Encounter Resources Extends High-Grade Niobium at Aileron’s Emily and Green Deposits

Encounter Resources (ASX: ENR) has intersected further high-grade niobium at the Emily and Green deposits within its Aileron project in Western Australia, while diamond drilling has started at Emily to test mineralisation beneath the shallow aircore program.

Infill drilling at Green returned grades well above the existing mineral resource estimate (MRE), including 19.7 metres at 5.3% niobium pentoxide (Nb₂O₅) within a broader 92.4m interval at 2.0% Nb₂O₅ in an area considered prospective for potential starter pits.

Emily produced further high-grade end-of-hole results, including 7m at 3.1% Nb₂O₅ from 41m and 16m at 2.4% Nb₂O₅ within 67m at 1.0% Nb₂O₅ from 65m, adding to the near-surface footprint ahead of a planned resource update.

Encounter has completed more than 40,000m of drilling at Aileron during 2026 and plans a further 30,000m across infill and regional exploration, with three rigs operating and a substantial pipeline of assays expected through 2026 and into 2027.

Emily Moves into Diamond Drilling

Emily currently hosts an Inferred MRE of 3.5 million tonnes (Mt) at 1.9% Nb₂O₅ above a 1.0% cut-off, contained within 14Mt at 0.93% Nb₂O₅ above a 0.25% cut-off.

The latest aircore results extend a series of shallow high-grade intersections that have repeatedly finished in mineralisation, supporting further work to establish the dimensions and depth extent of the mineralised carbonatite.

The first diamond hole is positioned beneath an earlier aircore result of 15m at 2.4% Nb₂O₅ from 44m to the end of the hole, with the program also aiming to provide samples for metallurgical test work and potential incorporation into future mining plans.

“High-grade niobium intersections at Green and Emily continue to build, with Green delivering some of our highest grades to date within potential starter-pit areas,” executive chair Will Robinson said.

“With three rigs operating and a substantial drilling program ahead of us, we expect a strong pipeline of results through 2026 and into 2027 as we advance Aileron towards development.”

Starter Pit Case Support

Green hosts an Inferred MRE of 19Mt at 1.6% Nb₂O₅ above a 1.0% cut-off within 100Mt at 0.71% Nb₂O₅ above a 0.25% cut-off, making it the largest of Aileron’s currently defined niobium deposits.

Recent infill work has continued to demonstrate thick, high-grade mineralisation, with another result returning 33.7m at 3.8% Nb₂O₅ within 76.4m at 2.3% Nb₂O₅ and a separate interval delivering 45m at 2.9% Nb₂O₅ within 71m at 2.0% Nb₂O₅.

Reported intersections are downhole lengths, with true widths not yet known because drilling remains insufficient to define the mineralisation geometry in the targeted areas.

Encounter is using the infill program to assess resource variability and drilling methodology while targeting upgrades to resource classification in parts of Green that could support high-grade starter pits.

Extensional drilling is continuing alongside the infill work as the company seeks to expand the deposit and refine the grade distribution around potential early mining areas.

Aileron Campaign Momentum

Of the three rigs active across Aileron, an aircore rig is testing regional and near-resource targets, a diamond rig is completing resource infill drilling and collecting metallurgical samples, and a multi-purpose rig is undertaking geotechnical and hydrogeological work for development studies.

The broader Aileron Inferred MRE stands at 120Mt at 0.77% Nb₂O₅ above a 0.25% cut-off, including a higher-grade subset of 26Mt at 1.7% Nb₂O₅ above a 1.0% cut-off.

Near-term work includes an updated Emily MRE, continued Green infill drilling, beneficiation optimisation and variability test work, ferroniobium and niobium oxide production, and regional exploration across the broader tenure.

Flora, fauna, and heritage surveys are also progressing to support development approvals as Encounter combines resource growth, technical studies, and regional exploration across the Aileron program.