Apex Critical Metals Accelerates Rift Drilling with Second Rig

Apex Critical Metals is intensifying its Nebraska-based Rift project exploration, deploying a second drill rig to advance the Elk Creek Carbonatite Complex. The company announced on 10 February 2026 that the campaign is moving into a new phase aimed at validating and expanding historic rare earth mineralization.

Apex confirmed that Rift is now being drilled with two rigs operating concurrently, on a site the company fully controls. The current focus centers on an 850-meter-long corridor in the southeastern portion of the project. For targeting, Apex combines historical drill results with surface geochemical data and geophysical surveys to feed a 3D geological model.

Phase I encompasses 10–15 drill holes, totaling roughly 8,000 meters of core drilling. Individual holes are expected to reach depths of 600–900 meters. The work aims to confirm the mineralization identified in earlier programs and to delineate its extent.

Key objectives for the phase include:
- Confirming the historically documented rare earth mineralization
- Systematically testing the mineralization along strike and at depth
- Advancing understanding of rare earths and critical minerals within the carbonatite system

Should investors sell immediately? Or is it worth buying Apex Critical Metals?

From drill hole RIFT26-002, carbonatite intervals have already been recovered. The company cautions that finding carbonatite does not automatically imply economic mineralization, and assay results are needed to verify grades and significance.

Historical Context Underpinning the Campaign

The Rift project rests on decades of exploration activity. Past operators, including Molycorp (1973–1986) and Quantum Rare Earth Developments (2010–2011), reported mineralized segments such as 155.5 meters at 2.70% REO and 68.2 meters at 3.32% REO.

Apex secured the drilling contractor Boart Longyear on 12 January 2026. The company also received exploration permitting from the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy and Environment on 5 January 2026, with the first drilling rig commencing operations on 26 January 2026.

2026 Schedule at a Glance

Apex has laid out a tight timetable for the year. In the first half of 2026, Phase I drilling is slated for completion, with initial assay results to be released. In the second half, Phase II is planned to begin, alongside progress toward a first mineral resource estimate. These milestones are designed to determine whether Rift can validate the potential indicated by the historical data.