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McLaren Minerals Limited (ASX: MML) ("McLaren" or "Company"), is pleased to provide an update on the drilling program at its wholly owned McLaren Titanium Project.
Highlights
- Drilling has consistently intersected visible heavy minerals
- Additional 10m of mineral hosting sediments identified in northern area
- Metallurgical sample collected and dispatched for test work
- Pressurised saline water encountered in several holes on northern drilling lines
- Gypsum occurrence confirmed in north-western corner of EL69/2388
- First parcel of analytical samples has been dispatched to Perth for analysis
McLaren Minerals are currently exploring the McLaren Deposit located approximately 40km west of Balladonia in Western Australia by means of Air Core drilling and surface geological investigations. The 2025 exploration program is progressing well and is approximately 40% complete.
The drilling program, targeting infill drilling to a previously interpreted mineral sands strandline, should be complete by mid-April. Onsite geologists have confirmed visual mineralisation within targeted sediments and are encouraged by the consistent nature of mineralising orientation. It should be noted that visual estimates recorded during drilling activities and laboratory results do not always align.
Heavy Mineral Consistently Intersected
Drilling consistently intersected sediments hosting Heavy Minerals (HM) and it is interpreted to occupy paleo marine sediments below modern cover and are predictably identified within the elevated topographic feature. The mineral hosting sediments are observed to gently rise in an easterly orientation and overlay crystalline basement displaying a consistent heavy mineral assemblage dominated by Ilmenite and observed to contain a relatively low level of trash minerals. It is noted that a vertical extension to the historical drilling has been identified in the northern area, with current drill holes intersecting an additional 10m of mineral hosting sediments to those previously interpreted. Heavy Mineral present in the metallurgical sample grid is consistent along strike within the mineralizing beds and displays predictable mineral composition. Figure 1 below displays visual confirmation of HM observed during metallurgical test holes within the current 2025 infill drilling activities.
Figure 1: HM in drillholes - Left Image MM01, central image MM06, right image MM57
Metallurgical Sample
The samples of mineralised sediments required for metallurgical test work at IHC Mining laboratory in Queensland have been collected and dispatched. The samples were taken from 69 drillholes with those holes broadly representative of the first 5 years of planned operations (Please see Figure 2 below).
The sample equated to approximately 6 tonnes of material and will be used to validate the flowsheet designed by IHC and to complete follow up tests to allow development of a slimes management strategy for McLaren. As per previous test work (ref APS ASX Announcement 24 Sept 2024) slimes settling was achieved using addition of 3% gypsum, resulting in significant improvement in flocculant dosing rates, down to 150-200g/t.
The test work produced final products of:
- Ilmenite of a suitable grade to be classified as sulphate ilmenite
- Rutile of a typical quality with 95.7% TiO2, 1.49% Fe2O3,
- Zircon of a typical standard zircon quality, noting levels of U + Th at 265ppm were considered very low.
Water Encountered
In very positive news, pressurised water has been encountered in 3 holes being drilled in the north-western part of the known deposit area. In these holes saline water flowed freely from the hole while the rods were downhole, and in the second hole the water flow continued after rods were withdrawn and until the hole was plugged.
The groundwater occurs within a gravel terrace draping basement clays and occurs at shallow depth (approximately 20m). The crystalline basement below saprolite clays display an amount of alteration consistent to a shearing environment. The location is identifiable in regional geophysics data adjacent to a small-scale faulting feature striking approximately north south. It is likely that the gravel terrace was formed in a fluvial drainage feature, eroding and incising the softer sheared zones in the basement, later confined by overriding cover units. Further investigation will be required to determine whether the water is of sufficient volume and quality to support operations.
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Critical Metals Corp NASDAQ CRML Reports Massive Mineralization Extension & Continues Resource Expansion These (3) 2024 Drilling Holes Intercepted Exceptional Rare Earth Elements Grading TREO Range 0.40% to 0.42% & HREO ∼26% Across our Flagship Core Asset Tanbreez in Greenland
- Consistent high-grade rare earth mineralization intersected in all four reported holes, with Total Rare Earth Oxide (TREO) grades between 0.40% and 0.42%.
- High proportion of heavy rare earth oxides (HREO) ~26% of TREO, reinforcing the deposit’s potential strategic value.
- Significant zirconium oxide (ZrO₂) grades of 1.57–1.58% across all holes.
- Gallium oxide (Ga₂O₃) assays between 93–99 ppm, providing a potential additional economic credit.
- All holes drilled vertically (-90°) through sub-horizontal, stratiform kakortokite layers, intersecting mineralisation at approximately true thicknesses.
- Mineralisation remains open at depth in all reported holes.
- Drilling confirms continuity of grade and mineralogy across multiple sections of the Fjord Deposit, consistent with historical data.
