Encounter Resources (ASX:ENR) says the near-surface footprint of the Green target in the West Arunta region of Western Australia is now more than 4km in strike.
Assay results from a reconnaissance aircore drilling program returned 37m @ 1% niobium pentoxide from 67m including 27m @ 1.2% niobium pentoxide from 77m and 2m @ 2% niobium pentoxide from 87m.
Encounter Resources, which has a market capitalisation of $277.25 million, says these results support the interpretation that the carbonatite complex is widening north-south in the central part of the complex.
The company adds it is “encouraging” to see thick niobium-rare earth mineralisation on the easternmost drill line.
Executive Chairman Will Robinson says drilling has confirmed that Green is a “large” carbonatite complex that is well mineralised in niobium and rare earths with several holes ending in mineralisation.
“Having mapped an extensive mineralisation footprint with aircore drilling, a reverse circulation rig will now be utilised to define, and test the depth extent of the mineralisation discovered at Green,” Robinson says.
“In particular, it is encouraging to see the complex widening in its central part, which represents the priority for reverse circulation follow-up.”
A closer-spaced aircore drilling program is planned to be completed at the Green target. The drilling aims to better define stronger zones of the near-surface niobium-rare earths mineralisation.
Reverse circulation drilling will begin at Green in August 2024. Drilling will test the full mineralised profile within the priority corridor defined in the reconnaissance aircore drilling.
Further assays from the first-pass and closer spaced aircore drilling will be released throughout the next two months.
Encounter Resources is an Australian mineral explorer focused on discovering major copper and niobium-rare earths deposits.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Encounter Resources
