Encounter Resources (ASX:ENR) has confirmed ‘high-grade’ niobium mineralisation over more than 400m of strike at the Joyce prospect, part of its Aileron Project in Western Australia’s West Arunta region.
Aircore drilling across three sections spaced 200m apart shows the mineralisation is continuous. Joyce sits about 6km east of the company’s Green deposit.
Hole EAL2149 returned 45m @ 1.22% niobium pentoxide (Nb2O5) from 88m to end of hole, including 6m @ 3.46% from 127m. Hole EAL2150 intersected 63m @ 0.74% from 52m, including 2m @ 3.87%.
The results build on September 2026 drilling, which returned 4m @ 2.4% from 40m in EAL1692. Meanwhile, EAL1693 returned 8m @ 1% from 88m.
Notably, several holes ended in mineralisation. All reported intervals are downhole lengths, with true widths yet to be determined.
The Aileron inferred resource stands at 120 million tonnes (Mt) @ 0.77% Nb2O5, including a ‘high-grade’ component of 26Mt @ 1.7% Nb2O5.
Managing Director Will Robinson says the results point to another ‘significant’ zone.
“Joyce is developing into another zone of shallow, high-grade niobium at Aileron,” Robinson states.
“These latest results extend the high-grade mineralisation across three drill sections, with thick intersections that end in mineralisation.
“The next step is infill drilling to bring it into the resource base.”
Follow-up infill drilling will seek to define the dimensions, continuity, and depth of the zone. This work aims to support a maiden mineral resource estimate. Meanwhile, deeper drilling will test areas where holes have finished in mineralisation.
Joyce reveals copper potential at Aileron
Hole EAL1687 in southern Joyce intersected 20m @ 1,404 parts per million copper (Cu) from 67m to end of hole.
The final sample returned 0.2% Cu in weathered, potentially leached, felsic schist, and the copper is associated with iron and silica alteration.
The company describes the intersection as the first thick copper anomalism identified in the West Arunta. This anomalism occurs where the Weddell and Stromness Faults cross, suggesting the structural intersection may be controlling the mineralisation.
Samples have been sent to Perth for mineralogy and petrology analysis, with assays from five additional holes pending.
“With a large number of samples still in the laboratory, we expect a strong flow of results over the coming months as we continue to grow the resource base and de-risk the path to development,” Robinson adds.
Encounter Resources is an Australian mineral explorer advancing niobium-rare earth element discoveries in the West Arunta alongside copper-gold projects across WA’s Paterson Province and the Northern Territory.
Write to JC Villarba at Mining.com.au
Images: Encounter Resources
