Critical Elements Reports High Grade Lithium, Tantalum and Cesium in The Last Holes of The Winter Drill Program

MONTRÉAL, QUÉBEC / ACCESS Newswire / May 21, 2026 / Critical Elements Lithium Corporation (TSX-V:CRE)(OTCQX:CRECF)(FSE:F12) ("Critical Elements" or the "Corporation") is pleased to provide the last assay results and an update on its Phase 1 Winter 2026 drill program, at the 100% owned Rose West Discovery ("Rose West"), located in Eeyou Istchee, Québec.

Highlights

• The Phase 1 Winter 2026 drill program has delivered positive results demonstrating the successful expansion of the Rose West mineralized footprint from 450 m x 370 m to 1,250 m x 800 m, thicknesses that typically range from 10 to 40 m, and excellent lateral grade continuity.

• Newly discovered Pegmatite 5 is delivering substantial and laterally continuous intersections in the southern portion of the Main Target Area, part of a stacked and generally flat lying system.

• The geological model continues to prove to be highly effective and productive.

• Preparation is underway for an upcoming follow-up Summer 2026 Drilling Program.

Assay results were received for the four remaining holes RW-26-38 to 40, and RW-26-43, and returned some significant lithium and tantalum composite assays, as highlighted below:

• 1.03% Li₂O and 233 ppm Ta₂O₅ over 14.65 m (including 1.68% Li₂O and 224 ppm Ta₂O₅ over 8.25 m), through Pegmatite 2, in hole RW-26-38

• 1.71% Li₂O and 210 ppm Ta₂O₅ over 14.75 m (including 2.47% Li₂O and 165 ppm Ta₂O₅ over 8.05 m), through Pegmatite 3, in hole RW-26-39

• 0.98% Li₂O and 121 ppm Ta₂O₅ over 11,20 m, through Pegmatite 5 (new), and
  1.73% Li₂O and 94 ppm Ta₂O₅ over 15.60 m (including 2.90% Li₂O and 106 ppm Ta₂O₅ over 7.35 m), through Pegmatite 3, in hole RW-26-40

• 0.47% Li₂O and 832 ppm Ta₂O₅ over 6.25 m (including 2.28% Li₂O, 2,796 ppm Ta₂O₅ and 876 ppm Cs₂O over 1.20 m), through Pegmatite 2, in hole RW-26-43

  * Core length; the true thickness is between 80 to 95% of the core length.

Rose West is situated within 10 km of the highly advanced Rose Lithium-Tantalum Project ("Rose"). Rose West is a near surface lithium-rich pegmatite bearing zone, initially intercepted by drilling over a 450 m x 370 m footprint area in the winter of 2024 (see Press Release dated February 3, 2026), now covering an overall footprint of 1,250 m x 800 m. The lithium-rich pegmatites typically range from 10 to 40 m in thickness and display a sub-horizontal geometry. Recent drilling has identified three (3) new spodumene-bearing pegmatitic bodies within the target area; a significant addition to the working model as it could potentially lead to rapid growth of the mineral inventory within the footprint of the project.

To date, the Winter 2026 drill program has covered most of the Line A, Line E and Line K planned holes (Figure 1). As previously mentioned, holes were planned to reach three specific goals:

1. Expand laterally all around the existing mineralized footprint (RW-26-29 to 34, RW-26-45 & 46);

2. Test the area for continuity to the northeast (RW-26-47 to 50), to the southeast (RW-26-40 to 44);

3. Verify the potential of discovering additional lithium-bearing pegmatites below the currently defined area.

Figure 1 below presents the 2026 collars location with, as well as the revised footprint on surface of the interpreted spodumene-rich pegmatitic dykes. Nineteen (19) holes have been drilled to date for a total of 4,037.75 meters. Table 1 presents the collar locations along with final length and the azimuth / dip of the holes drilled during this campaign.

Figure 1: Location map of the 2026 drillholes with respect to those from the winter 2024 campaign.

Table 1 - 2026 Winter drillholes location and summary description

Table 2 following presents the composite assay results from the Winter 2026 Drill Program. New and updated results presented in the current press release are highlighted in grey.

Hole RW-26-38 was drilled on Line C (Figure 1), and intersected two thin zones within the projection of the new Pegmatite 5 and did not intersect the projection of Pegmatite 3, likely marking a pinching of the zones at this location. Pegmatite 2 was intersected over 14.65 m lower down the hole, consistent with the reported thickness in holes drilled on Line K, 200 m to the north.

Holes RW-26-39 and RW-26-40 were drilled on Line A (Figure 2), along the southern extent of the initial mineralized area. The two (2) holes intersected two significant pegmatites interpreted to be Pegmatite 5 (new) and Pegmatite 3; both showing a thickness still in the range of 10-15 meters, and extending the footprint of the main Pegmatite 3 by approximately 500 m to the south. It is noticeable that Cesium oxide (Cs₂O) grade appears to increase towards the south; from the usual 50-125 ppm Cs₂O observed in the previous holes, both holes 39 and 40 show values ranging from 125 to 500 ppm, with spikes close to the 1,000 ppm threshold.

Hole RW-26-43, also on Line A, did not intersect the projection of neither Pegmatite 5 nor 3, but returned 0.47 % Li₂O over 6.25 m through Pegmatite 2; extending the latter by an additional 100 m towards the East. Although relatively thin, this intersection returned very high Ta₂O₅ (832 ppm over 6.25 m, including 2,796 ppm over the length of a 1.20 m sample) as well as high values Cs₂O, averaging 876 ppm over 6.25 m, and as high as 4,018 ppm (0.4 %) Cs₂O along with 2.28 % Li₂O over the length of the 1.20 m sample.