Vancouver, British Columbia, Oct. 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The final assay results from Bardy confirm that more work is warranted at the Québec Property. North American Niobium and Critical Minerals Corp. (CSE: NIOB) (FSE: KS82.F) (OTCQB: NIOMF) (NIOB or the Company) has now received results for every hole, with every hole returning at least one interval at or above 0.1% total rare earth oxides (TREO) (see Table 1). Hole BBY-2026-006—hosted by a 10-centimetre allanite-rich pegmatite injection within a mafic intrusive (Figure 1)—returned the highest individual sample: 1.15% TREO with 1,778 ppm neodymium (Nd2O3) over 0.50 m.


“This is a unique rare earth-bearing alkaline dyke system in Grenville province that clearly warrants follow-up,” said Murray Nye, Chief Executive Officer. “Our goal at Bardy was to intersect niobium and rare earth bearing systems, and we believe we have done that. The holes were all collared at targets where radon data, high resolution magnetics, and surface mapping all intersect, and we’re pleased that our approach has borne fruit.”

Bardy drilling confirms a rare earth-bearing intrusive system
Bardy forms part of NIOB’s district-scale critical minerals land package in Québec. With its cross-cutting intermediate to felsic dykes, Bardy is interpreted to be part of a broader alkaline system and the diamond drill program, which covered 1,554 meters over eight holes, resulted in three key pieces of information about the system:

• allanite—initially identified in hand samples by a historical government survey—is present in the system; confirming that rare earth elements are also present.

• Bardy hosts a complex swarm of cross-cutting intermediate to felsic dykes, which can indicate a long-lived system that has the potential for hosting an economic system

•  rare earth mineralization mapped at surface continues at depth.

Other highlights include:

• Results from holes BBY-2026-003, -004, -006, -007 and -008 are detailed in this press release and complete the dataset previously reported for BBY-2026-001, -002 and -005 on September 15, 2026

• New composites include

• • 0.28% TREO over 3.50 m (BBY-2026-004, from 215.50 m)
  • 0.43% TREO over 1.95 m (BBY-2026-006, from 71.00 m) and
  • broader low-grade intervals of 0.10% TREO over 16.00 m (BBY-2026-007) and 0.12% TREO over 10.85 m (BBY-2026-008).

• Neodymium is present: Nd₂O₃, the principal magnet rare earth oxide, ranges from 500 to 1,778 ppm in the reported sub-intervals.

Figure 1: BBY-2026-006 from 8.25 to 8.35 m. Syeno-granitic pegmatite injection with approximately 15% coarse allanite, within the 0.50 m sample (7.95 to 8.45 m) that returned 1.15% TREO and 1,778 ppm Nd₂O₃.

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Table 1: Composite intervals (TREO %) for all 2026 Bardy drill holes, including previously published results, with Nd₂O₃ for sub-intervals at or above 500 ppm.

Note: Composite intervals were calculated at a cut-off grade of 0.1% TREO with a maximum of 2 m of internal dilution. Nd₂O₃ is shown for single-sample intervals and “incl.” sub-intervals returning 500 ppm or more. All intervals are reported as core lengths. True widths have not yet been determined and will be estimated once the 3D geological model of the dyke swarm is completed. TREO (total rare earth oxides) is the sum of lanthanum oxide (La2O3), cerium oxide (Ce2O3), praseodymium oxide (Pr6O11), neodymium oxide (Nd2O3), samarium oxide (Sm2O3), europium oxide (Eu2O3), gadolinium oxide (Gd2O3), terbium oxide (Tb4O7), dysprosium oxide (Dy2O3), holmium oxide (Ho2O3), erbium oxide (Er2O3), thulium oxide (Tm2O3), ytterbium oxide (Yb2O3), lutetium oxide (Lu2O3) and yttrium oxide (Y2O3).

Drill sections and best individual results

Figure 2: Map of the Bardy sector showing drill-hole traces, interpreted radon anomaly trends and the projected extension of the main dyke.

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Cross-sections are presented from west to east. The BBY-2026-005 section was published on September 15, 2026.

BBY-2026-006: Best result of program from top of the hole
BBY-2026-006 was designed to intersect the Bardy main dyke directly beneath its outcrop, with the hole positioned on the dip and trend of the dyke measured at surface. Small pegmatite injections were intersected above and below the projected position of the dyke, together with a zone of mixed syenite and pegmatite near the bottom of the hole.

The 8.0 m syenitic pegmatite interval (139.70 to 147.70 m) reported on August 4, 2026, returned its best assays at its base, with 0.25% TREO over 0.50 m and 0.24% TREO over 1.05 m (146.10 to 147.65 m).

The best result of the program came near the top of the hole, where a 10 cm allanite-rich pegmatite injection within a mafic intrusive returned 1.15% TREO and 1,778 ppm Nd₂O₃ over the 0.50 m sample (7.95 to 8.45 m).

Table 2: Best individual assay results for BBY-2026-006, TREO (%), and Nd₂O₃ (ppm).

Figure 3: Cross-section through BBY-2026-006 with TREO assay results.

