Québec Find Ignites Critical Mineral Hopes with High-Grade Niobium

VANCOUVER, BC – February 17, 2026 – North American Niobium and Critical Minerals Corp. has announced significant findings of high-value critical minerals at its Seigneurie Project in Québec, potentially positioning the region as a pivotal new source for materials essential to the global technology and green energy sectors. The company reported compelling assay results, including high-grade niobium and dysprosium, from recent exploration sampling, signaling a promising development in North America's quest for a secure critical mineral supply chain.

The discovery, located in the province's historically resource-rich Grenville Province, includes a selectively chosen pegmatite grab sample that returned a notable 0.15% niobium oxide (Nb₂O₅) and 124.5 parts per million (ppm) dysprosium oxide (Dy₂O₃). Another sample from a carbonatite outcrop yielded 0.19% Total Rare Earth Oxides (TREO), underscoring the project's potential to host a diverse suite of strategic elements.

A Strategic Mix of High-Value Minerals

The initial results stem from a two-phase exploration program designed to test surface-level mineralization. While exploration geologists caution that 'grab samples' are selective by nature and not representative of an entire deposit, they serve as powerful indicators of a project's potential. The high-grade sample (G170343) not only contained significant niobium and dysprosium but also elevated levels of tantalum, hafnium, and scandium—a combination CEO Murray Nye described as an "intriguing metal mix."

Complementing these high-grade hits, a more systematic 'channel sampling' program conducted in Phase 1 yielded broader, more consistent mineralization. A continuous 15-meter composite interval returned lower but still anomalous grades of 294.39 ppm niobium oxide and 0.039% TREO. This type of sampling provides a more accurate average grade over a specific area and suggests the presence of a larger, more continuous mineralized system. Geological interpretation based on surface exposure and historical drill collar locations from a 1978 campaign suggests the pegmatite body could exceed 100 to 150 meters in width, with its full dimensions remaining open for discovery at depth and along strike.

Fueling the Future: Why These Minerals Matter

The elements identified at the Seigneurie Project are the building blocks of modern and future technology. Niobium is a crucial additive in the production of high-strength, low-alloy (HSLA) steel used in everything from pipelines and bridges to lighter, more fuel-efficient vehicles. With the global niobium market projected to surpass $1.7 billion by 2027, new, stable sources outside of the dominant Brazilian supply are of immense strategic interest.

Dysprosium, a heavy rare earth element, is indispensable for manufacturing high-performance permanent magnets that can withstand extreme temperatures. These magnets are critical components in electric vehicle (EV) motors and direct-drive wind turbines, placing dysprosium at the heart of the clean energy transition. With demand forecasted to potentially grow by over 2,000% in the coming decades, discoveries like Seigneurie are vital for meeting future needs and mitigating reliance on China, which currently dominates the global REE market.

The presence of hafnium and scandium further enhances the project's appeal. Hafnium is essential for superalloys in the aerospace industry and control rods in nuclear reactors, while scandium creates exceptionally strong and lightweight aluminum alloys for defense and high-performance applications. The market for both metals is characterized by tight supply and growing demand, making any new potential source a significant development.

Québec's Emerging Role as a Critical Minerals Hub

The Seigneurie discovery adds to a growing chorus of exploration successes that are cementing Québec's status as a premier jurisdiction for critical minerals. The project is situated in the Grenville Province, a geological terrain that also hosts Canada's sole operating niobium mine, Niobec, as well as numerous other advanced-stage rare earth and niobium projects. This regional endowment, combined with Québec's pro-mining policies, robust infrastructure, and access to clean energy, creates a highly attractive environment for mineral development.

Companies like NioBay Metals and Mont Royal are also actively advancing niobium and REE projects in the province, creating a competitive and innovative ecosystem. The Québec government has actively supported the sector, recognizing its role in economic development and supply chain security. Regulatory frameworks, including potential fast-track approval systems for critical minerals projects, provide a clear path forward for explorers. This supportive backdrop reinforces the feasibility of North American Niobium's ambitious plan to commence a validation drilling program.

From Discovery to Drill Bit: The Path Forward

With these encouraging surface results in hand, North American Niobium is now focused on the crucial next step: subsurface testing. The company is advancing the required permitting to support a drill program targeted for the first quarter of 2026. This drilling will be the first modern test of the system's depth and true width, providing the systematic data necessary to validate the high-grade surface discoveries and begin to delineate a potential resource.

With a healthy balance sheet and recent financing, the company appears well-positioned to fund this pivotal exploration phase. The upcoming drill campaign will be closely watched by the market as it seeks to confirm whether the promising surface geochemistry at Seigneurie translates into a significant critical mineral deposit at depth.

“Phase 1 channel sampling only tested the limited outcrop available at surface, and while the grades are modest, the results consistently show notable niobium, dysprosium, hafnium and scandium,” stated Murray Nye, Chief Executive Officer. “Phase 2 has now returned a very encouraging pegmatite grab sample grading 0.15% Nb₂O₅ with notable dysprosium, hafnium and scandium, alongside an REE-bearing carbonatite outcrop returning 0.19% TREO. Given the current market interest and pricing environment for dysprosium, hafnium and scandium, this is an intriguing metal mix and warrants further work as we advance permitting and prepare for drilling in 2026.”