- All the drill holes were collared within the Fjord Deposit with 23.6MT @ 0.42% TREO Maiden Mineral Resource.
- The holes are part of the ongoing 2024–2025 Fjord Resource Upgrade program, with over 1900 m drilled to date in 2025 and further assays pending.
Tony Sage, Executive Chairman of the Company, commented:
“These additional 2024 diamond drill hole results indicate the consistent grades of rare earth and gallium, with a high proportion of critical heavy rare earths. Our rare earth grades and gallium concentration, position Tanbreez as a strategically important asset for Western supply chains. With China's control over the rare earth market and gallium, securing sources of these critical minerals has become paramount for U.S. defense capabilities and national security. The progress we've made, with 1,316 meters of diamond core drilling completed in 2024, and over 1,850 meters of drilling as part of our 2025 Fjord Resource Upgrade resource extension program, significantly strengthens our ability to build on our substantial resource base. With further assays pending and more drilling underway, we see strong potential to grow the scale and nature of the project's mineral inventory.”
Summary New Drill Hole Results
Drill hole collars and assay Tables 1 and 2 and Figure 1 and Appendix 1, 2 and 3.
| Hole ID | Depth (m) | TREO (%) | HREO (% of TREO) | ZrO₂ (%) | Ga₂O₃ (ppm) | ||||||
| D-24 | 85.70 | 0.42 | 26.3% | 1.58 | 99 | ||||||
| E-24 | 62.30 | 0.40 | 26.5% | 1.57 | 93 | ||||||
| F-24 | 107.45 | 0.40 | 25.5 | 1.57 | 93 | ||||||
| Cut-off | 0.30 |
Table 1 – 2024 New assay results summary for D-24, E-24, F-24
New Drill Hole Results
Drill Hole D-24
Drilled vertically to 85.7m from surface and intersected high-grade rare earths and metal oxides mineralisation averaging:
- 0.42% TREO (including 25.9%,HREO)
- 1.57% ZrO2 zirconium oxide,
- 100ppm Ta2O5 tantalum pentoxide,
- 1340ppm Nb2O5 niobium pentoxide,
- 99ppm Ga2O3 gallium oxide,
- Mineralisation open at bottom of the hole,
- Mineralisation average from surface to 63m downhole.
Drill Hole E-24
Drilled vertically to 62.3m from surface and intersected high-grade rare earths and metal oxides mineralisation averaging:
- 0.39% TREO (including 26.2%,HREO)
- 1.56% ZrO2 zirconium oxide,
- 100ppm Ta2O5 tantalum pentoxide,
- 1330ppm Nb2O5 niobium pentoxide,
- 90ppm Ga2O3 gallium oxide,
- Mineralisation open at bottom of the hole,
- Mineralisation average from surface to 61.3m downhole.
Drill Hole F-24
Drilled vertically to 107.45m from surface and intersected high-grade rare earths and metal oxides mineralisation averaging:
- 0.40% TREO (including 25.6%,HREO)
- 1.57% ZrO2 zirconium oxide,
- 100ppm Ta2O5 tantalum pentoxide,
- 1260ppm Nb2O5 niobium pentoxide,
- 93ppm Ga2O3 gallium oxide,
- Mineralisation open at bottom of the hole,
- Mineralisation average from surface to 72m downhole.
Figure 1 - Tanbreez Site Visit August 29 Malcolm Day Director CRML, Greg Barnes JV Partner, George Karageorge CTO, Anna Wingle Tanbreez Mining Greenland
Figure 2 - Fjord and Hill Deposit drill hole locations for 2007, 2010, 2013, 2024 in red with 2025 drill hole collars completed in July with 9 diamond holes awaiting drilling.
Drill Hole Statistics
Drill hole collars and assay Tables 1 and 2 and Figure 1 and Appendix 1, 1A , 2 and 3.
| Hole ID | Depth From | Depth To | Interval | TREO% | HREO% | ZrO2 % | Ta2O5 ppm | Nb2O5 ppm | Ga2O5 ppm | |
| A1-24 | - | 40.00 | 40.00 | 0.48 | 0.13 | 1.86 | 134 | 1513 | 103 | |
| A2-24 | - | 41.00 | 41.00 | 0.51 | 0.14 | 1.96 | 145 | 1685 | 96 | |
| B-24 | - | 58.00 | 58.00 | 0.49 | 0.13 | 1.99 | 144 | 1651 | 101 | |
| C-24 | - | 65.00 | 65.00 | 0.54 | 0.14 | 1.98 | 156 | 1741 | 89 | |
| D-24 | 1.00 | 63.00 | 62.00 | 0.42 | 0.11 | 1.58 | 112 | 1344 | 99 | |
| E-24 | 1.00 | 62.30 | 61.30 | 0.40 | 0.11 | 1.57 | 105 | 1336 | 93 | |
| F-24 | 0.00 | 72.00 | 72.00 | 0.40 | 0.10 | 1.57 | 103 | 1256 | 93 |
Table 2 - 2024 Drill Hole Assay results summary to date 2024 diamond drill hole program in the Fjord Area. Assay results are reported for drill holes D, E and F. A1, A2, B and C were reported on 22 August 2025. Remaining assay results for holes G to Z are expected to be reported in Q3, 2025.
