New Age Metals Enters Into Memorandum Of Understanding With Liberate Minerals To Evaluate Critical Minerals Processing Opportunities
(TheNewswire)
Rockport, Ontario –June 24th, 2026 - TheNewswire – New Age Metals Inc. (TSXV: NAM; OTCQB: NMTLF; FSE: P7J.F) ("New Age Metals" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") with Liberate Minerals Limited ("Liberate Minerals"), an Australian critical minerals and rare earths refining technology company.
The MOU establishes a framework for New Age Metals and Liberate Minerals to evaluate potential opportunities to apply Liberate Minerals’ processing and refining technology to selected materials, concentrates, and/or project data from New Age Metals’ diversified critical minerals portfolio. The review may include opportunities related to the Company’s lithium, rare metals, platinum group metals, gold-antimony, and other critical minerals assets.
Liberate Minerals is focused on scalable and sustainable refining of critical minerals, including lithium, rare earth elements, rubidium, tantalum, and other strategic metals. The company has developed a portfolio of proprietary techniques to recover multiple high-value elements from a single source of ores, concentrates, fines, and tailings, with the objective of supporting secure and independent Western critical minerals supply chains.
Liberate Minerals’ proprietary Resource Maximisation Process (“RMP”), as described by the company, is a closed-loop, proprietary chemical refining process that delivers multiple high-purity critical minerals from a single feedstock
, operating at ambient temperature and pressure. It is a scalable, modular low energy process that recycles 98% of the reagent used, where the competitive advantage is the chemistry, not processing infrastructure.
Liberate Minerals was also named winner of the Supercharge Australia Innovation Challenge #3 in November 2025 for its low-emissions, high-efficiency critical minerals refining process.2
Under the MOU, New Age Metals and Liberate Minerals intend to collaborate on a preliminary technical review of selected mineralized materials, concentrates, and/or project information from NAM’s portfolio. The objective of the review is to assess whether Liberate Minerals’ technology may have potential applicability to certain projects or material types within New Age Metals’ broader asset base.
Harry Barr, Chairman and CEO of New Age Metals, stated: "We are pleased to enter into this MOU with Liberate Minerals, a company developing innovative processing technology focused on critical minerals and rare earth elements. This MOU provides a framework for both companies to explore whether Liberate's technology could be applicable to parts of New Age Metals' project portfolio. As New Age Metals continues to build and advance a diversified portfolio of critical and precious metals projects, we believe it is important to evaluate new technologies that may improve recoveries, reduce processing complexity, and enhance the potential value of our mineral assets. We view this as an early-stage but potentially important step in assessing new processing pathways that align with the growing need for secure, sustainable, and Western-aligned critical minerals supply chains."
New Age Metals owns a diversified portfolio of precious and critical metals projects in North America, including the 100% owned River Valley Palladium Project near Sudbury, Ontario; the Manitoba Lithium Division; the Gold-Antimony Division in Newfoundland; the Kenora Gold and Critical Metals Division; the Ontario Ring of Fire Division; Thunder Bay PGM projects; and the Genesis PGM-Cu-Ni Project in Alaska, where a recent exploration and development agreement has been signed.
The selection and review of potential materials and project data will be led by the Company’s technical services team, including Dr. Bill Stone, Ron Hieber, Gordon Chunnett, and Curt Freeman, with support from regional geoscience consultants, including Max Kazmer. Dave Salari, the Company’s senior metallurgical consultant, will monitor the technical review process.
About Liberate Minerals Limited
Liberate Minerals Limited is an Australian critical minerals and rare earths processing company focused on developing sustainable mid-stream refining solutions for lithium, rare earth elements, and other high value strategic metals including rubidium, high purity silica, tantalum, niobium and vanadium. The company is commercializing technologies designed to recover high-value elements from ores, concentrates, fines, and tailings, with a focus on strengthening critical minerals supply chains outside of China.
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Figure 1: Map illustrating New Age Metal’s diversified project portfolio across North America
About NAM
New Age Metals is a junior mineral exploration and development company focused on the discovery, exploration, and development of critical green metal projects in North America. The Company has three divisions: a Platinum Group Element division, a Lithium/Rare Metals division, an Antimony-Gold Division as well as a significant equity investment in MetalQuest Mining’s (TSXV:MQM | OTC:MQMIF) high purity Lac Otelnuk Iron Project.
