Encounter Resources (ASX: ENR) has intersected further shallow, high-grade niobium-REE mineralisation across multiple targets at the Aileron project (100% ENR) in the West Arunta region of WA.
These latest results provide further validation of the abundant fertility of this new carbonatite mineral province. The extensive footprint of carbonatites that contain +2% Nb2O5 drill intercepts continues to grow with each drill programme.
Importantly, high-grade niobium intersections are repeatedly being achieved in wide spaced, first pass drilling. Follow-up drilling can then rapidly delineate the better mineralised parts of these complexes.
“Encounter’s Aileron project in the West Aruna hosts multiple bodies of high-grade, near-surface niobium oxide mineralisation. Crean is shaping up as a coherent body of thick, high-grade niobium mineralisation,” Executive Chairman, Will Robinson, said.
“Green contains a large, laterally mineralised zone with frequent high-grade niobium intercepts (+2% Nb2O5) defined in broad spaced aircore drilling.
“Beyond these discoveries, with new results such as at Joyce, we are continuing to validate our targeting model, which focuses on major regional faults which have the capacity to host mineralised carbonatites over considerable strike length.
“Finding and delineating high-grade zones, with mineable dimensions, along these mineralised corridors, is an immediate priority.”
Green Target
Reconnaissance aircore drilling completed at Green has mapped a large, laterally mineralised zone containing frequent high-grade niobium intercepts over 2% Nb2O5. New assay results from the Green carbonatite complex include:
- 10m @ 4.2% Nb2O5 from 57m part of 38m @ 1.5% Nb2O5 from 51m (EAL489)
- 10m @ 4.3% Nb2O5 from 51m part of 16m @ 3.0% Nb2O5 from 47m to EOH (EAL500)
- 18m @ 2.7% Nb2O5 from 44m part of 72m @ 1.0% Nb2O5 from 40m (EAL515)
- 10m @ 3.5% Nb2O5 from 47m part of 47m @ 1.0% Nb2O5 from 43m to EOH (EAL534)
The latest assay results include the highest-grade niobium intercepts so far at Green and these will focus the next phase of drilling. RC drilling will now be utilised to delineate coherent high-grade zones, with mineable dimensions, within the large, mineralised carbonatite complex at Green.