Canadian exploration company Apex Critical Metals has obtained an exploration permit for the Rift Rare Earth Project, a major milestone as the company moves towards drilling operations at the site in south-eastern Nebraska, US.

The Nebraska Department of Water, Energy and Environment (NDEE) granted the exploration permit, allowing Apex to proceed with its first drilling campaign at the Elk Creek Carbonatite Complex.

At present, the Rift Project encompasses roughly 3,500 acres within the complex.

The site reportedly has a long record of significant drilling by prior operators including Molycorp (1973–1986) and Quantum Rare Earth Developments (2010–2011).

Previous exploration programmes at the site identified wide, high-grade rare earth element (REE) mineralised intercepts, including 155.5m grading 2.7% rare earth oxides (REOs), with a higher-grade section of 54.9m at 3.30% REOs (EC-93), and 236.2m at 2.10% REOs, including 68.2m at 3.32% REOs (NEC11-004).

With the exploration permit in place, Apex has begun pre-drilling work and is targeting the start of drilling in the first quarter of 2026.

Preparatory work is progressing, including concluding negotiations with contractors, locking in drill mobilisation timelines and support services, confirming access routes and proposed drill pad sites, and finalising logistics for core handling, sampling and on-site activities.

In parallel, the company is updating its drill targets using historical information and an in-depth geological assessment.

Apex management also noted that drill-hole EC-93 is a historic hole, initially drilled by Molycorp between 1984 and 1986, and later re-examined by Quantum Rare Earth Development in 2010.

Apex CEO Sean Charland said: “We have been very active expanding and consolidating our property position and completing historical re-logging, re-assaying and 3D modelling work in preparation for our inaugural drill campaign at the Rift Rare Earth Project. We are very pleased to receive our drill permit, which marks a significant step forward as we transition from planning and preparation to drill programme execution.

“We are eager to begin verifying and expanding upon the excellent historical results, which we believe can rapidly position the Rift Project as one of the premier rare earth projects in North America.”

In November 2024, Apex announced the acquisition of the Bianco Carbonatite Project in north-western Ontario, near the community of Big Beaver House.