located north of Lac Saint-Jean, Crevier\nhosts niobium-tantalum mineralization. (Note: NIOB holds no interest in\nCrevier, for which there is no government radiometric data. A similar age does\nnot mean that mineralization comparable to Crevier is present at Bardy.)\n\nAccording to publicly available government airborne radiometric data, the\nBardy SE radiometric highs are of similar magnitude to the radiometric high\nover the Niobec niobium mine in Saint-Honoré, Quebec. Niobec is one of only\nthree niobium producers in the world, and the only one in North\nAmerica. (Note: The comparison is qualitative, as the surveys were flown with\ndifferent equipment and parameters. Niobec is owned by a third party, and the\nCompany holds no interest in it. A similar radiometric response does not mean\nthat mineralization comparable to Niobec is present at Bardy SE.)\n\nThe fixed-wing aeromagnetic gradient and 256-channel gamma-ray spectrometry\nsurvey was flown by Terraquest Ltd. Final levelled grids at a 25-metre cell\nsize were delivered on September 11. The targets were identified on the\nequivalent thorium grid and checked against the thorium-potassium ratio,\nmagnetic data, mapped geology, and historical rock samples.\n\nFigure 1: Equivalent thorium (eTh, ppm) over the Bardy SE block, Terraquest\nsurvey B601, showing priority targets BSE-04 and BSE-05, the radiometric ring\nanomaly, mapped syenite, 2026 Phase 1 drill collars (BBY-2026-001 to -008) and\nhistorical rock-sample REE values from the SIGEOM database.\n\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=0_qeKsAPIt5CkI5nwg8cWMj4c-uJ1KHIjWoHv-uPnwOYu6aeaCMMwo0Farf8pqJho3QLQOl57vjdNZTfQqym_YRonEhU4CTNRu0Nh5OcjMByf1oveJmR3tAO94pXttIK4Xp0Fu4EgjrtzejGMy9lsQ==)\n\nClick here to view image\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=bNj9HyntLwz2CfB0mGlJ1Kw5LNQAYuhXIHYS-MbSTkevSXuYYuCfLnmN8f7YvqZsHgrMTRd6hY3ulltSraziEaRluImCaWXKI0zZwfcx_JUtKfyelyExrx08SgjNEpNDASz3qCP5XsSvirqLVeRodJbAyfdtzbN0ZN4XIWR6UuYsGZzqlNilwvCoJkX6lGfl)\n\nHow the survey data are used\nMagnetic data map magnetite-bearing rock. At Bardy SE they are used to trace\nintrusive contacts, internal phases and faults, including under glacial cover.\nMagnetic data do not measure rare earth or niobium content.\n\nGamma-ray spectrometry measures potassium, uranium and thorium at surface.\nThorium is commonly carried by allanite and other rare earth minerals, and\nuranium by pyrochlore, so their distribution can point to rare earth and\nniobium enrichment. Thorium is also carried by zircon and other common\nminerals, so a thorium high alone does not confirm rare earths. For this\nreason the Company ranks targets on thorium together with the\nthorium-potassium ratio, magnetic features and mapped geology.\n\nSurvey specifications\nTerraquest Ltd. flew the survey from La Tuque, Québec, using a Piper\nPA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain. Magnetic data were acquired at 10 Hz from three\nmagnetometers in the left wingtip, right wingtip and tail, giving measured\neast–west and north–south horizontal gradients in addition to total field.\nRadiometric data were acquired at 1 Hz with a 256-channel gamma-ray\nspectrometer including an upward-looking detector for atmospheric radon\ncorrection.\n\nMagnetic data were compensated, diurnally corrected, tie-line levelled and\nmicro-levelled, with the residual field computed against the 2025 IGRF model.\nRadiometric data were processed with NASVD spectral smoothing, corrected for\nlive time, cosmic and aircraft background, radon, Compton stripping and\nheight, and converted to ground concentrations of potassium (%K), equivalent\nuranium (ppm eU) and equivalent thorium (ppm eTh). Deliverables include total\nmagnetic intensity, residual magnetic intensity, first vertical derivative,\nanalytic signal, horizontal gradients, K, eU, eTh, total count, dose rate,\nTh/K, U/K and U/Th ratio grids and a K–Th–U ternary image, all at 25-metre\ncell size in NAD83, UTM Zone 18N.