Vancouver, Canada, January 8, 2026 – TheNewswire - Spartan Metals Corp. (“Spartan” or the “Company”) (TSX-V: W | OTCQB: SPRMF | FSE: J03) is pleased to provide a summary of its key 2025 accomplishments and a review of its 2026 exploration strategy at its 100% owned Eagle Tungsten-Silver-Rubidium project (“Eagle”) in eastern Nevada. 2025 Highlights: Acquired the Eagle Tungsten-Silver-Rubidium Project from Ridgeline Minerals (July 31) and changed the company name to Spartan Metals Corp, Began trading on th ...

Core Insights - The Elk Creek Critical Minerals Project by NioCorp Developments Ltd. has garnered significant local and federal support, being highlighted as a transformative opportunity for Nebraska and the U.S. [1][4][5] Group 1: Project Support and Community Engagement - Nearly 600 attendees participated in two Town Hall events, showcasing strong community and governmental support for the Elk Creek Project [2] - Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen emphasized the project's importance, calling it "one of the greatest deposits in the United States" and highlighting its potential for national security by reducing reliance on foreign minerals [3][5] - U.S. Senator Deb Fischer described the project as a transformational investment that will diversify the tax base in southeast Nebraska and enhance national security through critical mineral production [5][6] Group 2: Economic and National Security Implications - EXIM President John Jovanovic stated that the Elk Creek Project aligns with U.S. goals for controlling critical minerals essential for various industries, which will create jobs and strengthen the industrial base [4] - U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts noted that the project is crucial for national defense and will benefit the local community, the state, and the country as a whole [7] Group 3: Company Progress and Future Outlook - NioCorp executives provided updates on the company's progress in 2025 and outlined key steps for 2026, focusing on financing efforts necessary for construction [8][10] - CEO Mark A. Smith expressed optimism about 2026 being a pivotal year for the company and the southeast Nebraska community [3][9]

Core Insights - Northfield Capital Corporation and Juno Corp. announced a Community Partnership Agreement with Marten Falls First Nation and the Province of Ontario to advance the Marten Falls Community Access Road and community infrastructure investments, marking a significant step in developing the Ring of Fire mineral district [1][2][5] Infrastructure Development - The Marten Falls Community Access Road will provide all-season access to Marten Falls First Nation, which is currently only accessible by winter road or air, limiting development opportunities [2][3] - The Agreement allocates up to $39.5 million for community infrastructure and supports the construction of the access road [2] - The road is part of the Northern Road Link infrastructure plan, connecting key First Nations and the Ring of Fire to the provincial highway system [3] Mineral Exploration and Economic Impact - Juno Corp. holds over 5,300 square kilometers of mineral claims in the Ring of Fire, representing over 52% of the district, and has made significant discoveries in critical minerals and gold [4][9] - The development of the Ring of Fire is expected to create 70,000 new jobs in Ontario, highlighting its strategic importance for both Canadian and U.S. economies [6] Future Plans - Marten Falls First Nation plans to submit an environmental assessment for the access road by February 20, 2026, with construction aimed to start by August 2026 [5] - Immediate resource flow for urgent community priorities will begin this season via winter roads [5]

Company Update - U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts will attend and speak at NioCorp's Town Hall meeting on December 5, 2025, in Elk Creek, Nebraska [1][2] - The Elk Creek Critical Minerals Project, which NioCorp is developing, has received strong support from Senator Ricketts during his tenure as Governor of Nebraska [2] - The Town Hall events will include presentations and a Q&A session with NioCorp executives regarding the progress of the Elk Creek Project [4][5] Event Details - The Lunch Town Hall will start at 12:30 p.m. CT, with doors opening at 12:00 p.m. CT [3][7] - The Dinner Town Hall featuring Senator Ricketts will begin at 5:00 p.m. CT, with doors opening at 4:45 p.m. CT [7] - Complimentary meals will be provided to all registered attendees [4] Project Overview - NioCorp is developing the Elk Creek Project, which is expected to produce niobium, scandium, and titanium, along with evaluating the potential for rare earth production [8] - Niobium is utilized in specialty alloys and high-strength steel, while scandium enhances aluminum alloys and is critical for advanced fuel cells [8] - Titanium is important for lightweight alloys and various applications, including aerospace and medical implants [8]

