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- Encounter Resources (ENR) intersects high-grade niobium and REE mineralisation through drilling at its Aileron project in Western Australia
- Two maiden holes at ENR’s Crean prospect cover the Elephant Island Fault struck carbonatites with high-grade mineralisation
- Assays include one 34-metre thick intersection at 1 per cent niobium and 0.6 per cent TREO
- The company aims to commence an 80-100 hole RC drilling program in August 2023.
- Encounter is up 4.17 per cent, trading at 50 cents at 11:52 am AEST
Encounter Resources (ENR) has confirmed the discovery of thick, high-grade niobium and rare earth element (REE) mineralisation through drilling at its Aileron project in Western Australia.
The company drilled two maiden holes at its Crean prospect 1.5 kilometres apart, covering the Elephant Island Fault, which intersected carbonatites with high-grade mineralisation.
Assays included one 34-metre thick intersection at 1 per cent niobium and 0.6 per cent total rare earth oxides (TREO), including a four metre section at 3.8 per cent niobium.
The company also shared one 64-metre thick intersection of carbonatite which included a two-metre section of 1.2 per cent niobium and 0.6 per cent TREO from 67 metres in depth.
Encounter awaits assays between August and September regarding its second drill hole.
Carbonatite targets also remain open to drillers in an easterly and westerly direction and appear to increase in width towards its easterly orientation.
The company aims to begin an 80-100 hole RC drilling program in August 2023.
“An 8000-10,000m RC drill program is scheduled to commence in August to extend the niobium- REE mineralisation at Crean as well as drill testing a suite of new, high-quality targets,” ENR Managing Director Will Robinson said.
“It’s still very early days but the success rate from the small number of holes drilled in the West Arunta is quite extraordinary and bodes well for future drill programs at Aileron.”
Encounter was up 4.17 per cent, trading at 50 cents at 11:52 am AEST.