\n\nHistorical and indirect data\nThe grab sample and rock-sample REE values described in this news release and\nshown on Figure 1 are historical results from the Québec government SIGEOM\ndatabase. The Qualified Person has not verified these results, and they should\nnot be relied upon. Grab samples are selective by nature and are not\nnecessarily representative of the mineralization on the property. TREO was\nestimated from the reported TREE using standard element-to-oxide conversion\nfactors.\n\nAirborne magnetic and radiometric data are indirect measurements. The\nexploration targets described in this news release are not mineral resources,\nand there is no certainty that drilling will intersect rare earth or niobium\nmineralization at any target.\n\nQualified Person\nThe scientific and technical information contained in this news release has\nbeen prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of\nDisclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”). Clyde McMillan, P.Geo., a\nconsultant to the Company and a Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101,\nhas reviewed and approved the technical information contained herein.\n\nThe geophysical data described in this news release were acquired and\nprocessed by Terraquest Ltd., an independent geophysical contractor. The\nQualified Person has reviewed the final processed grids and the contractor’s\ndata documentation for internal consistency and agreement with known geology,\nbut has not independently re-processed the raw survey data.\n\nABOUT NORTH AMERICAN NIOBIUM AND CRITICAL MINERALS CORP.\nNorth American Niobium and Critical Minerals Corp. is a North American mineral\nexploration company focused on the acquisition and development of precious,\nbase, and critical mineral assets. Its portfolio includes the Silver Lake\nproperty in British Columbia’s Omineca Mining Division and a district-scale\nland package covering 29,936 hectares in Quebec’s Grenville Province. The\nQuebec properties host rare earth element, niobium, and nickel-copper\noccurrences, expanding the Company’s footprint into critical minerals that\nare strategically important for energy and defense applications.\n\nON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS\nMurray Nye\nChief Executive Officer\ninfo@northamericanniobium.com\n+1 (647) 984-4204\n\nForward-Looking Statements\nThis news release contains “forward-looking information” and\n“forward-looking statements” (collectively, “forward-looking\nstatements”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities\nlegislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact,\nincluded herein are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are\nfrequently, but not always, identified by words such as “expects”,\n“anticipates”, “believes”, “intends”, “estimates”,\n“potential”, “possible”, “will”, “plans”, “continues” and\nsimilar expressions, or statements that events, conditions or results\n“will”, “may”, “could” or “should” occur or be achieved.\n\nForward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited\nto, statements regarding: (i) the completion of airborne survey flying over\nthe Blanchette, Sabot and Miskam blocks and the timing of receipt of final\ndata; (ii) the interpretation of the airborne geophysical data and the\ngeneration and ranking of drill targets; (iii) the timing, size and location\nof the Company’s planned Phase 2 drilling program; and (iv) the potential of\nthe Bardy, Blanchette, Sabot and Miskam properties to host rare earth element\nand niobium mineralization and the size and extent of any such system.\n\nForward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be\nreasonable and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other\nfactors that may cause actual results to differ materially, including, without\nlimitation: risks that geophysical anomalies may not reflect mineralization;\nthe indirect nature of airborne geophysical measurements; risks that drilling\nmay not intersect mineralization; weather, access and permitting delays\naffecting survey completion and drill mobilization; risks relating to\nexploration and development; the availability of financing; laboratory and\nanalytical delays; changes in commodity prices; and the other risk factors\ndiscussed in the Company’s continuous-disclosure documents filed under its\nprofile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.