Element One Identifies Nickel-Bearing Ultramafic Units at HY Project in British Columbia

Element One Hydrogen & Critical Minerals Corp. (CSE: EONE) (“Element One” or the “Company”) has completed its 2025 field program at the HY Project, located approximately 15–20 kilometres west of Fort St. James, British Columbia. The program confirmed the presence of nickel-bearing ultramafic units within the Trembleur ultramafic complex, providing encouraging indicators for both nickel extraction and hydrogen-stimulation potential in iron-bearing lithologies.

The HY Project comprises nine contiguous mineral claims covering 2,758 hectares and was acquired for its prospectivity in hydrogen-generating iron-rich olivine and nickel hosted within silicate minerals.

Field activities included prospecting, rock and soil sampling, and lithological mapping aimed at confirming ultramafic unit continuity, determining nickel concentrations, and collecting material for laboratory hydrogen-generation experiments.

Analytical results from Bureau Veritas Laboratories (Vancouver) confirmed elevated nickel content with no measurable sulfur — indicating that the metal is likely present either within olivine or as the nickel–iron alloy awaruite. The Company reports the highest-grade samples contained over 2,300 ppm nickel with associated iron content between 5–6% and magnesium exceeding 22%, typical of peridotitic ultramafic rocks.

“These results confirm that the HY Project hosts nickel-bearing ultramafic rocks with the chemical characteristics relevant to both critical minerals extraction and hydrogen generation research,” said Brad Kitchen, CEO of Element One. “This dual potential aligns perfectly with our strategy of integrating natural hydrogen exploration with critical mineral development.”

Splits of the analyzed samples will be provided to Kemetco Research as part of an NRCan-funded study into extraction of nickel from silicate minerals and carbon sequestration pathways. Additional splits of iron-rich samples will be delivered to Dr. Greeshma Gadikota, who is leading Element One’s ongoing hydrogen-stimulation research examining oxidation reactions in iron-bearing ultramafic rocks.

While the iron content encountered was moderate, the Company notes that the HY Property remains a promising candidate for further evaluation, particularly given its road-access location near Fort St. James, a growing hub for British Columbia’s emerging hydrogen and clean-technology industries.

Next steps at HY will focus on:

• Additional sampling of ultramafic units to refine iron and nickel content distribution;
• Petrographic and microprobe analyses to determine olivine composition and forsterite/fayalite ratios;
• 2D magnetic inversions to model the geometry of the Trembleur intrusion; and
• Continued collaboration with academic and industry research partners on hydrogen-stimulation and nickel-silicate extraction technologies.

Full press release is attached:

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 9, 2025) - Element One Hydrogen & Critical Minerals Corp. (CSE: EONE) ("Element One" or the "Company") is pleased to report that the Company has completed its 2025 field program on the HY Project, located 15-20 km from Fort St. James, British Columbia. The project comprises nine contiguous mineral claims covering 2,757.6 hectares and was acquired due to the ultramafic rocks prospectivity for hydrogen-generating iron-rich olivine and nickel contained within silicate minerals.

Work consisted of a two day prospecting, rock-sampling, and soil-sampling program targeting exposures of the Trembleur ultramafic complex. The objectives were to;

(1) confirm the presence and extent of ultramafic lithologies,
(2) determine nickel content within these rocks, and
(3) collect samples suitable for research into hydrogen generation through stimulated oxidation of iron-bearing olivine.

Rock sampling successfully identified nickel-bearing ultramafic units (see table below), with assay results showing elevated nickel and no measurable sulfur, suggesting the nickel is hosted either within olivine or as the nickel-iron alloy awaruite. Splits of these samples will be delivered to Kemetco Research in support of an ongoing Natural Resources Canada-funded study on extraction technologies for nickel from silicates and carbon sequestration.

Additional splits of iron-rich ultramafic rocks will be provided to Dr. Greeshma Gadikota, who is conducting Element One's research into hydrogen production from stimulated oxidation reactions in iron-bearing ultramafic rocks. While initial iron content in samples was lower than ideal for hydrogen-stimulation applications, the HY Property remains a promising candidate for further evaluation due to its excellent proximity to potential hydrogen end-users.

Sample1 | EAST2 | NORTH2 | Nickle PPM | Iron % | Magnesium
% | Sulfur %
TJHY 2501 | 427234 | 6042700 | 2305 | 5.49 | 23.82 | Below detection
TJHY 2502 | 427164 | 6042729 | 37 | 6.59 | 3.61 | 0.20
TJHY 2503 | 426814 | 6042354 | 2254 | 5.71 | 22.99 | Below detection
TJHY 2504 | 426617 | 6042424 | 2204 | 5.33 | 22.19 | Below detection
TJHY 2505 | 426598 | 6044013 | 2002 | 5.06 | 22.29 | Below detection
TJHY 2506 | 419024 | 6045396 | 1793 | 4.22 | 13.87 | Below detection
TJHY 2507 | 426801 | 6042369 | 2260 | 5.34 | 22.63 | Below detection

1. Samples assayed at Bureau Veritas labs in Vancouver using 35 element ICP ES process.
2. Co-ordinates UTM Zone 10U WGS 84

The Company concludes that the HY Property remains under-explored, and that further work should prioritize:

• Sampling additional ultramafic units for iron and nickel content
• Petrographic and microprobe analyses to determine olivine composition (forsterite/fayalite ratios)
• Geophysical interpretation, including 2D magnetic inversions, to model the geometry and volume of the Trembleur ultramafic intrusion
• Continued collaboration with research partners evaluating hydrogen-stimulation and nickel-silicate extraction technologies.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information on this news release has been reviewed and approved by Jeremy Hanson, P. Geo., an independent geologist to the Company who is a qualified person under the meaning of National Instrument NI 43-101.

About Geologic Hydrogen

Geologic hydrogen (also referred to as natural hydrogen) is generated through natural geochemical reactions within the Earth's crust, primarily from the interaction of iron-rich ultramafic rocks and water, as well as radiolysis and other catalytic subsurface processes. Unlike manufactured hydrogen derived from hydrocarbons or electrolysis, geologic hydrogen represents a naturally occurring primary energy resource with the potential to be produced at low cost with zero emissions. The discovery and development of geologic hydrogen reservoirs is an emerging frontier in global energy exploration, analogous to the early days of the oil and gas industry.

About Element One Hydrogen & Critical Minerals Corp.

Element One Hydrogen & Critical Minerals Corp. (CSE: EONE) is a Canadian company focused on the exploration, development, and commercialization of geologic hydrogen and critical mineral resources, as well as breakthrough hydrogen-generation technologies. The company's projects include the Foggy Mountain critical minerals project as well as projects in Alaska and British Columbia that are prospective for hydrogen production through stimulation in the subsurface as well as critical and battery metals.

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On behalf of the Board of Directors:

Brad Kitchen, CEO
Element One Hydrogen & Critical Minerals Corp.
e: bkitchen@e1-h2.com
c: 604.506.7555

This press release contains "forward-looking information" that is based on the Company's current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections. This forward-looking information includes, among other things, statements with respect exploration and development plans, as anticipated or at all. The words "will", "anticipated", "plans" or other similar words and phrases are intended to identify forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements in this news release includes statements related to the Transaction, receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals to the Transaction, satisfaction of the conditions precedent to the Transaction, and related matters. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward looking information.

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