Core Points - The announcement by Prime Minister Carney regarding the Northwest Critical Conservation Corridor and the Yukon-B.C. Grid Connect aims to accelerate the development of this significant infrastructure project [1][2] - The Yukon-B.C. Grid Connect is expected to enhance energy security, facilitate clean power transmission, and support critical minerals development in the Yukon, particularly benefiting the Casino Project [3][4] Company Overview - Western Copper and Gold Corporation is advancing the Casino Project, recognized as Canada's premier copper-gold mine and one of the most economically viable greenfield mining projects globally [5] - The company is committed to collaborating with First Nations and local communities, employing responsible mining technologies and practices [6] Economic Impact - The Yukon-B.C. Grid Connect could generate up to C$7.6 billion annually in clean economic growth, create over 36,000 long-term jobs, and enable the addition of up to 2,000 MW of new renewable energy [4] - The Casino Project is identified as a potential anchor tenant that could provide stable baseload demand, enhancing the economic viability of the transmission line [4][5]

Core Insights - Surge Copper Corp. highlights recent policy and infrastructure developments in Canada that enhance the critical minerals framework and investment climate, particularly for the Berg copper-molybdenum project [1][2][9] Federal Budget 2025 Initiatives - The 2025 Federal Budget introduces measures to bolster competitiveness in critical minerals development, including expanded tax credits and new investment vehicles aimed at supporting projects like Berg [2][5] - The Clean Technology Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit (CTMITC) is set to expand eligibility, potentially benefiting Berg, where copper is a primary production driver [5] - The Critical Minerals Exploration Tax Credit will now include molybdenum, recognizing its significance in various industrial applications [5] G7 Critical Minerals Alliance - Canada’s role in the G7 Critical Minerals Alliance emphasizes a commitment to secure and transparent supply chains for critical materials, which may foster long-term cooperation among allied nations [3][4] British Columbia Infrastructure Developments - The North Coast Transmission Line (NCTL) project aims to enhance grid capacity in British Columbia, supporting growth in mining and other sectors, with construction expected to begin in 2026 [5][6] - Legislative amendments are being made to facilitate co-ownership with First Nations and streamline permitting processes, reflecting a proactive approach to resource development [6][7] Berg Project Positioning - The Berg project is strategically aligned with federal and provincial initiatives, featuring a large-scale resource of copper and molybdenum, favorable logistics, and a low-carbon design [8] - The project is positioned to supply both domestic and allied markets, supporting Canada’s goal of diversifying exports beyond the U.S. [4][8] Company Overview - Surge Copper Corp. is advancing the Berg Project, which has strong development potential in a safe jurisdiction, supported by established infrastructure [9][10] - The company also controls a contiguous mineral claim package that includes multiple advanced porphyry deposits, contributing to Canada’s critical minerals strategy [10]

Group 1 - The event is hosted by RedChip Companies, Inc. featuring NioCorp, which trades on NASDAQ under the ticker NB [1] - Key executives from NioCorp present include Mark Smith (Chairman, President, and CEO), Scott Honan (COO and President of Elk Resources), Jim Sims (Chief Communications Officer), and Alex Guthrie (Director of Investor Relations) [1] - The presentation will be followed by a Q&A session, with participants able to submit questions via the Zoom platform [2] Group 2 - A safe harbor statement is read, indicating that the call may contain forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 [3] - Forward-looking statements include expectations, beliefs, goals, plans, or prospects expressed by management, and involve risks and uncertainties [4]