The PGM Division includes the 100% owned, multi-million-ounce, district-scale River Valley Project, one of North America’s largest undeveloped Platinum Group Element Projects, situated 100 km by road east of Sudbury, Ontario. Currently there is a summer/fall program to complete the second phase of the PLATSOL metallurgical work. We are also completing recommendations and a go forward plan for the Mustang zone on the southern most 4 KMs of the total 16 KM Project. Our objective is to outline drill targets to re establish the historical resource on Mustang zone. In addition to River Valley, NAM owns 100% of the Genesis PGM-Cu-Ni Project in Alaska. On May 6th, 2026, NAM announced it entered into a non-binding letter of intent with Rockport Capital Corp., which sets out the principal terms and conditions of the proposed transaction to further develop the Gensis Project. Work is slated to begin in August 2026. See link for further details : https://newagemetals.com/new-age-metals-options-genesis-project/
In addition, on January 21st 2026, the Company recently expanded its Platinum Group Metals portfolio through the acquisition of the Northern Shield PGM Project in Ontario’s Ring of Fire region, strengthening its exposure to district-scale mafic–ultramafic systems prospective for nickel, copper, and platinum group elements. Recently, 2 senior technical consultants, one of which is a director of the Company, visited the sites with our Northwestern Ontario regional consultants to establish the 2026 exploration plans. For more information regarding the Thunderbay projects click here; https://newagemetals.com/new-age-metals-expands-platreef-pgm-project-through-strategic-option-of-the-gravel-ridge-property-near-lac-des-iles-mine-northwestern-ontario/ .
On February 26, 2026, the Company also acquired the Platreef PGM and Escape East PGM Projects, both platinum group metals–nickel–copper (PGM–Ni–Cu) exploration properties located in northwestern Ontario within and nearby the prospective Lac des Iles Igneous Complex. The Complex hosts Canada’s only primary palladium-producing operation, owned and operated by Impala Canada Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Impala Platinum Holdings Limited.
New Age Metals’ Antimony–Gold Division is focused on advancing a district-scale land package in Newfoundland comprising 20,950 hectares across 11 non-contiguous properties. Six of these properties are located in the St. Alban’s area along the Swanger’s Cove and Little River mineralized trends, while the remaining five are strategically positioned along the same regional geological corridor as the past-producing Beaver Brook Antimony Mine and near New Found Gold’s Queensway South Gold Project.
The Company recently completed its Phase 2 exploration program at the St. Alban’s properties, which significantly advanced the project through the identification of high-grade, structurally controlled gold–antimony mineralization along an emerging ~16 km Au–Sb trend. Highlights from Phase 2 include grab samples returning up to 51.9% antimony and 46.2 g/t gold at the Antimony Ridge property, confirming the strength and scale of this developing mineralized system. In response to these results, NAM expanded its land position by staking an additional 40 claims (~1,000 hectares), including the Pardy Head antimony occurrence, and has received approvals for trenching in preparation for the next phase of exploration. The Company is now in the field as of the first of June with 2 full time Newfoundland Prospectors and the Project Geologist Max Kaczmer joined them on June 18th to help them complete boots on the ground prospecting, trenching in preparation in establishing drill targets. Most recent releases:
The Bonanza Ridge Gold and Critical Metals Project has been significantly expanded with the option agreements for the Lavender Lake and South Gibi Lake properties, adding prospective ground in the Kenora Gold District of northwestern Ontario. These properties, located about 25 km southeast of Kenora, are strategically positioned along a favourable structural corridor adjacent to NAM’s flagship Bonanza Gold Property, and host known gold and copper occurrences with minimal modern exploration to date. The consolidated portfolio now comprises approximately 19,240 hectares (~47,550 acres) of contiguous land within an emerging gold and critical metals jurisdiction, providing substantial opportunities for follow-up field work, structural modeling, target generation, and future drill campaigns. Recent announcement:https://newagemetals.com/new-age-metals-expands-bonanza-ridge-gold-andcritical-metals-project-strategic-acquisition-oflavender-lake-south-gibi-lake-properties/.
The Company has established a Kenora, Ontario based field operations hubto support exploration activities across Northwestern Ontario and Eastern Manitoba. The proposed facility would provide centralized logistical, technical, and administrative support for regional exploration programs and is expected to improve field efficiency and coordination. Currently, there is a 6 man team in the field, consisting of prospectors, technicians and geologists, completing boots on the ground prospecting, trenching, mapping and trail blazing. Samples are being collected and assays are being submitted through the summer to our assay lab. We expect to disseminate an update announcement before the end of July 2026.
