Critical Metals Corp. (Nasdaq: CRML) has released the strongest rare earth element assay results it has reported to date from the Hill Deposit at its flagship Tanbreez Heavy REE Project in southern Greenland, pointing to what the company describes as significant geological upside and improved confidence in historical drilling data.
The update is based on a resampling and analytical review of historical drilling completed in 2010. In total, the company re-analysed 1,014 pulp samples drawn from 33 diamond drill holes from the Hill Deposit drilling campaign. The objective, Critical Metals said, was not only to expand the elemental dataset, but also to validate historical assay techniques through enhanced QA/QC and a broader suite of element testing.
Highest grades up to 0.94% TREO
Critical Metals said the resampling program returned “exceptional grades” with the best results reaching up to 0.94% TREO (Total Rare Earth Oxides). Across the dataset, the company reported a weighted average TREO+Y (Total Rare Earth Oxides plus yttrium) of 0.44%, with TREO+Y grades ranging from 0.31% to 0.94%. The company also highlighted that the mineralisation carries a meaningful heavy rare earth component, averaging 24.1% heavy rare earth oxides (HREO) within the TREO+Y results.
Alongside rare earths, the re-assays also reported associated elements including gallium oxide (Ga₂O₃) in the range of 87–117 ppm and zirconium oxide (ZrO₂) ranging from 1.04% to 3.81%. Weighted-average values were also cited for cerium oxide (CeO₂) at 1,684 ppm, niobium pentoxide (Nb₂O₅) at 986 ppm and hafnium oxide (HfO₂) at 248 ppm.
To support consistency in reporting, Critical Metals applied a minimum reported downhole intercept width of 2 metres and used a 3,000 ppm TREO+Y cut-off grade, noting that no economic weighting or equivalence calculations were applied.
QA/QC supports reliability of historical dataset
Chief Executive Officer Tony Sage said the company was encouraged by the results, emphasising the validation of the 2010 drilling dataset and the repeatability between original and repeat assays. According to Sage, the comparison confirms TREO grades within a tight 2–5% precision range, supporting the robustness of the previously reported rare earth mineralisation at the Hill Zone Deposit.
The company said the resampling program forms part of its broader QA/QC and “gap analysis” work and was designed to verify the reliability of historical drilling, confirm assay precision across key analytes, and establish an auditable geochemical methodology across multiple areas including the Fjord Deposit, Hill Zone Deposit, Upper Fjord and Area B.
Overall, Critical Metals reported good reproducibility and strong agreement between global average grades from the resampling and the original assays, with TREO+Y values showing strong correlation and precision. A small number of samples fell outside expected tolerances and are being investigated, the company added.
2026 drilling plans target resource and development progression
Looking ahead, Critical Metals said it is planning a 2026 field program that is expected to include additional infill drilling at the Hill Zone Deposit. The company’s stated aim is to improve confidence in the existing mineral resource estimate by moving portions of the current inferred/indicated resource toward a measured classification, subject to budgeting and approvals.
The proposed 2026 drilling program is expected to include infill resource drilling at the Hill Zone Deposit, extension and tie-in drilling between the Hill Zone, Upper Fjord and Area B, and open-space extension drilling to further define mineralised zones between these areas. Beyond drilling, the company said it intends to continue metallurgical and environmental studies to support permitting and feasibility work, while also engaging with strategic partners, offtakers and capital markets as it works to advance the project.
Critical Metals stressed that the announcement reports exploration results only and does not report any change to the company’s mineral resource estimates.
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