Core Viewpoint - Critical One Energy Inc. has mutually agreed to terminate the purchase agreement with Dark Star Minerals Inc. regarding the sale of its Namibia assets, which include uranium and copper projects in a well-established mining jurisdiction [1][3][4]. Group 1: Termination of Agreement - The termination of the agreement was executed by mutual consent, with Critical One agreeing to return 14,200,000 common shares of Dark Star without incurring any termination fees or penalties [3]. - Duane Parnham, the Founder, Executive Chairman, and CEO of Critical One, has also terminated his advisory role with Dark Star effective immediately [3]. Group 2: Namibia Assets Overview - The Namibia Assets consist of interests in the Khan and Cobra uranium projects located in Namibia's Erongo uranium province, a region known for its significant uranium production [2]. - Namibia is recognized as one of the world's top uranium-producing countries, providing exposure to both uranium and copper potential [2]. Group 3: Strategic Focus - Following the termination, Critical One aims to regain full control of the Namibia Assets, which is seen as a strategic move given the renewed pricing strength in copper and uranium markets [4]. - The company’s primary focus remains on advancing the Howells Lake Antimony-Gold Project in Ontario, Canada, where it plans to commence its maiden drill program after receiving an exploration permit [4]. - The Howells Lake Project is strategically positioned to contribute to Canada's critical minerals strategy, reducing reliance on foreign supplies amid growing global demand [4][5]. Group 4: Future Plans - Critical One intends to explore the optionality created by the return of the Namibia Assets in a manner that complements its planned program at the Howells Lake Project [5]. - Further updates regarding the plan for the Namibia Assets will be provided as they are formalized [5]. Group 5: Company Overview - Critical One Energy Inc. is focused on critical minerals and upstream energy, with a portfolio that includes antimony, gold, uranium, and copper assets [6]. - The company is strategically positioned to meet the rising global demand for critical minerals and metals, leveraging its technical, managerial, and financial expertise to drive growth and deliver value to shareholders [6].

February 26th, 2026 – Rockport, Ontario – TheNewswire – New Age Metals Inc. (TSX.V: NAM | OTCQB: NMTLF | FSE: P7J) (“NAM” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it has acquired, via staking, the Escape East Project, a 100%-owned platinum group metals–nickel–copper (PGM–Ni–Cu) exploration property comprising approximately ~4,000 hectares in the Thunder Bay Mining Division of Northwestern Ontario.The Escape East Project is located adjacent to the Thunder Bay North Project operated by Clean Air Metals ...

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 23, 2026) - Critical One Energy Inc. (CSE: CRTL) (OTCQB: MMTLF) (FSE: 4EF) ("Critical One" or the "Company"), a leading Canadian mining exploration company focused on critical metals and minerals, is pleased to announce that the Ontario Ministry of Energy and Mines has issued an Exploration Permit, PR-24-000227, for its Howells Lake Antimony-Gold Project ("Howells Lake Project") located in the Thunder Bay Mining District of Ontario. Located approximately 120 kil ...

Core Insights - Surge Copper Corp. has announced the acceptance of its Berg Project into the British Columbia government's Critical Minerals Office, highlighting its strategic importance in the context of national and provincial critical minerals objectives [1][2][3] Group 1: Project Overview - The Berg Project is expected to produce significant quantities of critical minerals, including copper and molybdenum, potentially ranking among the largest outputs in Canada, thereby reinforcing its strategic importance to British Columbia's economic goals [2][4] - Surge Copper Corp. is advancing a Pre-Feasibility Study to further define the technical and economic parameters of the Berg Project, which has a projected mine life exceeding 30 years [6] Group 2: Government Support - The inclusion of the Berg Project in the Critical Minerals Office reflects the British Columbia government's recognition of its potential contribution to the province's critical minerals strategy, providing coordinated support across various ministries [3][4] - The Minister of Mining and Critical Minerals emphasized the importance of partnerships in advancing critical mineral development, indicating that the Berg Project represents a significant opportunity for economic resilience and global supply chain security [4][5] Group 3: Community Engagement - Surge Copper Corp. is committed to working closely with local First Nations, ensuring early engagement and transparent communication as part of its project advancement strategy [7][5] - The Vice President of Environment and Regulatory Affairs highlighted the importance of collaboration with provincial agencies and First Nations in advancing large-scale projects responsibly and efficiently [5]