Core Insights - U.S.-China trade tensions escalated with President Trump's threat of higher tariffs on Chinese goods, particularly in response to China's new restrictions on rare earth metals, crucial for technology and defense industries [1] - Beijing's new export restrictions require foreign companies to obtain a government license for shipping products with over 0.1% rare earth content, effective from December 1 [2] ETF Performance - Rare earth-based and lithium ETFs experienced significant rallies on October 13, 2025, attributed to the new export restrictions [3] - The iShares Lithium Miners and Producers ETF (ILIT) rose by 14.2%, focusing on companies engaged in lithium ore mining and manufacturing [5] - The VanEck Rare Earth/Strategic Metals ETF (REMX) increased by 14.3%, tracking companies involved in rare earth and strategic metals production [6] - The Sprott Lithium Miners ETF (LITP) saw a 12.7% rise, targeting companies deriving significant revenue from lithium activities [7] - The Sprott Critical Materials ETF (SETM) gained 10.6%, focusing on global securities in the critical materials sector [8] Market Context - China holds over half of the world's lithium refining capacity, creating vulnerabilities for Western economies [4] - The U.S. government is attempting to reduce dependency on Chinese lithium by proposing nearly $1 billion for critical minerals development and over $3 billion in grants for domestic EV battery projects [4]

Core Viewpoint - NioCorp Developments Ltd. is a significant entity in the U.S. critical minerals sector, with a focus on essential resources for technology and manufacturing industries. The stock has been upgraded to a "Buy" rating by H.C. Wainwright, with an increased price target reflecting positive investor sentiment [1][5]. Group 1: Stock Performance - NioCorp's stock has recently increased by $0.13, representing a 2.26% rise, with a trading range between $5.79 and $6.46 on the day, the latter being the highest price in the past year [2]. - The stock has experienced considerable volatility, with a yearly low of $1.27 and a high of $6.46, indicating fluctuations in investor confidence [5]. Group 2: Market Capitalization and Trading Activity - The company's market capitalization is approximately $455.9 million, highlighting its size and presence in the market [3][5]. - NioCorp has a trading volume of 9,955,781 shares, suggesting strong investor interest, likely driven by the recent stock upgrade and price target increase [3][5]. Group 3: Investor Engagement - NioCorp is scheduled to hold a live webcast on September 24, 2025, at 4:15 PM Eastern, aimed at providing insights into its operations and future plans, which may influence investor sentiment and stock performance [4].

Core Viewpoint - Midasco Capital Corp. has completed the acquisition of Spartan Exploration Nevada Corporation and has changed its name to Spartan Metals Corp, focusing on critical minerals projects in the Western United States [2][6]. Company Overview - Spartan Metals Corp. is now a Tier 2 mining issuer on the TSX Venture Exchange, with a new ticker symbol "W" expected to begin trading on or about August 5, 2025 [6]. - The company is focused on developing critical minerals projects, particularly in tungsten, rubidium, antimony, bismuth, and arsenic [14]. Acquisition Details - Midasco acquired 100% of Spartan, which holds 244 lode mineral claims in White Pine County, Nevada, known as the Eagle Property [2][3]. - The Eagle Property is recognized for its high-grade tungsten production, with historical operations reporting 8,352 tonnes of tungsten trioxide at average grades of 0.6-1.0% from 1917 to 1956 [3][15]. - As part of the acquisition agreement, Midasco issued 5,830,466 common shares to Ridgeline, representing 19.9% of Midasco's total shares [4][8]. Financial Terms - Ridgeline will receive additional shares on the one-year anniversary of the closing, capped at 5,000,000 shares or enough to maintain a 19.9% stake [4]. - Ridgeline has been granted a 1% net smelter return royalty on the Eagle Property and any additional ground staked within a 2-mile area of interest [5]. Regulatory and Compliance - The Midasco Shares issued to Ridgeline are subject to a four-month hold period and a 12-month transfer restriction [7]. - An early warning report will be filed with Canadian securities regulators following the acquisition [10].