NioBay Metals Inc. (TSX-V: NBY) (OTCQB: NBYCF) has commenced its 2026 summer field programs, including a drilling campaign on the Crevier Property in Quebec and geophysical surveys on the James Bay Niobium Project in Ontario. The Crevier Property is located approximately 50 km north of Girardville and 150 km from the Niobec mine, on the Nitassinan traditional ancestral territory of the Pekuakamiulnuatsh First Nation. The site is accessible via existing logging roads.
Drilling Program Objectives
The 2026 drilling campaign is a continuation of work completed in 2025, which led to an updated mineral resource estimate released on February 25, 2026. This estimate identified specific targets for the current program. A minimum of 5,000 metres of drilling is planned for the summer field season, guided by three primary objectives: determining whether the 2023 northern discovery, characterized by higher tantalum content, connects to the Main Zone; upgrading the 2025 southern discovery to the Measured mineral resource category; and testing the depth extent of mineralization within the Main Zone.
Local Partnerships and Services
The drilling will be carried out by Mashteuiatsh First Nations Drilling. Geological supervision has been entrusted to IOS Geoscientific Services of Saguenay, which was involved in previous drilling campaigns at the site. Camp facilities were supplied by the UniVert Forest Cooperative of Girardville, and camp catering services were provided by Marché Girardville.
James Bay Niobium Project
In Ontario, inspection and reconnaissance using geophysical instruments were conducted during the first week of June on the mining lease, which is part of Treaty 9 territory, approximately 42 kilometres south of Moose Factory. The work was conducted by Ronacher McKenzie Geoscience Inc. of Sudbury, with the support of an Indigenous guide from a local company. An airborne geophysical survey will be carried out later in the season to develop an updated geophysical model for the area.
CEO Statement
Jean-Sébastien David, President and Chief Executive Officer of NioBay, stated: “This campaign will allow us to gather additional information on the 2023 discovery and determine whether there is a connection with the main site. As the price of tantalum oxide has more than doubled since work resumed at the Crevier site in 2021, we’re very motivated to broaden our investigation of this area. We are also preparing for a series of delegation site visits during the work season, which will allow us to demonstrate Crevier’s mineral potential. As in previous years, we are proud to carry out this work with the expertise and services of local partners.”
