Encounter Resources (ASX:ENR) has identified new, large scale niobium-REE carbonatite at the Hurley target part, of the Aileron project (100% ENR), in the West Arunta region of WA.
Following the intersection of thick, near surface niobium-REE mineralisation at Crean, the first step out target for testing was the Hurley gravity-magnetic target located three km to the east. The initial drilling at Hurley has intersected a large, depth extensive niobium-REE carbonatite,” Managing director, Will Robinson, said.
“The intersection of another niobium-REE mineralised carbonatite, this time at Hurley, endorses our targeting methods and further substantiates the mounting and large-scale prospectivity at Aileron.”
The 100% owned Aileron project covers 1,765 sq. km and is located in the West Arunta region of WA, ~600km west of Alice Springs. Encounter completed large gravity, magnetic and radiometric surveys at Aileron which defined three initial drill targets. In May-June 2023, a diamond drilling program at Caird, Crean and Hoschke was completed.
The first diamond hole (EAL001) at Hoschke intersected a niobium-REE mineralised carbonatite dyke within the Elephant Island Fault corridor which returned 16m at 0.6% Nb2O5 and 0.2% TREO from 350m.
Two additional diamond holes at Crean (EAL007 and EAL008) were added to the programme following observations of the core from EAL001.
Assays from the diamond drill hole EAL007 returned:
- 282m @ 0.54% Nb2O5 and 0.17% TREO from 64m to end of hole including:
- 19m @ 1.0% Nb2O5 and 0.2% TREO from 65m
- 48m @ 1.0% Nb2O5 and 0.2% TREO from 181.5m including:
- 4.9m @ 2.2% Nb2O5 and 0.2% TREO from 209m
EAL008 is located 1.5km west of EAL007 and returned:
- 68.8m @ 0.8% Nb2O5 and 0.5% TREO from 55m including:
- 4m @ 3.8% Nb2O5 and 1.9% TREO from 55m
Next Steps
Samples from the RC drilling at Hurley have been prioritised for analysis with results expected in November 2023.
The next RC drilling will be completed at the Wild, Green and Caird targets.
