NioBay Metals

NioBay Metals Intercepts Up to 22% Titanium (TiO₂) in its Drillings on Zone 1 of the Foothills Property


NioBay Metals Inc. (“NioBay” or the “Company”) (TSX-V: NBY) (OTCQB: NBYCF) is proud to announce that it has intercepted titanium in several of the surface drill holes carried out in Zone 1, on the Foothills Property, located on the lands of the Séminaire de Québec.

The Company had filed an application for authorization for impact projects with the Ministry of Natural Resources with the aim of carrying out a drilling campaign as soon as authorization is received. Below, the Company provides the results of the TiO2 mineralized zones of interest, from the fall 2024 exploration campaign.

The Foothills project is located north of Saint-Urbain, 100 km north of Québec City and 90 km south of Saguenay (La Baie region), Québec. The project covers an approximate area of 285 km2 and includes five separate claim blocks. It covers most of the contact of the intrusive zone known as the Saint-Urbain anorthosite.

It should be noted that the drilling work generated 32.14 tonnes of CO2 equivalents. A donation was granted to Carbone Boreal (Université du Québec à Chicoutimi) as compensation.

Table of Results
Intersections calculated for a cut-off grade of 8% Ti, a minimum length of 1 m and a maximum internal dilution of 1 m.

Drill Hole
From (m)To (m)Length (m)Dilution (m)TiO2 (%)
1625-24-00289.75153.0063.251.0010.57
1625-24-002185.00186.801.800.0017.09
1625-24-002220.80226.555.750.0022.36
1625-24-003135.25149.0013.750.0012.62
1625-24-003151.00156.005.000.5019.13
1625-24-003172.30180.007.700.0014.44
1625-24-004154.10158.404.300.0014.73
1625-24-00616.5018.802.300.009.22
1625-24-00625.0030.455.450.7011.76
1625-24-00637.0038.001.000.008.01
1625-24-00648.0049.001.000.0014.60
1625-24-00744.2047.002.800.0011.14
1625-24-00749.0062.6513.650.0010.56

June 2024 prospecting area and sample locations

June 2024 prospecting area and sample locations

Map 2: Location of Drill Sites

Location of Drill Sites

Message from the President
We are finally able to present our results from Zone 1. We were pleasantly surprised by the grade in certain holes. The next step will be to drill on a section of Zone 3. The application for authorization for this zone have been filed. Remember that sector 3 has demonstrated very good surface values in titanium (Press release of August 7, 2024)”, concluded Mr. David.

PDAC 2025
NioBay will be at PDAC again this year from March 2nd to the 5th inclusively, at the Toronto Convention Centre. Come meet us at booth 3015.

Qualified Persons
This press release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Mikael Block, P.Geo., a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Block is a Project Manager employed by IOS Services Géoscientifiques.

About NioBay Metals Inc.
NioBay aims to become a leader in the development of mine(s) with low carbon consumption and responsible water and wildlife management practices while prioritizing the environment, social responsibility, good governance, and the inclusion of all stakeholders. Our top priority, which is critical to our success, is the consent and full participation of the Indigenous communities in whose territories and/or on ancestral lands we operate.

In addition to others properties, NioBay holds a 100% interest in the James Bay Niobium Project located 45 km south of Moosonee, in the Moose Cree Traditional Territory of the James Bay Lowlands in Ontario. NioBay also holds a 72.5% interest in the Crevier Niobium and Tantalum project located in Québec and on the Nitassinan territory of the Pekuakamiulnuatsh First Nation. The Company has also the option to acquire an 80% interest in the Foothills project, a titanium-phosphate project located near the former St-Urbain mine site in Quebec.

About Titanium
Titanium (Ti) is as strong as steel, but much less dense. It is therefore important as an alloying agent with many metals, including aluminum, molybdenum and iron. These alloys are mainly used in aircraft and spacecraft because of their low density and ability to withstand extreme temperatures. They are also used in sports equipment, laptops, bicycles and medical prostheses. Recently, this metal has been used in some battery components.

Cautionary Statement
Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information under the provisions of Canadian securities laws including statements about the Company's plans. Such statements are necessarily based upon a number of beliefs, assumptions, and opinions of management on the date the statements are made and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those anticipated or projected. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors should change, except as required by law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

NioBay Metals Inc.
Jean-Sébastien David, P.Geo., MPM
President & CEO
jsdavid@niobaymetals.com
www.niobaymetals.com

Kimberly Darlington
Investor Relations
kimberly@refinedsubstance.com
Tel: 514-771-3398

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/29b6747d-ce60-40ad-b263-edd85dcc6921
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/79550acc-c4ce-4e20-ae0d-13463ccafa16

Source

NBY:CA
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Deep-Sea Crisis: Can the ISA Regain Control of the Deep Ocean?

The world’s oceans are increasingly becoming an important new frontier in the geopolitical and economic race for critical minerals, with countries fast-tracking plans for deep-sea mining.

Meanwhile, the global body tasked with regulating such activities is struggling to keep pace.

As sovereign states ramp up efforts to access seabed resources crucial for clean energy and defense technologies, the International Seabed Authority (ISA) finds itself sidelined — raising alarms among environmentalists and nations alike.

Stoking these tensions, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order earlier this month with the aim of expediting deep-sea mineral extraction in both national and international waters.

The directive, which calls for faster permitting and exploration, bypasses multilateral negotiations at the ISA and uses a 1980 domestic statute — the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act — to justify the unilateral action.

The order “establishes the US as a global leader in seabed mineral exploration and development both within and beyond national jurisdiction," signaling Washington’s intent to secure independence from Chinese mineral supply chains.

But the move has drawn fierce criticism from multiple fronts.

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Opportunity or Overreach: Is Australia Making the Right Moves for Critical Minerals?