\n\nThe forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date\nhereof. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any\nforward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future\nevents or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.\n\nThe Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the\nadequacy or accuracy of this release and has neither approved nor disapproved\nthe contents of this press release.\n\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/14cfbd26-7d34-4ee7-8f29-6d515821e186)\n\n\n\nGlobeNewswire, Inc. 2026","article_body_html":"","raw_payload":{"data":{"id":"nGNX57qqCd-20261014","title":"NIOB Airborne Survey Identifies Rare Earth Targets at Bardy SE","author":"Globe Newswire","ticker":"NIOB","created":"2026-10-14T11:30:00.193Z","tickers":["NIOB"],"exchange":"","article_body":"Vancouver, British Columbia, Oct. 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- North American\nNiobium and Critical Minerals Corp. (CSE: NIOB) (FSE: KS82.F) (OTCQB: NIOMF)\n(NIOB or the Company) has found a thorium high, wrapped in an alkaline\nintrusion, inside a grab sample of rare earths. Target BSE-05 is one of two\npriority targets on the Company’s Bardy SE property that was identified by a\nfixed-wing aeromagnetic gradient and gamma-ray spectrometry survey.\n\nThe interpretation of the data from the final results of the survey flown over\nthe property in August has identified BSE-05 and BSE-04 (see Figure 1, below)\nas two priority rare earth element-niobium targets areas:\n* BSE-05 is a thorium high within the Bardy alkaline intrusion, where a\nhistorical government grab sample returned 0.14% total rare earth elements, or\napproximately 0.17% total rare earth oxides, over a uranium-thorium\nradiometric anomaly. (Note: grab samples are selective and may not represent\naverage grade.)\n* Target BSE-04 is a radiometric high at the contact between the intrusion and\nthe surrounding metasedimentary rocks.\n“We’re excited by these findings because thorium can be a pathfinder\nelement for rare earth and niobiumthat may indicate the existence of an\nalkaline system,” said Murray Nye, NIOB’s Chief Executive Officer.\n“These two targets will feature in our Phase 2 drilling program at Bardy SE,\nwhich we have begun to plan. We expect drills to be turning once the fall\nhunting season ends in late October.”\n\nNIOB’s Bardy SE property is near La Tuque, Québec. It hosts an alkaline\nintrusion that is approximately 981 million years old (Ma), which is similar\nin age to the Crevier alkaline–carbonatite complex dated at 957.5 ± 2.9 Ma\n(U-Pb zircon; Groulier et al., 2014). Located north of Lac Saint-Jean, Crevier\nhosts niobium-tantalum mineralization. (Note: NIOB holds no interest in\nCrevier, for which there is no government radiometric data. A similar age does\nnot mean that mineralization comparable to Crevier is present at Bardy.)\n\nAccording to publicly available government airborne radiometric data, the\nBardy SE radiometric highs are of similar magnitude to the radiometric high\nover the Niobec niobium mine in Saint-Honoré, Quebec. Niobec is one of only\nthree niobium producers in the world, and the only one in North\nAmerica. (Note: The comparison is qualitative, as the surveys were flown with\ndifferent equipment and parameters. Niobec is owned by a third party, and the\nCompany holds no interest in it. A similar radiometric response does not mean\nthat mineralization comparable to Niobec is present at Bardy SE.)\n\nThe fixed-wing aeromagnetic gradient and 256-channel gamma-ray spectrometry\nsurvey was flown by Terraquest Ltd. Final levelled grids at a 25-metre cell\nsize were delivered on September 11. The targets were identified on the\nequivalent thorium grid and checked against the thorium-potassium ratio,\nmagnetic data, mapped geology, and historical rock samples.\n\nFigure 1: Equivalent thorium (eTh, ppm) over the Bardy SE block, Terraquest\nsurvey B601, showing priority targets BSE-04 and BSE-05, the radiometric ring\nanomaly, mapped syenite, 2026 Phase 1 drill collars (BBY-2026-001 to -008) and\nhistorical rock-sample REE values from the SIGEOM database.