Background – Fjord Deposit Drilling
The 2024–2025 drilling campaign in the Fjord area has targeted confirmatory and step-out holes to:
- Validate historical drilling data.
- Refine the geological model for resource estimation.
- Provide material for metallurgical and environmental test work.
All drill holes in this program are vertical, intersecting the sub-horizontal layers at true thickness. The three holes reported here return TREO grades between ~0.40% and 0.42% with approximately 26% HREO, along with ZrO₂ values of 1.57–1.58% and gallium oxide contents of 93–99 ppm. These results are consistent with historical assays and demonstrate the persistence of grade and mineralogy across the Fjord deposit.
From a deposit classification perspective, the kakortokite-hosted REE mineralisation is best described as stratiform magmatic, confined entirely to the kakortokite unit and not observed in adjacent lithologies such as lujavrite or naujaite. This strong lithological control underpins confidence in resource modelling, supports bulk mining strategies, and provides reliable input for geology domaining.
Given the continuity of mineralization over several kilometres, the Fjord deposit represents a significant portion of the overall Tanbreez mineral inventory. Ongoing drilling is expected to further delineate these resources, with pending assays from additional holes likely to extend the known mineralised envelope and refine the grade distribution.
Sampling over the 2024 diamond holes was taken over kakortokite intervals above the Black Madonna lower boundary.
- Collar data: All collar locations, RLs, azimuths, dips, and hole lengths have been clearly presented in Table 2 of the report.
- Assay data: Table 1 in the report provides the suite of weighted average downhole assay results for TREO, HREO, Ga₂O₃, and other oxides.
- True widths: All drill holes are vertical (-90°) through sub horizontal mineralised layers, so intersections are true widths.
- No cut-off grades or metal equivalents were applied. All assays are reported at face value.
Gallium Results
The gallium oxide Ga2O3 mineralization assay results ranges from low to high is 90ppm to 100ppm for the four 2024 drillholes published to date.
Drill holes that were not assayed for gallium, tantalum and niobium in 2013 will be assayed from existing pulps submitted to ALS Metallurgical in Perth for analysis in the coming months.
ALS laboratories will also assay all sample for gallium for the 2024 and 2025 drill holes with results that will be published in September and October 2025. The gallium oxide results for all diamond holes published to date may add a credit to the TREO-HREO mixed concentrate.
Critical Metals Corp NASDAQ CRML – Surpasses 70% Completion Milestone of the Tanbreez Bankable Feasibility Study & Remains on Schedule for Completion on or Before Q4 2025
Critical Metals Corp. (Nasdaq: CRML) (“Critical Metals Corp” or the “Company”), a leading critical minerals mining company, today announced that Tanbreez Mining Greenland A/S (“Tanbreez”) is approximately 70% complete on the final stages of the Bankable Feasibility Study (BFS) for a 500,000 tons per annum mining and processing operation at the Tanbreez Rare Earth Project in South Greenland. The BFS is being led by Danish engineering firm NIRAS A/S (“NIRAS”), a globally leading multidisciplinary engineering and environmental consultancy based in Denmark. The BFS remains on track for submission in Q4 2025. In addition, NIRAS has completed environmental fieldwork for the 2025 baseline sampling program.
Tony Sage, Executive Chairman of the Company, commented:
“The progress on the final BFS engineering and the completion of the 868 baseline sampling program represent a major milestone in unlocking the full potential of the Tanbreez Rare Earth Project. Our partnership with NIRAS ensures that both technical and environmental aspects are being addressed to the highest standards, reinforcing our commitment to responsible development.”
This final BFS phase includes:
• Completion of mine design and process plant engineering
• Tailings management and water treatment strategies
• Integration of environmental and regulatory inputs
• Preparation of documentation for submission to Greenland’s MLSA
Figure 1. Proposed plant and port site.
The engineering scope encompasses detailed design of the two open pit mining phases, including blasting and haulage logistics, crushing and magnetic separation circuits, slurry transport systems, and tailings deposition infrastructure at Lake Foster. It also includes port and haul road layouts, diesel power generation, and worker accommodation facilities. NIRAS is integrating hydrological modelling, dust dispersion controls, and closure planning into the final design to ensure long-term environmental compliance, operational efficiency, and alignment with Greenland’s regulatory framework.
