Apex Critical Metals (CSE: APXC; US-OTC: APXCF) has expanded high-grade rare earth mineralization at its Rift project in southeastern Nebraska, returning multiple intercepts above 4% total rare earth oxides (REO). Highlights from the latest drilling include 10.2 metres grading 5.27% REO from 178.6 metres depth in hole RIFT26-14 and 8 metres grading 4.48% REO from 273 metres down hole RIFT26-12, Apex said on Wednesday. The project joins a small but growing group of U.S. and Canadian rare earth developments that includes MP Materials' (NYSE: MP) producing Mountain Pass mine in California, Defense Metals' (TSXV: DEFN; US-OTC: DFMTF) Wicheeda project in British Columbia and Ucore Rare Metals' (TSXV: UCU; US-OTC: UURAF) planned Louisiana rare earth separation plant. Apex's latest assays build on strong results reported in April, May and July, including RIFT26-002, which cut 81.6 metres grading 2.02% REO from 221.2 metres depth; RIFT26-005A, which returned 137.2 metres grading 2.01% REO from 252.6 metres; and RIFT26-008, which intersected 191.9 metres grading 2.5% REO from 211.5 metres, including 14.9 metres grading 5.09% REO from 244.5 metres and 12.3 metres grading 5.63% REO from 257.1 metres. Rare earth projects outside China have attracted growing investor attention as the United States and its allies seek domestic supplies of magnet materials used in AI, electric vehicles, wind turbines and defence applications.