\n\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=0_qeKsAPIt5CkI5nwg8cWMj4c-uJ1KHIjWoHv-uPnwOYu6aeaCMMwo0Farf8pqJho3QLQOl57vjdNZTfQqym_YRonEhU4CTNRu0Nh5OcjMByf1oveJmR3tAO94pXttIK4Xp0Fu4EgjrtzejGMy9lsQ==)\n\nClick here to view image\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=bNj9HyntLwz2CfB0mGlJ1Kw5LNQAYuhXIHYS-MbSTkevSXuYYuCfLnmN8f7YvqZsHgrMTRd6hY3ulltSraziEaRluImCaWXKI0zZwfcx_JUtKfyelyExrx08SgjNEpNDASz3qCP5XsSvirqLVeRodJbAyfdtzbN0ZN4XIWR6UuYsGZzqlNilwvCoJkX6lGfl)\n\nHow the survey data are used\nMagnetic data map magnetite-bearing rock. At Bardy SE they are used to trace\nintrusive contacts, internal phases and faults, including under glacial cover.\nMagnetic data do not measure rare earth or niobium content.\n\nGamma-ray spectrometry measures potassium, uranium and thorium at surface.\nThorium is commonly carried by allanite and other rare earth minerals, and\nuranium by pyrochlore, so their distribution can point to rare earth and\nniobium enrichment. Thorium is also carried by zircon and other common\nminerals, so a thorium high alone does not confirm rare earths. For this\nreason the Company ranks targets on thorium together with the\nthorium-potassium ratio, magnetic features and mapped geology.\n\nSurvey specifications\nTerraquest Ltd. flew the survey from La Tuque, Québec, using a Piper\nPA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain. Magnetic data were acquired at 10 Hz from three\nmagnetometers in the left wingtip, right wingtip and tail, giving measured\neast–west and north–south horizontal gradients in addition to total field.\nRadiometric data were acquired at 1 Hz with a 256-channel gamma-ray\nspectrometer including an upward-looking detector for atmospheric radon\ncorrection.\n\nMagnetic data were compensated, diurnally corrected, tie-line levelled and\nmicro-levelled, with the residual field computed against the 2025 IGRF model.\nRadiometric data were processed with NASVD spectral smoothing, corrected for\nlive time, cosmic and aircraft background, radon, Compton stripping and\nheight, and converted to ground concentrations of potassium (%K), equivalent\nuranium (ppm eU) and equivalent thorium (ppm eTh). Deliverables include total\nmagnetic intensity, residual magnetic intensity, first vertical derivative,\nanalytic signal, horizontal gradients, K, eU, eTh, total count, dose rate,\nTh/K, U/K and U/Th ratio grids and a K–Th–U ternary image, all at 25-metre\ncell size in NAD83, UTM Zone 18N.\n\nHistorical and indirect data\nThe grab sample and rock-sample REE values described in this news release and\nshown on Figure 1 are historical results from the Québec government SIGEOM\ndatabase. The Qualified Person has not verified these results, and they should\nnot be relied upon. Grab samples are selective by nature and are not\nnecessarily representative of the mineralization on the property. TREO was\nestimated from the reported TREE using standard element-to-oxide conversion\nfactors.\n\nAirborne magnetic and radiometric data are indirect measurements. The\nexploration targets described in this news release are not mineral resources,\nand there is no certainty that drilling will intersect rare earth or niobium\nmineralization at any target.\n\nQualified Person\nThe scientific and technical information contained in this news release has\nbeen prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of\nDisclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”). Clyde McMillan, P.Geo., a\nconsultant to the Company and a Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101,\nhas reviewed and approved the technical information contained herein.\n\nThe geophysical data described in this news release were acquired and\nprocessed by Terraquest Ltd., an independent geophysical contractor. The\nQualified Person has reviewed the final processed grids and the contractor’s\ndata documentation for internal consistency and agreement with known geology,\nbut has not independently re-processed the raw survey data.\n\nABOUT NORTH AMERICAN NIOBIUM AND CRITICAL MINERALS CORP.