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BBY-2026-001, -002, and -004:
BBY-2026-001 and -002 were collared approximately 150 m northeast of BBY-2026-006.

BBY-2026-001 tested the northeast extension of the Bardy main dyke, which BBY-2026-004 may also have tested at depth; BBY-2026-002 tested radon anomaly trends.

BBY-2026-004 returned 0.28% TREO over 3.50 m from 215.50 m in syenite with local pegmatite, and 0.16% TREO over 6.45 m from 259.40 m in granite and pegmatite.

Table 3: Best individual assay results for BBY-2026-001 and -004, TREO (%) and Nd₂O₃ (ppm).

Figure 4: Cross-section through BBY-2026-004, -001 and -002 with TREO assay results and composites.

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BBY-2026-003
BBY-2026-003 tested two radon anomaly trends and a possible extension of the Bardy main dyke at depth. It returned 0.14% TREO over 2.80 m from 135.00 m in pegmatite and adjacent gneiss.

Figure 5: Cross-section through BBY-2026-003 with TREO assay results and composite.

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BBY-2026-007 and -008
The easternmost section tested the expected eastern extension of the Bardy main dyke (BBY-2026-007) and three radon anomaly trends (BBY-2026-008).

Both holes returned broad, low-grade intervals: 0.10% TREO over 16.00 m from 103.30 m in BBY-2026-007, in a mix of pegmatite, intermediate and felsic intrusions, and 0.12% TREO over 10.85 m from 120.05 m in BBY-2026-008, in a syenitic intrusive cutting gneiss.

Table 4: Best individual assay results for BBY-2026-008, TREO (%) and Nd₂O₃ (ppm).

Note: Tables 2 to 4 list individual samples; Nd₂O₃ is shown where it is 500 ppm or more.

Figure 6: Cross-section through BBY-2026-007 and -008 with TREO assay results and composites.

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Table 5: Collar coordinates for all 2026 Bardy drill holes.

Note: Collar coordinates are UTM NAD83 Zone 18N. Total drilled: 1,554 m.

Sampling, analytical method and quality assurance / quality control
Samples were submitted to SGS Canada Inc., which is independent of the Company and operates an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited analytical facility in Val-d’Or, Québec. Rare earth elements were determined by sodium peroxide fusion with an ICP-MS finish (SGS method GE_IMS91A50).

The reported samples are NQ-size half core, split along the core axis and sampled over intervals of approximately 0.5 to 1.0 m, with the remaining half core retained for reference. Quality control included certified reference materials, blanks and field duplicates inserted into the sample stream (approximately 13% of submitted samples). No material QA/QC issues were identified. Core recovery through the mineralized intervals averaged approximately 95 to 97% and is not considered to have materially affected sample representivity.

Qualified Person
The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”). Clyde McMillan, P.Geo., a consultant to the Company and a Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information contained herein. Mr. McMillan has verified the data disclosed in this news release, including the sampling, analytical and test data underlying the information, through review of the drill logs, sample records, SGS assay certificates and QA/QC results. References to allanite and other minerals are based on visual core logging and hand-sample identification and have not yet been confirmed by petrographic or mineralogical analysis.

Corporate Update
The Company also announces that the Hon. Kerry-Lynne D. Findlay has resigned as a director of the Company. NIOB is grateful for Ms. Findlay’s contributions, insight and service during her tenure on the Board, and the Company wishes her every success in her future endeavours.

ABOUT NORTH AMERICAN NIOBIUM AND CRITICAL MINERALS CORP.
North American Niobium and Critical Minerals Corp. is a North American mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition and development of precious, base, and critical mineral assets. Its portfolio includes the Silver Lake property in British Columbia’s Omineca Mining Division and a district-scale land package covering 29,936 hectares in Quebec’s Grenville Province. The Quebec properties host rare earth element, niobium, and nickel-copper occurrences, expanding the Company’s footprint into critical minerals that are strategically important for energy and defense applications.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
Murray Nye
Chief Executive Officer
info@northamericanniobium.com | +1 (647) 984-4204

Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “intends”, “estimates”, “potential”, “possible”, “will”, “plans”, “continues” and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions or results “will”, “may”, “could” or “should” occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: (i) the interpretation of the Bardy assay results and the geological model of the Bardy sector; (ii) the potential of the Bardy intrusive system to host rare earth element mineralization and the relationship between host rock type and grade; (iii) the Company’s plans for follow-up work, including 3D geological modelling and the estimation of true widths; (iv) the integration and interpretation of airborne radiometric and magnetic survey data and the use of radon surveys as a targeting tool; and (v) further drilling programs at Bardy SE and its timing.

Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially, including, without limitation: risks that further results may not be consistent with those reported; the inherent uncertainty of visual mineral identification; changes in geological interpretation; the absence of demonstrated continuity of mineralization; risks relating to exploration and development; the availability of financing; laboratory and analytical delays; changes in commodity prices; and the other risk factors discussed in the Company’s continuous-disclosure documents filed under its profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

The forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date hereof. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.