Core Viewpoint - New Frontier Minerals (NFM) has signed a binding option and earn-in agreement to acquire a 90% interest in the Pomme Rare Earth Element (REE) Project in Québec, Canada, which is expected to significantly advance its critical minerals strategy [1][3]. Group 1: Project Details - The Pomme REE Project is located approximately 500km north-west of Montréal and encompasses 43 mineral claims over an area of 2,400 hectares [1]. - The project is situated near the Montviel Deposit, which has significant indicated and inferred resources, and benefits from easy access via existing logging roads [2]. Group 2: Exploration and Historical Data - Historical drilling at the Pomme REE Carbonatite site has shown promising results, including drill-hole POM-23-03 with 398m at 0.54% total rare earth oxides (TREO) and 0.05% niobium pentoxide from a depth of 16m, and drill-hole POM-23-01 with 513m at 0.33% TREO and 0.08% from a depth of 32m [5]. Group 3: Financial and Strategic Aspects - The agreement involves an initial investment of A$100,000 (approximately $71,149.8) in cash and A$200,000 in shares, with additional contingent payments based on meeting investment and technical milestones [6]. - NFM has engaged Viriathus Investor Advisory to enhance its visibility among US investors, and the strategic partnership with Metallium is expected to improve NFM's capabilities in REE resource development [6][4].

Core Viewpoint - New Age Metals Inc. has entered into an option agreement to acquire the Magnet Lake Property, which consists of 55 mining claims totaling 1,147 hectares, located near Kenora, Ontario, enhancing its portfolio in the critical and precious metals sector [1][2][3] Acquisition Details - The Magnet Lake Property will be integrated into the Bonanza Ridge Gold and Critical Metals Project, reinforcing the company's position in the Kenora Mining District [2] - The acquisition includes a 2% net smelter return (NSR) royalty, which can be reduced to 1% for $1 million in cash [1] Exploration and Sampling Results - A due diligence site visit in October 2025 confirmed high-grade copper mineralization, particularly at the Gold Lake and Hollow Lake Prospects, with a notable grab sample returning 2.14% copper [5][6][19] - The property has excellent infrastructure, including road access and nearby power lines, and is located 25 km from Kenora, a significant economic hub [7][18] Strategic Positioning - The acquisition aligns with the Ontario Government's Critical Minerals Strategy, which aims to develop a world-class critical minerals jurisdiction [3][19] - New Age Metals holds a 12.2% stake in Metal Quest Mining Corp., which is also acquiring strategic positions in the Ring of Fire region, positioning the company to benefit from the growing critical metals market [4][19] Financial Terms of the Option Agreement - The option agreement includes a series of cash payments and share issuances over three years, starting with $10,000 and $25,000 in shares within 10 days of regulatory approval [21][22] - The agreement allows the company to terminate after fulfilling the first year's commitments [21] Industry Context - Copper has been designated a critical mineral by the Government of Canada since 2024, highlighting its importance in clean technologies and supply chain security [19] - The Kenora Gold District has a long history of high-grade mineralization and is recognized for its potential in the mining industry, with established infrastructure and a skilled workforce [20]

Core Points - Tronox Holdings plc has received non-binding Letters of Support/Interest from Export Finance Australia (EFA) and Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) for up to US$600 million in financing to develop a rare earth elements supply chain [1][2] - The financing will support mine extensions, infrastructure, and cracking and leaching capacity, aligning with the U.S.-Australia Framework for Securing Supply in Critical Minerals and Rare Earths [1][2] - Tronox is progressing from a pre-feasibility study to a definitive feasibility study for a proposed facility in Western Australia to produce mixed rare earth carbonate [2][3] Company Overview - Tronox is a leading integrated manufacturer of titanium dioxide pigment and is involved in mining titanium-bearing mineral sands and producing high-grade titanium feedstock materials [5] - The company employs approximately 6,500 people globally and is recognized for its vertical integration and operational expertise [5] Support from Financial Institutions - The Letters from EFA and EXIM indicate a strong interest in collaborating with Tronox to leverage its existing mining and processing capabilities for rare earth elements [2][3] - EFA's support is contingent upon satisfactory completion of due diligence, including environmental and financial assessments [3] Strategic Importance - The initiative is seen as a significant milestone for Tronox, positioning the company as a key supplier of rare earth elements critical for industries such as permanent magnets, defense, and advanced technology [3] - The project aligns with the critical mineral strategies of both Australia and the United States, highlighting the importance of securing supply chains in these sectors [3]