\nNorth American Niobium and Critical Minerals Corp. is a North American mineral\nexploration company focused on the acquisition and development of precious,\nbase, and critical mineral assets. Its portfolio includes the Silver Lake\nproperty in British Columbia’s Omineca Mining Division and a district-scale\nland package covering 29,936 hectares in Quebec’s Grenville Province. The\nQuebec properties host rare earth element, niobium, and nickel-copper\noccurrences, expanding the Company’s footprint into critical minerals that\nare strategically important for energy and defense applications.\n\nON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS\nMurray Nye\nChief Executive Officer\ninfo@northamericanniobium.com\n+1 (647) 984-4204\n\nForward-Looking Statements\nThis news release contains “forward-looking information” and\n“forward-looking statements” (collectively, “forward-looking\nstatements”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities\nlegislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact,\nincluded herein are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are\nfrequently, but not always, identified by words such as “expects”,\n“anticipates”, “believes”, “intends”, “estimates”,\n“potential”, “possible”, “will”, “plans”, “continues” and\nsimilar expressions, or statements that events, conditions or results\n“will”, “may”, “could” or “should” occur or be achieved.\n\nForward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited\nto, statements regarding: (i) the completion of airborne survey flying over\nthe Blanchette, Sabot and Miskam blocks and the timing of receipt of final\ndata; (ii) the interpretation of the airborne geophysical data and the\ngeneration and ranking of drill targets; (iii) the timing, size and location\nof the Company’s planned Phase 2 drilling program; and (iv) the potential of\nthe Bardy, Blanchette, Sabot and Miskam properties to host rare earth element\nand niobium mineralization and the size and extent of any such system.\n\nForward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be\nreasonable and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other\nfactors that may cause actual results to differ materially, including, without\nlimitation: risks that geophysical anomalies may not reflect mineralization;\nthe indirect nature of airborne geophysical measurements; risks that drilling\nmay not intersect mineralization; weather, access and permitting delays\naffecting survey completion and drill mobilization; risks relating to\nexploration and development; the availability of financing; laboratory and\nanalytical delays; changes in commodity prices; and the other risk factors\ndiscussed in the Company’s continuous-disclosure documents filed under its\nprofile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.\n\nThe forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date\nhereof. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any\nforward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future\nevents or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.\n\nThe Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the\nadequacy or accuracy of this release and has neither approved nor disapproved\nthe contents of this press release.\n\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/14cfbd26-7d34-4ee7-8f29-6d515821e186)\n\n\n\nGlobeNewswire, Inc. 2026"},"type":"article","timestamp":"2026-10-14T11:30:00.248078701Z","server_sent_at_ms":1791977400248},"received_at":"2026-10-14T11:30:00.352Z","source_url":null},"analysis":{"id":"156976","press_release_id":"168714","analysis_json":{"industry":{"label":"Metals & Mining","sector":"Materials"},"redFlags":["grab sample is historical, selective, and unverified by the Qualified Person","geophysical anomalies are indirect and may not reflect mineralization","comparisons to Crevier and Niobec are explicitly qualitative; NIOB holds no interest in either"],"eventType":"operations_update","narrative":"North American Niobium (NIOB) identified two priority rare earth-niobium targets, BSE-05 and BSE-04, at its Bardy SE property near La Tuque, Québec, from an August fixed-wing aeromagnetic and gamma-ray spectrometry survey flown by Terraquest.