Rare earths explorer NIOB granted wider area for exploration in Québec
North American Nobium & Critical Minerals Corporation (NIOB) has expanded its upcoming maiden diamond drill programme in Québec to the Bardy SE, Sabot and Miskam properties, after receiving authorisations for impact-causing exploration work.
NIOB CEO Murray Nye says the company has officially expanded its 2026 drill programme by 3 500 m to 8 500 m across six properties – Seigneurie, Bardy, Blanchette, Bardy SE, Sabot, and Miskam.
The company has already logged more than 66 m of cumulative pegmatite hosting rare earth-bearing minerals at Blanchette and a pegmatite dyke-swarm system with rare earth-bearing minerals at Bardy. Some of the targets have never been tested with diamond drilling, with target sequencing due to be informed by the airborne radiometric and magnetic survey having been flown over various properties.
NIOB undertook engagement with the Atikamekw First Nation Council at Wemotaci as part of the authorisation for impact-causing exploration work. Québec’s Ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts authority granted NIOB exploration permits across 11 drilling zones at Bardy SE, Sabot and Miskam, with each being valid for three years.