Core Insights - NevGold Corp. announced positive high-grade oxide antimony drill results from the newly discovered "Bullet Zone" at its Limousine Butte Project in Nevada, significantly expanding the gold-antimony mineralization footprint at the Resurrection Ridge target [1][3][4] Company Developments - The highest-grade antimony interval drilled to date was reported at 5.51% Sb over 4.6 meters, with a gold equivalent of 21.49 g/t AuEq over the same interval [3][9] - The company has completed 18 drill holes in the current 2025-2026 drill program, with assays pending [3][4] - Phase 1 antimony-gold sampling of the historically mined leach pads from the Golden Butte pit has been completed, indicating strong antimony-gold potential [3][4][8] Geological Insights - The new geological model has been confirmed with drill holes LB25-009 and LB25-002, which intercepted gold-antimony mineralization below the older thrusted dolomite unit [3][14] - The updated model outlines multiple Au-Sb target corridors, indicating a significant expansion potential for mineralization at the Project [17][19] Strategic Importance of Antimony - Antimony is classified as a "Critical Mineral" by the U.S. due to its strategic importance in military applications and technology [27][28] - The U.S. government has issued an Executive Order to strengthen domestic mineral production, identifying antimony as essential for national security [24][25][26] Market Context - Approximately 90% of the world's antimony supply is produced by China, Russia, and Tajikistan, with recent restrictions on exports from China exacerbating supply chain concerns [28] - The U.S. Department of Defense has designated antimony as a "Critical Mineral," emphasizing the need for domestic production to mitigate supply chain disruptions [28]

Core Insights - The global competition for critical minerals is intensifying, with United States Antimony Corporation (UAMY) focusing on domestic antimony mining and The Metals Company (TMC) pursuing deep-sea nodule extraction for key minerals [1][2] UAMY Overview - UAMY is experiencing significant revenue growth, with a 160% year-over-year increase in the first half of 2025, reaching $17.5 million, and gross profit rising by 183% [5] - By the third quarter of 2025, UAMY's revenues for nine months reached $26.2 million, up 182%, with gross margins expanding from 24% to 28% [5] - The company has restored domestic antimony mining for the first time in approximately 40 years at Stibnite Hill, Montana, with ore grades expected to exceed 10% [6] - UAMY has expanded its processing capacity at the Thompson Falls facility and remains the only domestic processor and producer of antimony products, aligning with U.S. defense supply-chain priorities [9] - UAMY is also exploring additional critical minerals, including tungsten and cobalt, to replicate its antimony model [10][11] TMC Overview - TMC is focused on a long-term strategy for harvesting polymetallic nodules from the deep seabed, with no revenues reported in the last two quarters but significant regulatory and technological advancements [13] - The company published studies indicating a combined net present value of over $23 billion for its NORI-D project and broader resources [13] - TMC has made progress in engineering innovations for its nodule collector system and has successfully converted nodule-derived manganese silicate into battery-grade manganese sulfate [14][15] - Regulatory compliance under the U.S. Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act is crucial for TMC, with expectations for commercial recovery by Q4 2027 [17] - TMC maintains a strong liquidity position with $165 million in cash and potential from warrants exceeding $400 million, projecting EBITDA margins approaching 50% by 2040 [18] Comparative Analysis - UAMY is positioned for immediate operational growth through rising antimony production, while TMC is building a comprehensive seabed-to-battery mineral ecosystem for long-term supply chain reshaping [20] - Both companies serve strategic U.S. interests but differ in risk-reward profiles, with UAMY offering short-term traction and TMC promising substantial long-term scale [20]

Core Insights - Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. has appointed Vienna Psihos as Manager of Public Affairs & Government Relations to enhance its strategic initiatives in critical minerals projects across Canada [1][2][5]. Group 1: Appointment and Experience - Vienna Psihos has significant experience in government decision-making, regulatory processes, and strategic communications, which will support Avalon's projects [2][5]. - Prior to joining Avalon, Ms. Psihos held a senior policy role in the Government of Ontario's Treasury Board Secretariat, contributing to major funding and policy decisions [3][5]. - Her background includes advising companies in Ontario's mining and infrastructure sectors on government relations and strategic communications, including work with industry leaders like Glencore Canada [4][5]. Group 2: Strategic Importance - The appointment aligns with Avalon's strategic priorities as governments focus on building resilient supply chains, particularly in critical minerals [5]. - Avalon is advancing key projects such as the Nechalacho Rare Earth Elements and Zirconium Project, which includes various critical minerals essential for advanced technologies [6]. - The company is also developing Lake Superior Lithium Inc., Ontario's first midstream lithium hydroxide processing facility, to support the growing EV battery manufacturing base [6].