Mr. Sean Charland reports

APEX DRILLS 4.48% REO OVER 8.0 M AND 5.27% REO OVER 10.2 M WITHIN MULTIPLE ~ 150 M INTERVALS OF > 2.00 % REO AT THE RIFT RARE EARTH PROJECT IN SE NEBRASKA

Apex Critical Metals Corp. has released the assay results from drill holes RIFT26-011, RIFT26-012, RIFT26-013 and RIFT26-014 at its strategic 100-per-cent-controlled Rift rare earth project within the Elk Creek carbonatite complex in southeastern Nebraska, United States.

Highlights:

• RIFT26-012 extends Trinity zone mineralization 100 metres to the west (from previously reported RIFT26-002) with 2.42 per cent REO (rare earth oxide) over 151.4 m, including:
  • 4.48 per cent REO over 8.0 m;
  • Or 3.40 per cent REO over 26.0 m;
  • Or 3.03 per cent REO over 61.4 m;
  • RIFT26-012 represents the strongest width-times-grade intercept south of the discovery area;
• RIFT26-014 confirms further continuity of the Trinity zone to the south across 185 m of western downdip projection with 148.5 m at 2.09 per cent REO, including 10.2 m at 5.27 per cent REO, or 21.7 m at 4.00 per cent REO;
  • RIFT26-014 is located between and along the same drill hole fence as previously reported RIFT26-003 (80.0 m at 2.29 per cent REO) and RIFT26-005A (137.2 m at 2.01 per cent REO (see news releases dated April 28, 2026, and May 15, 2026, respectively) and confirms continuity of the upper high-grade REO horizon (Trinity zone);
• Western stepout drill holes continue to intersect hematite alteration and rock characteristics similar to mineralized holes reported to date; a total of 32 drill holes have been completed to date, with assays still pending for 18 completed holes;
• Trinity zone is now defined over an approximate 400-metre north-south strike length and 200 m downdip with strongly mineralized intervals ranging from 80 to 150 m, which continue to demonstrate strong continuity of high-grade REO mineralization:
  • The Trinity zone remains open in all directions.

Sean Charland, chief executive officer of Apex Critical Metals, commented: "The results from these stepout drill holes, including our best grade-times-width results south of the discovery area, continues to demonstrate the extension and expansion potential of the upper high-grade REO horizon (Trinity zone). The growing mineralized footprint and consistency observed from assay results to date increases confidence in the shallow west-dipping Trinity zone and ability to deliver a strong inaugural mineral resource estimate in Q1 2027. With a significant number of assays still pending and drilling ongoing, the company is well positioned to build upon the early successes from our 2026 drill campaign."

Key observations and take-aways

Current analytical results from RIFT26-012 and RIFT26-014 demonstrate continuity and expansion of the Trinity zone extending the high-grade greater-than-2.00-per-cent-REO mineralization downdip and west of previously reported drill holes RIFT26-002 as well as RIFT26-003 and RIFT26-005A, respectively (see news releases Dated April 7, 2026, April 28, 2026, and May 15, 2026). Hematite altered carbonatite is present in each of the current drill holes and further demonstrates a correlation with strong REO values. Similar rock characteristics are observed along western stepout drill holes offering positive indications and expansion potential of the Trinity zone.

RIFT26-012 was drilled 100 m west of RIFT26-002, targeting the theorized western dip of the Trinity zone, which intersected 81.6 m at 2.02 per cent REO in RIFT26-002 (see news release dated April 7, 2026). Drill results from RIFT26-012 confirm and expand the intersection of the Trinity zone with 8.04 m of 4.48 per cent REO and 61.4 m of 3.03 per cent REO within a broader interval of 151.4 m of 2.42 per cent REO, the strongest grade-times-width south of the discovery area intersected to date.

Four additional western stepout drill holes have been completed along the same drill hole fence, with assays pending. Initial visual results show broad intervals with hematite alteration consistent with mineralization of reported results, suggesting potential downdip extension of Trinity zone.

RIFT26-014 targeted the area in between RIFT26-003 and RIFT26-005A, which were approximately 200 m apart. Results from RIFT26-014 demonstrate continuity of the intersection of 80.0 m at 2.29 per cent REO, including 2.40 per cent REO over 50.9 m in RIFT26-003 (see news release dated April 28, 2026), and the intersection of 137.2 m at 2.01 per cent REO, including 4.02 per cent REO over 23.7 m in RIFT26-005A (see news release dated May 15, 2026). Trinity zone mineralization is the highest adjacent to the unconformity at 178.6 m and extends down to a depth of 327.1 m, with newly reported RIFT26-014 containing 2.09 per cent REO over 148.5 m, including 10.2 m of 5.27 per cent REO, 21.7 m of 4.00 per cent REO and 36.9 m of 3.11 per cent REO, within the broader interval.

RIFT26-011 and RIFT26-013 were targeting the north and western extensions of the zone highlighted in the June 22, 2026, news release. RIFT26-013 returned two discrete zones: an upper 22.8 m of 1.11 per cent REO and a lower zone of 24.5 m of 1.93 per cent REO. The carbonatite, however, is consistently elevated (greater than 0.5 per cent) in REO values down to a depth of 370 m. RIFT26-011 does not contain any notable mineralized intervals greater than 1.0 per cent REO and supports the continuing work that the Trinity zone is oriented northeast-southwest or east-northeast-west-southwest.

