Encounter Resources Unveils Expansive Rare Earth Zones in West Arunta

Emerging Rare Earth Potential in West Arunta

Encounter Resources Limited (ASX, ENR) has revealed compelling new evidence of rare earth element (REE) mineralisation within its West Arunta tenure in Western Australia. Recent untargeted diamond drilling at the Green deposit intersected key REE fluorocarbonate minerals such as bastnaesite, synchysite, and parasite, marking a significant milestone in the company’s exploration campaign.

Complementing these findings, first-pass aircore drilling at the Juan Prospect, located over 10 kilometres from known niobium-REE deposits, returned highly anomalous REE grades, including a notable 6 metres at 0.9% total rare earth oxides (TREO). These results underscore the district-scale potential of the large carbonatite intrusions that characterise the West Arunta region.

District-Scale Mineralisation Across Multiple Prospects

The West Arunta’s REE mineralisation is not isolated. Encounter’s drilling has intersected high-grade zones at multiple prospects including Crean, Emily, Hurley, and Green, with mineralised carbonatites spread over a 40-kilometre strike. Some of these intersections boast impressive grades, such as 7 metres at 6.3% TREO at Crean and 19 metres at 1.7% TREO at Green, often occurring outside the boundaries of current mineral resource estimates.

These findings align with global analogues where niobium and rare earth deposits coexist within carbonatite complexes, such as the Mt Weld deposit in Australia and the Araxá deposit in Brazil. Encounter’s Executive Chairman, Will Robinson, emphasised the significance of these parallels, noting the high probability of discovering further high-grade REE zones through focused exploration.

Mineralogical Insights and Metallurgical Prospects

Detailed mineralogical analyses of drill core samples from Green have confirmed the presence of coarse-grained REE fluorocarbonate minerals, a positive indicator for metallurgical processing. Over 80% of these grains exceed 100 microns, with around half surpassing 250 microns in size, potentially simplifying extraction and refining.

Metallurgical test work on these samples is scheduled to commence in the fourth quarter of 2025, aiming to better understand processing characteristics and economic viability. This step is critical as Encounter advances its exploration towards resource definition and potential development.

Strategic Positioning in Australia’s Critical Minerals Landscape

The West Arunta’s emerging status as a major niobium-REE province places Encounter Resources at the forefront of Australia’s critical minerals sector. The company’s Aileron Project, encompassing these prospects, is rapidly gaining recognition for its scale and grade potential. The recent discoveries at Juan and Green, alongside existing mineral resource estimates, reinforce the project's strategic importance amid growing global demand for rare earths and niobium, essential for clean energy technologies and advanced manufacturing.

Looking ahead, Encounter plans follow-up drilling at Juan in 2026 to delineate mineralisation continuity and expand resource estimates. The combination of geological scale, mineralogical quality, and advancing metallurgical understanding positions Encounter well to capitalize on the critical minerals market.