Australia is currently betting big on critical minerals.

Government support is growing, with the country positioning itself as a key player in the global energy transition; however, some are convinced that the nation is rushing into a crowded race.

The Albanese government recently vowed to establish a critical minerals strategic reserve upon re-election, pledging an initial investment of A$1.2 billion. In an April 24 announcement, the government outlines that the reserve would build on the Australian government's extensive investment in critical minerals through two new mechanisms.

Does an Australian critical minerals reserve make sense?

National offtake agreements are one of the planned mechanisms. These would allow the government to acquire agreed-upon volumes of critical minerals from commercial projects via voluntary agreements, or to establish an option to purchase at a given price, holding security over these assets as part of the strategic reserve.

The second mechanism outlined is selective stockpiling, wherein the government promises to establish Australian stockpiles of certain key critical minerals produced under offtake agreements as required.

Following the government's announcement, Tania Constable, CEO of the Minerals Council of Australia, published a piece on the move, questioning whether a critical minerals strategic reserve is the best approach.

In her view, the initiative is “certainly not without domestic risk,” and “may impact the commercial viability of operations through continued downward pressure on commodity prices.”


She recommends that Australia focus on fundamentals that will give it back an edge over other mining nations.

“That means lower energy prices, a windback of draconian industrial relations laws, and faster environmental approval times," Constable's statement reads.

Australia's current critical minerals strategy

Australia’s current Critical Minerals Strategy is focused on the period from 2023 to 2030, and is centred on developing strategically important projects, attracting and unlocking investment and promoting the country as a world leader in environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance.

It also includes a commitment to reviewing the country's critical minerals and strategic materials list every three years, updating it in response to global strategic, technological, economic and policy changes.

As of writing, 31 critical minerals were recognised in Australia, plus six strategic materials.

AU$4 billion in total commitments are covered under the strategy, including AU$2 billion from the Critical Minerals Facility via Export Finance Australia, and an extra AU$2 billion in 2024.

In an article in the Australian, Lynas Rare Earths (ASX:LYC,OTC Pink:LYSCF) CEO Amanda Lacaze criticises the government's critical minerals policy, arguing that it is “flawed and uneconomical.”

She notes that even a significant portion of the fund wouldn't match Lynas' annual production costs. Lynas is recognised as the largest separated rare earths producer outside of China.

In a separate article written by the Australia-China Relations Institute, James Laurenceson, director at the University of Technology Sydney, says that the current strategy may be too optimistic.

In his view, the real problem is that Australia’s strategic partners aren’t delivering on their end of the supply chain further downstream. His recommendation is to focus on upstream activities like mining and processing, where Australia has a clear comparative advantage.

Critical minerals deals and funding heat up in Australia

Since the announcement of the Critical Minerals Strategy, Australia's critical minerals industry has seen various developments in mergers and acquisitions, as well as government project funding.

Notable M&A activity includes mining giant Rio Tinto's (ASX:RIO,NYSE:RIO,LSE:RIO) acquisition of Arcadium Lithium, first announced as an all-cash transaction for US$6.7 billion in October 2024.

Another is the AU$560 million deal between Pilbara Minerals (ASX:PLS,OTC Pink:PILBF) and Latin Resources, made legally effective last January. The transaction gives Pilbara ownership of Latin’s Salinas lithium project in Brazil.

On top of these acquisitions are government funding to accelerate critical minerals projects.

Under the Critical Minerals Facility, Iluka Resources (ASX:ILU,OTC Pink:ILKAF) received AU$400 million from the Australian government in December, granted for the Enneaba rare earths refinery.

According to Iluka, the refinery will establish Western Australia as a strategic hub for the downstream processing of rare earths. It is expected to produce neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, terbium and more starting in 2027.

Alongside these moves, Australia is strengthening its rare earths strategy.

On February 12, Australia passed the Critical Minerals Production Tax Incentive, which will provide a refundable tax credit on 10 percent of eligible costs associated with the production of critical minerals and rare earths.

“The incentives are valued at AU$7 billion over the decade,” said Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King.

“The passing of this legislation is a historic moment for the resources industry and a big deal for resource states like Western Australia and Queensland,” she added. “By processing more of these minerals here in Australia we will create jobs and diversify global supply chains.”

Will history repeat itself?

The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) states in an article that the critical minerals reserve would be an important step in securing Australia’s economic future, but warns that the nation must learn from “past mistakes.”

It points to the Pinjarra gallium refinery in Western Australia in its May 2 statement, saying that it represented one of the boldest critical minerals initiatives outside China in the late 1980s.

“Designed to produce 50 tonnes of gallium per year, it promised to place Australia at the heart of the global gallium and rare earths value chain, just as the modern world’s appetite for advanced materials was accelerating.”

However, in only a few years, Pinjarra encountered delays due to environmental permits; meanwhile, gallium prices crashed due to oversupply and China’s competitive spirit strengthened.

“Australia’s lack of midstream and downstream refining capacity added crushing costs and complexity,” ASPI explains in its commentary. “In short, Pinjarra had the ambition — but not the resilience — to withstand the inevitable shocks from operating in niche, high-risk commodity markets.”

The question ASPI poses now is: Can Australia guarantee that the same mistake will not be repeated?

According to the institute, Australia has the resources and strategic location.

“It must now summon the strategic patience and coordinated leadership needed to build true critical minerals sovereignty," ASPI concludes.

Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time news updates!

Securities Disclosure: I, Gabrielle de la Cruz, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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Ontario Tables Sweeping Bill to Restrict Foreign Access to Critical Minerals

Ontario has introduced legislation aimed at tightening control over the province’s mining and energy sectors by limiting foreign involvement, fast-tracking resource development and scaling back species-at-risk protections.

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