Encounter Resources has significantly extended the shallow, high-grade niobium mineralisation at its Emily deposit and confirmed thick, high-grade zones at Green within the Aileron Project. A 70,000m drilling campaign is underway, underpinning resource growth and development plans.
- Expanded high-grade niobium zone at Emily deposit
- Thick, continuous high-grade mineralisation confirmed at Green
- Over 30,000m drilled in 2026 with three rigs active
- Pending assays expected through late 2026
- Aileron hosts 120Mt inferred resource with 26Mt high-grade component
Emily Deposit Shows Substantial High-Grade Growth
Encounter Resources Limited (ASX:ENR) has unveiled a marked expansion of high-grade niobium mineralisation at its Emily deposit, part of the Aileron Project in Western Australia’s West Arunta Province. Latest aircore drilling results reveal multiple adjacent holes intersecting strong niobium grades to the end of hole, including standout intercepts such as 13m at 3.2% Nb2O5 and 15m at 2.4% Nb2O5. These findings reinforce the continuity and scale of the shallow Emily High Grade Zone, a key target for potential mining.
The Emily deposit already holds an Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) of 3.5Mt at 1.9% Nb2O5 within a broader 14Mt at 0.93% Nb2O5 (1.0% and 0.25% cut-offs respectively). The new drilling campaign, part of a 70,000m program, aims to further delineate the high-grade zone’s dimensions and depth, with assays pending from 40 additional aircore holes expected in August and September 2026.
Green Deposit Confirms Thick, Continuous High-Grade Mineralisation
Meanwhile, infill drilling at the Green deposit continues to deliver thick and consistent high-grade niobium intersections, supporting resource upgrades and development studies. Highlights include 53m at 2.9% Nb2O5 from 79m, incorporating a 7m zone at 5.0% Nb2O5, and 75m at 2.4% Nb2O5 from 43m. Green’s Inferred MRE stands at 19Mt at 1.6% Nb2O5 within a larger 100Mt at 0.71% Nb2O5 (1.0% and 0.25% cut-offs respectively).
This drilling is focused on upgrading resource classifications and identifying high-grade starter pit areas. The Green deposit’s mineralisation aligns with interpreted structural corridors, including the Weddell Fault, and benefits from oxide-enriched carbonatite weathering processes.
Accelerated Drilling Campaign and Development Support
Encounter has completed over 30,000m of drilling in 2026, with plans to drill an additional 40,000m. Three rigs are currently active: an aircore rig targeting new regional and near-resource prospects, a diamond rig conducting resource infill and metallurgical sampling, and a multi-purpose diamond/mud rotary rig performing geotechnical and hydrogeological drilling to underpin development studies.
This aggressive campaign supports Encounter’s strategy to advance its large, high-grade niobium resource base while exploring for complementary rare earth elements, copper, and gold. The company is also progressing environmental surveys and expanding metallurgical test work focused on beneficiation optimisation and production of niobium products such as ferroniobium and niobium oxide.
Resource Growth and Project Potential
The Aileron Project’s inferred resource has recently grown to 120Mt at 0.77% Nb2O5, including a high-grade component of 26Mt at 1.7% Nb2O5. Encounter’s Executive Chairman, Will Robinson, emphasised that the expanded high-grade zones at Emily and Green are expected to play an increasingly important role in future mine planning and development. The company anticipates a steady flow of assay results and exploration updates through to 2027, which will further refine the project’s scale and economic potential.
The drilling results are supported by comprehensive QAQC protocols and high-quality sampling techniques, including the use of Wallis’ proprietary dual-tube aircore drilling at Green and rigorous laboratory assays conducted at ALS Laboratories. Geological logging and data management systems ensure robust resource estimation foundations.
Bottom Line?
With high-grade zones at Emily and Green expanding and a heavy drilling schedule underway, Encounter is poised to sharpen the Aileron Project’s development pathway through late 2026 and into 2027.
Questions in the middle?
- How will pending assay results influence the next resource upgrade at Aileron?
- What metallurgical test outcomes could impact processing strategies for high-grade niobium zones?
- To what extent can the shallow high-grade mineralisation at Emily reduce development costs or timelines?