North Atlantic Titanium Corp. (CSE: NATO) (OTCQB: NATQ.F) (FSE: Y33) has released additional information regarding its submission for drilling permits at the Everett Titanium-Vanadium-Phosphate project near Havre-Saint-Pierre, Quebec, following a previous news release on July 14, 2026.
Mineralogical characterization by Corem, a Quebec-based applied research center, of a composite metallurgical sample from 57 sites across the Everett oxide body revealed that approximately 99% of oxide minerals consist of high-quality hemo-ilmenite with very low magnesium, manganese, and aluminum impurities. The company reports that the Everett oxide body is being drill-tested not only for its titanium dioxide content but also for its low Mg/Mn/Cr hemo-ilmenite, apatite as a potential phosphate coproduct, and vanadium with possible scandium credits. This polymetallic assemblage distinguishes the project from conventional titanium orebodies and positions it as a broader Fe-Ti-V-P critical-minerals opportunity.
The company holds the 2,406-hectare Everett property under option from Romaine River Titanium Inc. Pending permits include a Permit for Forestry Activities (PAF) and a Permit for Work with Impact (ATI) for the drilling campaign. Forest impacts under the PAF application are minimal, as the company is mostly brushing out historical drill trails for access. The drilling plan focuses on the northern area of the exposed Everett oxide body, totaling approximately 25,000 meters across 20 drill pads to be completed in three years or less.
The drilling program is divided into two stages. Stage 1 comprises 6,000 meters of widely spaced, west-oriented drilling between Sections 9N and 19N, covering a swath 1,320 meters along strike and 600 meters down-dip. This stage aims to delineate the oxide body limits in the northern area, collect samples for assay and metallurgical analyses, and frame follow-up drilling. Stage 2 involves success-contingent infill drilling of about 19,000 meters to define a Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE). Stage 1 drilling will commence upon acceptance of the ATI application, while Stage 2 is expected to begin in late winter 2026-27.
The Everett oxide body is hosted by an oxide-apatite-gabbronorite unit (Unit 7) that extends over 6 kilometers of strike length on the property. Corem's analysis confirmed that over 99% of the oxides in the composite sample are hemo-ilmenite, with the weighted-average head grade measuring 37.0% Fe2O3, 17.4% TiO2, 0.18% V2O5, and 2.27% P2O5. The hemo-ilmenite and apatite together comprise over 50% of the sample.
Regional context places the Everett project within the Grenville Province of eastern Quebec, near the Lac Tio deposit, the world's largest hard-rock ilmenite deposit. However, unlike Lac Tio, which is a massive hemo-ilmenite cumulate with higher magnesium content, Everett is characterized by a layered intrusion with jotunite affinity and significantly lower Mg, Mn, Cr, and Al. The Corem hemo-ilmenite sample has a mean MgO content of 0.38%, compared to 1.6-3.2 wt.% MgO at Lac Tio. This distinct chemistry supports an evolved magmatic differentiation model and highlights the potential for a low-Mg/Cr hemo-ilmenite concentrate with coproducts of apatite (phosphorus) and vanadium.
Dwayne Yaretz, CEO of NATO, stated: “Metallurgical results reinforce the Company’s strategy to advance a secure, domestic critical minerals processing supply chain in Canada - supporting defense readiness and the reshoring of Western titanium metal production. Our Stage 1 Program will define our technical program and follow-up drilling for the next 18 to 24 months.”
The company is continuing surface exploration and metallurgical sampling while awaiting permit responses. The Corem analysis was conducted as part of the Elements08 program, managed by the Elements08 Strategic Metals Excellence Centre and funded by the Government of Quebec.
For more information, visit www.natitanium.com.
