Noble Mineral Exploration Inc. (TSX-V:NOB, FRANKFURT: NB7, OTCQB:NLPXF) announced the completion of its Phase 1, 2026 summer exploration program on its Chapiteau Rare Earth Property in Labrador and the Mehmet Rare Earth Property in Quebec. The program, which required helicopter support from Canadian Helicopters out of Goose Bay, Labrador, took place during the last week of June and the first week of July.
A total of 69 samples have been sent to Activation Labs in Ancaster, Ontario, to be analyzed for gold, platinum, palladium, and ICP analysis for multiple elements, including a suite of rare earth elements. Results are expected to be available around mid-August, at which time work will be planned for follow-up exploration.
The Chapiteau Rare Earth Property, located in western Labrador, is a rare earth element (REE) exploration property owned by Noble. It consists of 25 map-staked units in one group and 18 map-staked units about 15 km east, lying in one of Canada's most prospective rare earth districts. The property sits about 100 km south of the Strange Lake REE deposits and 38 km northeast of the Crater Lake Scandium-REE resource. It covers part of a large REE-enriched alkaline intrusive system first explored by Midland Exploration during 2010-2011. Midland's regional airborne magnetic and radiometric survey 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), with heavy rare earth enrichment ranging from 2.29% to 12.85% HREO within mineralized samples. High values of cerium, lanthanum, neodymium, praseodymium, yttrium, dysprosium, and gadolinium oxides were also identified. 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, has been completed on the property, intersecting coarse-grained alkaline granite with disseminated iron oxides and amphiboles, and returning anomalous REE values averaging approximately 0.14% TREO + Y2O3 over the entire hole. This demonstrates a large mineralized system rather than isolated surface occurrences.
The Mehmet Rare Earth Property in North-Eastern Quebec is classified as a hyperalkaline rare-metals showing, a geological environment that can host REEs, 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 because they can contain large-tonnage critical mineral deposits essential for electric vehicles, wind turbines, permanent magnets, and advanced defense technologies.
Additionally, Noble has applied to the Ontario Junior Exploration Program for a diamond drilling program on the Lucas Property near Timmins, Ontario. The program will be delayed until freeze-up due to water-soaked ground access.
H. Vance White, President and CEO of Noble, 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 results of the 69 samples will be crucial for planning the next steps, and the company remains focused on advancing these critical mineral projects that are vital for the transition to clean energy and national security. The Chapiteau property, in particular, is compelling as an early-stage REE acquisition due to its high-grade surface geochemistry, favorable alkaline intrusive geology, and proximity to established critical-mineral projects such as Strange Lake and Crater Lake.