To date, only 14 of the 32 completed drill holes have analytical results released. Results contained herein continue to highlight significant intervals of greater than 4.00 per cent REO within a broader greater-than-2.00-per-cent-REO mineralized envelope, together with the positive rock attributes observed to the west, demonstrating a strong potential of Trinity zone expansion. Trinity zone intercepts maintain grade and continuity over an approximately 400-metre strike length and have been proved over 185 m downdip within the greater 700-metre target corridor. These results reinforce the high-grade mineralization within the Trinity zone and holes completed to date demonstrate strong western expansion potential at the Rift project.

Program status and next steps

The company has completed additional drill holes designed to further test the extent of mineralization along strike and at depth with assay results pending. Continuing refinement of the 3-D geological model, including integration of assay results as received, will support improved understanding of the mineralized system and help prioritize future drill targeting. The 2026 drill program remains continuing, with a total of 32 drill holes completed to date for approximately 21,000 m, with assays currently pending for 18 drill holes. Drilling is expected to continue through August and September with a single drill rig.

Quality assurance/quality control

All drilling was completed using one truck and one track-mounted diamond drill rigs with HQ-size core and all drill core samples have been or will be shipped to Activation Laboratories Ltd.'s (Actlabs) preparation facility in Ancaster, Ont., for standard sample preparation (code RX1), which includes drying, crushing (less than seven kilograms) up to 80 per cent passing two millimetres, riffle splitting (250 grams) and pulverizing (mild steel) to 95 per cent passing 105 micrometres. The samples were subsequently analyzed using Code 8 by XRF Nb2O5, ZrO2 and Ta2O5 (0.003 per cent), Code 8 -- REE assay (lithium metaborate/tetraborate fusion with subsequent analysis by ICP and ICP/MS). Drill core was saw cut, with half-core sent for geochemical analysis and half-core remaining in the box on site.

A quality assurance/quality control protocol was incorporated into the program and included the insertion of certified reference material and silica blanks at a rate of approximately 5 per cent and 5 per cent, respectively. Additional analysis of pulp-split and reject-split sample duplicates was also completed at a rate of approximately 5 per cent and 2.5 per cent, respectively, to assess analytical precision at different stages. Actlabs Canada is independent of the company.

Management cautions that the interception of carbonatite and associated hematite alteration is not necessarily indicative of mineralization. Assay results are required to confirm the presence, grade and significance of any mineralization. All intercepts reported in this news release represent core length (apparent width). True widths have not yet been determined.

Qualified person

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Nathan Schmidt, PGeo, a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Schmidt is a geologist with Dahrouge Geological Consulting Ltd., the consulting firm engaged by Apex Critical Metals to conduct and oversee all of the company's exploration work, including the 2026 drill program.

Mr. Schmidt has verified all scientific and technical data disclosed in this news release, including the sampling and QA/QC results and certified analytical data underlying the technical information disclosed. Mr. Schmidt noted no errors or omissions during the data verification process. The company and Mr. Schmidt do not recognize any factors of sampling or recovery that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the assay data disclosed in this news release.

Rare earth oxide (REO) values reported in this news release are calculated as the sum of individual rare earth oxide components and are not directly measured assay results. The individual rare earth oxide values underlying each reported REO grade are available on-line.

About Apex Critical Metals Corp.

Apex Critical Metals is a Canadian exploration company focused on advancing rare earth element (REE) and niobium projects that support the growing demand for critical and strategic metals across the United States and Canada. The company's flagship Rift project, located within the highly prospective Elk Creek carbonatite complex in Nebraska, United States, hosts extensive rare earth rights surrounding one of North America's most advanced niobium deposits. Two historical drill holes located within the 700-metre corridor of interest returned broad intervals of greater than 2.00 per cent REO, with higher-grade (greater than 3.00 per cent REO) intervals within. The company's 2026 drilling has continued to demonstrate this grade profile and has expanded the footprint of the high-grade mineralization (Trinity zone) over approximately 380 m from the historical drill holes to date. Additionally, drilling has delineated a new deeper horizon (Neo zone) of strongly elevated NdPr (neodymium-praseodymium) beneath the high-grade material, with NdPr distributions between 30 and 50 per cent. For more information, please see the company's news releases dated April 7, 2026, April 28, 2026, May 6, 2026, and May 15, 2026, which are available under the company's issuer profile on SEDAR+, as well as the company's individual REO component disclosure at the Rift project, which is available on Apex Critical Metals' website.

In Canada, Apex continues to advance its 100-per-cent-owned Cap project, located 85 kilometres northeast of Prince George, B.C. The 2025 drill program confirmed an emerging niobium discovery with 0.59 per cent (niobium pentoxide) over 36 metres, including 1.08 per cent Nb2O5 over 10 metres, within a 1.8-kilometre-long niobium trend. The Cap project continues to demonstrate strong potential for niobium mineralization within a large and previously unrecognized carbonatite system. For more information, please see the company's news releases dated Aug. 27, 2025, Nov. 12, 2025, Dec. 31, 2025, and June 30, 2026, which are available under the company's issuer profile on SEDAR+.

With a growing portfolio of critical mineral projects in both Canada and the United States, Apex Critical Metals is strategically positioned to help strengthen domestic supply chains for the minerals essential to advanced technologies, clean energy and national security. Apex is publicly listed in Canada on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol APXC and quoted on the OTCQX market in the United States under the symbol APXCF, in Germany on the Borse Frankfurt under the symbol KL9 and/or WKN: A40CCQ, and in France on Euronext Access Paris under the symbol MLAPX.

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