Noble Mineral Exploration Inc. (TSX-V:NOB, FRANKFURT: NB7, OTCQB:NLPXF) announced the completion of the Phase 1, 2026 summer exploration program on its Chapiteau Rare Earth Property in Labrador and the Mehmet Rare Earth Property in Quebec. This phase, requiring helicopter support, took place during the last week of June and the first week of July, with Canadian Helicopters out of Goose Bay, Labrador providing support.
A total of 69 samples have been sent to Activation Labs in Ancaster, Ontario for analysis of gold, platinum, palladium, and ICP analysis for multiple elements including a suite of rare earth elements. Results are expected around mid-August, after which follow-up exploration will be planned. Additionally, Noble has applied to the Ontario Junior Exploration Program for diamond drilling on the Lucas Property near Timmins, Ontario, as previously announced in a July 13, 2026 press release. Access to the property is by water-soaked ground, so the program will be delayed until freeze-up.
The Chapiteau Rare Earth Property, located in western Labrador, consists of 25 map-staked units in one group and 18 map-staked units about 15 km east. It lies in one of Canada's most prospective rare earth districts, approximately 100 km south of the Strange Lake REE deposits and 38 km northeast of the Crater Lake Scandium-REE resource. The property covers part of a large REE-enriched alkaline intrusive system first explored by Midland Exploration during 2010-2011. Midland completed a regional airborne magnetic and radiometric survey totaling more than 3,100 line-km and identified numerous REE targets associated with a large magnetic alkaline granite complex approximately 9 km in diameter. Regional sampling produced exceptionally strong results, including grab samples containing up to 8.34% Total Rare Earth Oxides (TREO), heavy rare earth enrichment ranging from 2.29% to 12.85% HREO within mineralized samples, and high values of cerium, lanthanum, neodymium, praseodymium, yttrium, dysprosium, and gadolinium oxides. Within the ground now held by Noble, Midland identified six grab samples exceeding 0.5% TREO, ranging from 1.4% to 3.02% TREO. Only one known drill hole, Y3-11-04, was completed on the property, intersecting coarse-grained alkaline granite with disseminated iron oxides and amphiboles. Although grades were modest, the entire hole returned anomalous REE values averaging approximately 0.14% TREO + Y2O3, demonstrating a large mineralized system. Intervals included 0.13% TREO + Y2O3 over 7.5 m, 0.14% TREO + Y2O3 over 12.0 m, and 0.16% TREO + Y2O3 over 7.5 m.
The Mehmet Rare Earth Property in North-Eastern Quebec is classified as a hyperalkaline rare-metals showing, a type of geological environment that can host rare earth elements, niobium, zirconium, tantalum, uranium, and other critical minerals. One government sample contained a total of 2157.1 ppm rare earth elements including 550 ppm Neodymium, 623 ppm Lanthanum, 483 ppm Fluorine, and 1027.3 ppm Cerium. These systems are attractive for large-tonnage critical mineral deposits essential for electric vehicles, wind turbines, permanent magnets, and advanced defense technologies.
H Vance White, President & CEO, stated, "We are pleased to get this program underway in order to determine the expected follow-up programs later the summer and early fall." The technical information in this release has been reviewed and approved by Wayne Holmstead, a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.