\n\nBSE-05 is a thorium high within the Bardy alkaline intrusion, where a historical government grab sample returned 0.14% TREE (~0.17% TREO); grab samples are selective and the Qualified Person has not verified the historical results.\n\nManagement plans to include both targets in a Phase 2 drilling program, with drills expected to start once fall hunting season ends in late October. Airborne radiometrics are indirect measurements and no mineralization is confirmed, so this is early-stage news, not a resource event.","sentiment":"bullish","agentHooks":{"shouldPost":false,"suggestedAngle":"Early-stage REE exploration update -- watch for Phase 2 drill results in November as the next catalyst."},"keyFigures":{"customDimensions":{"grab_sample_tree":"0.14% total rare earth elements","grab_sample_treo":"approximately 0.17% total rare earth oxides","priority_targets":["BSE-05","BSE-04"],"property_area_hectares":29936}},"quotedText":"These two targets will feature in our Phase 2 drilling program at Bardy SE, which we have begun to plan. We expect drills to be turning once the fall hunting season ends in late October.","namedEntities":{"people":[{"name":"Murray Nye","role":"Chief Executive Officer"},{"name":"Clyde McMillan, P.Geo.","role":"Qualified Person / consultant"}],"products":["Bardy SE property","Silver Lake property"],"companies":[{"name":"North American Niobium and Critical Minerals Corp.","ticker":"NIOB","relationship":"filer"},{"name":"Terraquest Ltd.","relationship":"geophysical contractor"}],"dollarAmounts":[]},"materialImpact":{"score":2,"reasoning":"Early-stage exploration results: airborne survey identified two priority REE-niobium targets with plans for Phase 2 drilling. No resource definition, no confirmed mineralization; exploration success is highly uncertain."},"tickerRelevance":{"others":[{"ticker":"KS82.F","relevance":"same issuer, Frankfurt listing"},{"ticker":"NIOMF","relevance":"same issuer, OTCQB listing"}],"primary":"NIOB"},"globalImportance":15,"audienceRelevance":10,"eventTypeSecondary":[],"importanceComponents":{"tickerTier":"micro-cap","eventGravity":"early-stage exploration targeting","issuerAuthored":true,"criticalMineralsAngle":true}},"event_type":"operations_update","event_type_secondary":null,"sentiment":"bullish","material_impact_score":2,"narrative":"North American Niobium (NIOB) identified two priority rare earth-niobium targets, BSE-05 and BSE-04, at its Bardy SE property near La Tuque, Québec, from an August fixed-wing aeromagnetic and gamma-ray spectrometry survey flown by Terraquest.\n\nBSE-05 is a thorium high within the Bardy alkaline intrusion, where a historical government grab sample returned 0.14% TREE (~0.17% TREO); grab samples are selective and the Qualified Person has not verified the historical results.\n\nManagement plans to include both targets in a Phase 2 drilling program, with drills expected to start once fall hunting season ends in late October. Airborne radiometrics are indirect measurements and no mineralization is confirmed, so this is early-stage news, not a resource event.","key_figures":{"customDimensions":{"grab_sample_tree":"0.14% total rare earth elements","grab_sample_treo":"approximately 0.17% total rare earth oxides","priority_targets":["BSE-05","BSE-04"],"property_area_hectares":29936}},"named_entities":{"people":[{"name":"Murray Nye","role":"Chief Executive Officer"},{"name":"Clyde McMillan, P.Geo.","role":"Qualified Person / consultant"}],"products":["Bardy SE property","Silver Lake property"],"companies":[{"name":"North American Niobium and Critical Minerals Corp.","ticker":"NIOB","relationship":"filer"},{"name":"Terraquest Ltd.","relationship":"geophysical contractor"}],"dollarAmounts":[]},"model_name":"glm-5.3-flashx","prompt_hash":"sha256:5c812bd9e28b810d","schema_hash":"sha256:05005c02d9cffac9","created_at":"2026-10-14T11:30:06.754Z","global_importance":15,"audience_relevance":10,"importance_components":{"tickerTier":"micro-cap","eventGravity":"early-stage exploration targeting","issuerAuthored":true,"criticalMineralsAngle":true}},"durationMs":6383,"modelName":"glm-5.3-flashx"}}