Search Minerals Inc. (TSX.V: SMY) (OTC: SHCMF) announced the launch of its 2026 critical rare earth element exploration program in southeastern Labrador, with crews set to conduct channel sampling across three priority targets in the Fox Harbour Volcanic Belt and collect 15 tonnes of bulk sample material from the Foxtrot Deposit to support the company's planned demonstration plant.
The program, as detailed in the press release available at https://ibn.fm/aciDz, will focus on expanding and upgrading resources at the Foxtrot Deposit, advancing the Fox Run prospect toward drill readiness, and extending mineralization at Awesome Fox. The initiative also supports larger-scale testing of Search's patented Direct Extraction Process, a key technology for processing rare earth elements.
Interim CEO Jason Macintosh said the field season is designed to build momentum toward production as the company advances optimization studies and environmental baseline work across its properties. The company controls a belt 64 km long and 2 km wide, which is road accessible, on tidewater, and located near three local communities.
The exploration program is significant because it targets critical rare earth elements (CREE), zirconium, and hafnium, which are essential for modern technologies including renewable energy systems, electric vehicles, and defense applications. By advancing domestic sources of these materials, Search Minerals aims to reduce reliance on foreign supply chains.
Search has completed a preliminary economic assessment report with resource estimates for Foxtrot and Deep Fox, and is working on four exploration prospects along the belt: Fox Meadow, Silver Fox, Fox Run, and Awesome Fox. The company has continued to optimize its patented Direct Extraction Process technology with support from the Department of Energy and Mines, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, and from the Atlantic Canada Opportunity Agency.
The company has completed two pilot plant operations and produced highly purified mixed rare earth carbonate concentrate and mixed REO concentrate for separation and refining. This positions Search to potentially become a significant supplier of rare earth materials.
The announcement has implications for the mining industry and the broader clean energy transition. As demand for rare earth elements grows, projects like Search Minerals' could help secure a stable supply for North American manufacturers. The program also highlights the potential of Labrador's mineral wealth to support economic development in the region.
For more information, the latest news and updates relating to SHCMF are available in the company's newsroom at https://ibn.fm/SHCMF.
