Encounter Resources—High-Grade Niobium and Shallow REE Extend >1 km East of Green MRE (Aileron, West Arunta) - Rare Earth rich Carbonatites
- Noel Ong
- 35 minutes ago
- 6 min read
Announcement
Encounter Resources Limited (ASX: ENR) reports air-core step-outs that extend high-grade niobium more than 1 km east of the Green resource footprint at the Aileron Nb-REE Project (Figure 1), while a shallow REE corridor is emerging along the southern carbonatite margin. The program is transitioning to 200 × 80 m infill at Green East and diamond drilling for metallurgy to define resource-ready domains. Near-term catalysts include regional assays east of Crean and a diamond test at Scott, which will constrain the system’s extent and inform the next resource update.
Figure 1: Location of Aileron Niobium-REE Project (source: ENR)
Highlights - Rare Earth-rich Carbonatites
High-grade niobium — >1 km east of MRE footprint (Green East):
• 18m @ 2.0% Nb₂O₅ from 54m, within 50m @ 0.9% Nb₂O₅ to EOH (EAL1318)
• 4m @ 2.0% Nb₂O₅ from 64m, within 26m @ 0.6% Nb₂O₅ (EAL543)
• 6m @ 1.8% Nb₂O₅ from 82m, within 93m @ 0.5% Nb₂O₅ to EOH (EAL1295).
Shallow, high-grade REE outside niobium-dominant zones (southern margin):
• 46m @ 1.0% TREO from 43m to EOH (EAL1293)
• 2m @ 3.9% TREO from 61m, within 4m @ 2.8% TREO (EAL1294)
• 14m @ 1.5% TREO from 40m (EAL1362)
• Dy/Tb composition reported as favourable vs other Australian REE projects.
Resource context (May 2025): Aileron Inferred MRE 19.2 Mt @ 1.74% Nb₂O₅ (≥1.0% cut-off) across Green, Emily, and Crean; Green is 12.1 Mt @ 1.63% Nb₂O₅ (≥1.0% cut-off). Notes indicate the pit-constrained resource is also reported at 0.25% Nb₂O₅ cut-off, with the ≥1.0% subset within it.
Program status: Infill drilling (200 m x 80 m) at Green East to define coherent high-grade zones for possible inclusion in a future MRE update; ongoing diamond drilling for metallurgical samples. Regional assays east of Crean expected in 2–4 weeks; diamond rig to test Scott target in November 2025.
Executive Chairman, Will Robinson, commented:
"These new results confirm that high-grade niobium mineralisation at Green extends to the east, well beyond the initial MRE footprint. Our proven approach of initial broad-spaced (400m) aircore drilling to rapidly outline the mineralised footprint, has again delivered high-grade niobium-REE results. We will now complete infill drilling to define coherent zones of high-grade mineralisation for potential inclusion in a future MRE update. As the recent infill results at Green Central have demonstrated, increasing drill density in these systems is often rewarded with thick, high-grade niobium intersections. Another encouraging development from this batch of assay results are the shallow, high-grade REE intersections that sit outside of the niobium-dominant zone. When we also consider our recent intersection of REE fluorocarbonates at Green Central, it indicates a separate zone of REE mineralisation is taking shape near the southern margin of the carbonatite complex.”
What the data shows
1) Niobium growth east of Green
(Figure 2)
Broad-spaced AC (400 m x 80 m) has confirmed mineralisation >1 km east of the current MRE boundary, with multiple plus-2% Nb₂O₅ intervals reported (see Highlights). This builds on earlier infill at Green Central (e.g., 85m @ 3.1% Nb₂O₅ in EAL961B; 26m @ 3.4% Nb₂O₅ in EAL947A) and supports the thesis that increased drill density rewards with thicker, higher-grade zones. Infill is now underway to convert these step-outs into resource-ready domains.
Figure 2: Green Prospect – Niobium - AEM Layered Earth Inversion (LEI) DS55 showing arcuate conductive feature coincident with the outline of the weathered carbonatite complex (from geological logging) and MRE (source: ENR)
2) A separate, shallow REE corridor on the southern margin
(Figure 3)
Multiple shallow REE hits occur along strike of REE-rich fluorocarbonates (bastnäsite, parisite, synchisite) logged in diamond hole EAL1370 at the southern basal contact. This suggests a discrete REE zone emerging outside the niobium-dominant domain — a configuration that aligns with known REE-rich carbonatite contacts globally (the release references Mountain Pass as an analogue).
Figure 3: Green Prospect – TREO - AEM Layered Earth Inversion (LEI) DS55 showing arcuate conductive feature coincident with the outline of the weathered carbonatite complex (from geological logging) and MRE (source: ENR)
3) Geometry and sections
(Figure 4)
A representative section (A–A’ at 441800E) illustrates mineralised thicknesses/positions relative to the carbonatite architecture and weathered profile. True widths are not yet established in these step-out zones; reported intervals are down-hole lengths.
Figure 4: Green Prospect 441800E – Cross section A – A’ (source: ENR)
Forward Plan
Assays pending: regional drilling east of Crean in 2–4 weeks, followed by more Green AC results.
Infill drilling: ongoing at Green East to define high-grade domains for potential MRE inclusion.
Diamond drilling: metallurgical sampling ongoing; Scott regional target scheduled for November 2025.
Samso Concluding Comments
This is a story about Rare Earth-rich Carbonatites and the establishment of a Tier-1 Province of carbonatites. The Samso coverage has been extensive for the excitement that is potentially coming out of the Arunta area.
With a market valuation of over AUD $238M as of the time of writing (14th November 2025), Encounter is a shadow of its neighbour, WA1 Resources Limited (ASX: WA1), which has a market capitalisation of over AUD $1.1B. WA1 captured the attention of investors with the discovery of the Luni Carbonatite, but in my opinion, it lacks something I feel is critical, and that is the blue sky potential.
For me, the gradual discovery of REE mineralised carbonatites and the hybrid carbonatites will become significantly more important as the value proposition will become acutely obvious in time to come.
Figure 5: Encounter share price chart as of 14th November 2025. (source: CommSec)
The share price journey that is taking shape recently, as ENR discovers the potential of its leases, is clearly exciting investors (Figure 5). I am a big believer in mineral systems, and with that comes mineral provinces. I don't think stakeholders in the mineral resource industry will argue that Encounter is rubbing its hands as it looks at their findings and over their vast acreage of tenement holdings.
Time will prove if my thoughts are correct or if it was simply an opportunistic grab of hope. I do think that this is a great story with substance for investors looking for a story that is not filled with rock chip sampling results. Will the Niobium price retreat? Well, that is going to be one of the risks all investors will need to assess, along with all the other points to ponder that could also give a negative tone for investing in ENR.
The Samso way is always DYOR and understand the narrative to make sure that it is consistent with the science. Personally, if WA1 is worth AUD $1.1B, then ENR will surely have a similar valuation with greater discoveries to come.
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