The Company’s Lithium Division is one of the largest mineral claim holders in the Winnipeg River Pegmatite Field, where New Age Metals is exploring hard-rock lithium and rare elements including tantalum, rubidium and cesium. On June 3, 2026, NAM announced that it had regained 100% ownership of its 11 LCT projects. As part of the approximately $11.5 million spend by Mineral Resources Ltd. NAM was able to file sufficient assessment dollars to keep the entire project in good standing for 15 years.
Although the planned 2023–2024 exploration program, which represented approximately $7 million in anticipated expenditures, was not completed due to unseasonably warm weather, several priority lithium targets remain undrilled and previous work also identified prospective areas with elevated copper, nickel and gold values.
Management intends to follow up on these targets during the summer and fall 2026 field season, with the Company’s senior geological consultant expected to complete a 10-day site visit in late July or August to review the projects, inspect the new core facility and recommend the next phase of work. While lithium prices have recently pulled back following a strong first half of 2026, the Company’s restored 100% ownership provides full flexibility to advance the portfolio independently and re-engage with third-party groups that had previously expressed interest in the projects.
In April 2024, a $1.5M NSERC Alliance grant was awarded to a collaboration led by the University of Manitoba (Drs. Fayek and Camacho), with academic partners from Lakehead University (Dr. Hollings) and industry partners including New Age Metals and Grid Metals. This research is focused on advancing Canada’s critical metals sector, with New Age Metals’ portion targeting its Bird River lithium properties. The 2025 work included core sampling and field visits. The project will likely extend beyond the original 3-year term, due to its delayed start.
New Age Metals Inc. is supporting a successful $180K Mitacs research grant, awarded in 2023, through its $90K contribution This academic partnership with the University of New Brunswick and the University of British Columbia is focused on understanding the origin and controls of lithium pegmatite mineralization in the Cat Lake–Winnipeg River field. MSc and post-doctoral research programs have recently been completed, and the Company is reviewing the results with the academic institutions to assess how the findings may be incorporated into future exploration programs. This collaboration provides access to top-tier scientific expertise and equipment, significantly reducing analysis costs and adding long-term value to the project.
On August 6, 2025, New Age Metals announced an additional investment in a 4th critical metal. NAM currently owns approximately 14.39% of MetalQuest Mining (TSXV:MQM), which has ownership of the development stage Lac Otelnuk Iron Project, located in the Labrador Trough, Quebec.
MetalQuest Mining inc. is developing one of North America’s largest iron projects, where approximately $120 million has been spent on the project. For more information, please visit MetalQuestMining.com . High-purity iron became a critical metal Federally in Canada and in the Provinces of Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador in 2024. In the summer of 2025, MQM contracted AtkinsRealis, an international engineering company, to complete a GAP Analysis on the Lac Otelnuk Project and its 2015 Feasibility Study. The results of the analysis are enclosed here and recently management have completed a successful review of the project including a trip to visit the site. An announcement will be forth coming with regards to status of the site and the next phase of work recommended by AtkinsRealis.
MetalQuest Mining Inc. (“MQM”) has expanded its presence in the Ontario Ring of Fire through the acquisition of both the ROF-1 Project and the recently announced Fishhook Polymetallic Project. The Fishhook Project further strengthens MetalQuest’s regional footprint, targeting polymetallic mineralization prospective for base and critical metals.
Management is actively evaluating new mineral acquisition opportunities in North America, while maintaining a disciplined focus on advancing the Company’s flagship River Valley PGM/Polymetallic Project and funding robust exploration programs across its broader portfolio of projects.
Investors are invited to visit the New Age Metals website at www.newagemetals.com where they can review the company and its corporate activities. Any questions or comments can be directed to info@newagemetals.com or Harry Barr at Hbarr@newagemetals.com or Farid Mammadov at faridm@newagemetals.com or call 613 659 2773.
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On behalf of the Board of Directors
Harry G. Barr
Chairman and CEO
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements: This release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements may differ materially from actual future events or results and are based on current expectations or beliefs. For this purpose, statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements include statements in which the Company uses words such as “continue”, “efforts”, “expect”, “believe”, “anticipate”, “confident”, “intend”, “strategy”, “plan”, “will”, “estimate”, “project”, “goal”, “target”, “prospects”, “optimistic” or similar expressions. These statements by their nature involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially depending on a variety of important factors, including, among others, the Company’s ability and continuation of efforts to timely and completely make available adequate current public information, additional or different regulatory and legal requirements and restrictions that may be imposed, and other factors as may be discussed in the documents filed by the Company on SEDAR (www.sedar.com), including the most recent reports that identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake any obligation to review or confirm analysts’ expectations or estimates or to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
