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- Encounter Resources (ENR) discovers a large-scale niobium-REE carbonatite complex at its Aileron project in Western Australia
- Assays returned 282 metres at 0.54 per cent niobium and 0.17 TREO from 64 metres to the end of the hole
- Further assays are expected next month as Encounter continues both RC and diamond drilling to uncover higher grades within the system
- ENR shares are down 14.8 per cent, trading at 34.5 cents at 1:21 pm AEST
Encounter Resources (ENR) has uncovered a significant niobium-REE carbonatite complex at its Aileron project in Western Australia.
The discovery was made through diamond drilling, with promising assay results, including 282 metres at 0.54 per cent niobium and 0.17 per cent total rare earth oxides (TREO) from a depth of 64 metres to the end of the hole.
Within this drillhole, notable findings comprised 19 metres at one per cent niobium and 0.2 per cent TREO from a depth of 65 metres, as well as a continuous one per cent niobium presence over 48 metres, with 0.2 per cent TREO observed from 181.5 metres.
Furthermore, the company successfully intersected the same zone 200 metres north of EAL007, the most recent drillhole, indicating the potential for more discoveries in the future.
Encounter aims to release additional assay results next month as it continues both RC and diamond drilling to unveil higher grades within the system.
“This mineral system is large-scale, near surface, depth extensive, remains open and is growing rapidly,” ENR Managing Director Will Robinson said.
“Drilling is being accelerated with a diamond drill rig mobilising to Aileron in the coming weeks to establish the scale and geometry of the niobium-REE carbonatite system and collect additional core for metallurgical test work.”
RC drilling is ongoing and will test 400 metres east of EAL007, where the mineralisation remains open and at depth, bringing ENR’s 10,000-metre drilling effort to a close.
Simultaneously, the company plans to deploy a diamond drill rig to the south of Aileron to assess the extent of the REE intrusives.
ENR shares were down 14.8 per cent, trading at 34.5 cents at 1:21 pm AEST.
