Encounter Resources (ASX:ENR) reports that geophysical modelling has refined targets for diamond drilling to begin in April 2023 at the Aileron Copper-Rare Earth Elements Project in Western Australia.
The company reports that 3 priority geophysical targets will be included in the initial program.
These include the Caird target, which is a ‘bullseye’ coincident magnetic and density anomaly on the Endurance fault, 5km north-west of WA1 Resources’ (ASX:WA1) recent mineralised carbonatite discovery at Luni; and the Crean target which is a regional scale magnetic anomaly with an offset gravity anomaly, similar to the Prominent Hill IOCG deposit in South Australia.
Additionally, the third priority target is Worsley, which is the region’s ‘standout’ magnetic and coincident gravity anomaly with anomalous copper, gold, molybdenum, niobium, and rare earth elements up to 0.8% in prior incomplete drillhole EAL0001.
Commenting on the upcoming drilling, Encounter Resources Managing Director Will Robinson says: “Encounter has completed major gravity, magnetics, and radiometric surveys at Aileron. The Crean, Worsley, and Caird targets are exceptional, large-scale magnetic and gravity anomalies in an unexplored emerging critical minerals province.
These anomalies have similar geophysical characteristics to the IOCG deposits in South Australia, such as Prominent Hill, and the recently discovered mineralised carbonatites in the West Arunta.
“The drill targets have been modelled as sub-vertical features at explorable depth. Diamond drilling will commence in April 2023”
The drill targets have been modelled as sub-vertical features at explorable depth. Diamond drilling will commence in April 2023.”
Encounter reports that a 3,300 line kilometre airborne Falcon gravity survey will be completed in May 2023. This is designed to extend detailed gravity over the entire project.
Additionally, the diamond drilling program scheduled to begin in April 2023 is co-funded by the West Australian Government’s Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS).
The Aileron Project is located in the West Arunta region of Western Australia, 600km west of Alice Springs.
Only 1 diamond hole, EAL001, has been drilled within the project which targeted a discrete magnetic anomaly at the Worsley target. EAL001 was partially completed to a depth of 158m and drilled through 5m of shallow cover followed by a brecciated hydrothermal hematite-chlorite-altered granite with a narrow mafic intrusion.
Assays from EAL001 include zones of anomalism in copper up to 0.1%, gold up to 48 parts per billion (ppb), molybdenum up to 155 parts per million (ppm), niobium up to 773 ppm, and ‘highly’ elevated REEs up to 0.8% total rare earth oxide (TREO) consistent with the IOCG deposit model.
Encounter Resources is a minerals exploration company, with a primary focus on discovering major copper-dominant deposits in Australia. The company’s portfolio of wholly owned projects in Australia is prospective for copper, rare earth elements, and lithium.
Images: Encounter Resources Ltd
