Encounter Resources delivers highest-grade niobium yet at Green, building the high-grade Niobium core at Aileron (West Arunta) - Establishing the World Class Carbonatite Province
- Noel Ong
- 1 day ago
- 6 min read
Announcement
Encounter Resources Limited (ASX: ENR)’s latest Aileron results sharpen the focus on Green Prospect (Figure 1) as the emerging high-grade core of this West Arunta carbonatite system. A standout 85m @ 3.1% Nb₂O₅ within a thicker 124m envelope materially upgrades grade continuity inside—and beyond—the current resource shell. With Green East assays due in early November and AC drilling stepping into the Joyce–Green corridor, the near-term data flow is set to test both scale and grade growth while metallurgical sampling advances development studies.
Figure 1: Green Prospect – AEM LEI DS55 showing arcuate conductive feature, weathered carbonatite outline, and MRE. (source: ENR)
Key Highlights - Establishing the World Class Niobium Carbonatite Province
Best intercepts to date at Green:
⚬ 85m @ 3.1% Nb₂O₅ from 48m, within 124m @ 2.4% Nb₂O₅ from 45m (EAL961B)
⚬ 26m @ 3.4% Nb₂O₅ from 78m, within 112m @ 1.5% Nb₂O₅ from 56m to EOH (EAL947A)
⚬ 11m @ 5.5% Nb₂O₅ from 74m, within 59m @ 1.8% Nb₂O₅ from 73m to EOH (EAL948).
High-grade growth outside the initial MRE: extends beyond Green’s 12.1 Mt @ 1.63% Nb₂O₅ & 0.55% TREO and strengthens scale/continuity.
Green East advancing: first assays from the ~1.5 km eastern extension due early Nov 2025; resource definition drilling underway.
Joyce footprint extended: 2m @ 3.2% Nb₂O₅ from 122m (within 42m @ 0.6% to EOH) highlights system openness; follow-up AC drilling planned at Joyce and the Green deposit, Oct–Nov 2025.
Steady news flow: two rigs (AC + diamond) operating at Aileron with assays expected every 2–4 weeks through 2025.
Executive Chairman, Will Robinson, commented:
"Broad spaced exploration drilling in 2024 outlined the initial MRE at Green. As expected, closerspaced drilling is enhancing and expanding the higher-grade core of this large niobium-REE system.
We’re now seeing exceptional grades and thickness at Green, including 85m at 3.1% Nb₂O₅ from 48m (EAL961B) and 11m at 5.5% Nb₂O₅ from 74m (EAL948) – the strongest results recorded so far. These results clearly demonstrate further grade enrichment as drilling density increases to support ongoing development studies.
In September 2025, we confirmed the Green carbonatite complex extends a further 1.5km to the east. With resource definition drilling already underway, we’re rapidly building momentum and confidence in the scale and quality of this globally significant niobium system.”
Project Snapshot & Resource Context
Aileron initial Inferred MRE (May 2025): 19.2 Mt @ 1.74% Nb₂O₅ (>1.0% cut-off) across Green, Emily, and Crean; Green is the largest at 12.1 Mt @ 1.63% Nb₂O₅ (>1.0% cut-off). Reporting of subsets above 0.25% cut-off is also provided in the tables/notes.
Mineralisation is carbonatite-related, with oxide-enrichment developed from weathering/deflationary processes; intrusions are localised along structures, including the Weddell Fault.
What’s New on the Ground (Green)
(Figure 2)
Resource definition (infill) drilling within the Central zone has enhanced grade and thickness, including the step-change result from the redrill/extension of EAL961 (now EAL961B) delivering 85m @ 3.1% Nb₂O₅ (within 124m @ 2.4% from 45m). Additional high-grade hits: EAL947A and EAL948 as listed above.
Figure 2: Green Prospect 439200E - RC drilling cross section A – A’. (source: ENR)
Joyce Update
(Figure 3)
Broad-spaced AC lines (800m) have extended the mineralised footprint at Joyce; the system remains open. Western section drilling returned 2m @ 3.2% Nb₂O₅ from 122m within 42m @ 0.6% to EOH (EAL1013A). The ~3 km corridor between western Joyce and Green is now a priority for follow-up AC drilling in Oct–Nov 2025.
Figure 3: Joyce and Green prospects (Magnetics TMI transparency over 1vd). (source: ENR)
Forward Plan & Operations
Green East assays expected early Nov 2025; resource definition drilling has commenced there to support potential inclusion in an updated MRE.
Diamond rig collecting metallurgical samples (oxide + fresh) at Green for development studies.
A second AC rig mobilising to test regional targets, including the Green–Joyce corridor.
Sampling/QAQC, methods & Competent Person: ALS ME-MS81hD + ME-ICP06, over-limit ME-XRF30; standard CRMs/blanks, field duplicates; Competent Person statement included in the release.
Samso Concluding Comments
The Encounter Carbonatite story is now starting to create waves of interest as its Green prospect looks like it’s maturing fast. The drilkling is showing thicker, higher-grade runs in the same neighbourhood, that’s usually the system telling you there’s a coherent core developing. The point now isn’t just that there are great individual meters—it’s that those meters are appearing in the right structural context and beginning to cluster. This is now a Provincial Mineral System at play.
Near-term, Green East is the key. If the assays are similar to the central zone, the resource conversations change from “good start” to “high-grade nucleus plus satellites.” That’s the kind of transition that can move the dial on development optionality and economics, especially if metallurgy continues to behave.
What that means is that shareholders are going to /be very happy, and Figure 4 proves that the market is responding. I think that the rise is just happening, as this ASX release does indicate that the Tier-1 Provincial Mineral System is going to make ENR the envy of ASX mineral companies.
Figure 4: The Encounter Resources share price chart as of 24th October 2025. (source: CommSec)
The Joyce prospect could turn this from a single-core story into a corridor play. The space between Joyce and Green will either connect or it won’t—but the work program is set up to answer that cleanly. In my experience, good drilling results will convert the geophysical ideas into real targets without losing time or money.
For investors, the watchlist is simple: cadence and quality of assays, coupled with good luck, will turn ENR into my thoughts on the fortunes of the Company's path. If these points line up, the ingredients for a bigger, cleaner narrative will be established.
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