Figure 2 – NIRAS engineers at the proposed Tanbreez port site 27/8/2025
Once completed, which is expected in the fourth quarter of 2025, the BFS will form the central component of the Tanbreez updated Exploitation License documentation, to be submitted to the Mineral License and Safety Authority (MLSA) of Greenland, in accordance with the Greenlandic Mineral Resources Act and the specific terms of the granted exploitation license MIN 2020-54.
Figure 3 – NIRAS team undertaking August 2025 baseline marine sampling
This submission will support the progression of the project towards final approval to commence potential commercial mining operations.
Figure 4 - NIRAS FS finalization team
Completion of 2025 Baseline Sampling Program
In parallel, Critical Metals Corp confirms that environmental fieldwork for the 2025 baseline sampling program has officially been completed. This program—coordinated by NIRAS ran through August 2025 and was designed to close spatial and seasonal gaps in the existing baseline dataset.
Key components of the sampling campaign included:
- Bergerhoff dust monitoring
- All-year freshwater sampling across 19 stations
- Sediment coring in Lake Foster and Kangerluarsuk Fjord
- Arctic char population update via electrofishing
- Intertidal sampling of mussels, bladderwrack, and sea scorpion
Figure 5 – NIRAS team undertaking baseline marine fauna sampling August 2025
These efforts support the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and reinforce Tanbreez’s commitment to responsible development.
About NIRAS
With nearly 70 years of experience, NIRAS has grown from a Danish consultancy into an international leader in sustainable progress. Founded by visionary engineers Jørgen Kristian Nielsen and Konrad Rauschenberger in 1956, NIRAS’s early projects in Greenland laid the foundation for their expertise in resilient and innovative solutions. Their decentralized structure fosters local expertise, adaptability and collaboration across borders and disciplines, ensuring sustainable value creation for their clients and the communities they serve.
As a multidisciplinary consultancy company with more than 3,000 employees located in 62 offices across Europe, Africa, Asia, North, and South America, NIRAS work within multiple areas from processing plants and construction over energy, water, environment, and infrastructure to third world aid and urban planning. NIRAS have 8,000 ongoing projects in more than 140 countries and their trademark is the crosscutting approach, always grounded and tailored to achieve the best outcomes for their clients and communities.
About Tanbreez
The Tanbreez Rare Earth Project is one of the world’s largest hard rock rare earth elements (REE) deposits, located in southern Greenland near the town of Qaqortoq. The project is notable for its high concentration of heavy rare earth oxides (HREOs), which are critical for high-tech applications, clean energy, and defence industries. Unlike other major TREO deposits, Tanbreez contains very low levels of uranium and thorium, making it more environmentally and politically viable.
- Deposit Type: Kakortokite (a stratiform layered igneous rock rich in TREOs)
- Kakortokite Estimate: ~4.7 billion tonnes of REE-bearing mineralisation
- Heavy REE Content: ~27% of Total Rare Earth Oxides (TREO)
- Location: Near Qaqortoq, southern Greenland
- Target drilling: ongoing to achieve Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources
- Project Stage: advanced Bankable Feasibility Study phase
Kakortokite host may not always contain any economic mineralisation of TREO.
About Critical Metals Corp.
Critical Metals Corp (Nasdaq: CRML) is a leading mining development company focused on critical metals and minerals, and producing strategic products essential to electrification and next generation technologies for Europe and its western world partners. Its flagship Project, Tanbreez, is one of the world's largest rare earth deposits and is located in Southern Greenland. The deposit is expected to have access to key transportation outlets as the area features year-round direct shipping access via deep water fjords that lead directly to the North Atlantic Ocean.
Another key asset is the Wolfsberg Lithium Project located in Carinthia, 270 km south of Vienna, Austria. The Wolfsberg Lithium Project is the first fully permitted mine in Europe and is strategically located with access to established road and rail infrastructure and is expected to be the next major producer of key lithium products to support the European market. Wolfsberg is well positioned with offtake and downstream partners to become a unique and valuable asset in an expanding geostrategic critical metals portfolio.
With this strategic asset portfolio, Critical Metals Corp is positioned to become a reliable and sustainable supplier of critical minerals essential for defense applications, the clean energy transition, and next-generation technologies in the western world.
For more information, please visit https://www.criticalmetalscorp.com/.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Forward-looking statements may include expectations of our business and the plans and objectives of management for future operations. These statements constitute projections, forecasts and forward-looking statements, and are not guarantees of performance. Such statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. When used in this news release, forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “intend,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “seek,” “target,” “designed to” or other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical facts. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on potentially inaccurate assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected or implied by the forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements for many reasons, including the factors discussed under the “Risk Factors” section in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements are based on information available as of the date of this news release, and expectations, forecasts and assumptions as of that date, involve a number of judgments, risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date, and we do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.
Critical Metals Corp.
Investor Relations: ir@criticalmetalscorp.com
Media: pr@criticalmetalscorp.com
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