Magnetic-radiometric surveying has identified new targets for Enounter’s Aileron copper-REE project. Pic via Getty Images.
Encounter identifies new drill targets in the West Arunta copper-rare earths exploration hotspot
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Encounter has completed a magnetic-radiometric survey which has identified new, and upgraded existing, drill targets at its Aileron copper-REE project in WA’s West Arunta region.
A fire has been lit under exploration in the West Arunta region by the two recent mineralised carbonatite discoveries by WA1 Resources.
Encounter’s 8,000 line kilometre survey has identified the new Hurley and Macklin targets while upgrading the structural context of the existing Caird, Crean, Shackelton and Worsley targets.
Encounter Resources (ASX:ENR) managing director Will Robinson said the use of modern geophysics has revealed exceptional targets in the West Arunta critical minerals province.
“We now have high-quality magnetics and radiometrics over 50 strike kilometres of the project and we will expand our detailed gravity coverage early in the new year,” he added.
“At this stage, the first drill program of the 2023 field season is planned to include the Worsley, Crean and Caird targets.”
The company intends to secure expanded gravity coverage early in the 2023 field season before drilling starts in April-June 2023.
Aileron project
Aileron is located in the West Arunta region about 600km west of Alice Springs, where – prior to the recent survey – the company had identified several structural and geophysical targets through aerial magnetic and gravity surveys.
Just one hole has been drilled within Encounter’s project to test a discrete magnetic anomaly at the Worsley target.
Drill hole EAL001 was partially completed to a depth of 158m in October 2020 and drilled through 5m of shallow cover followed by a brecciated hydrothermal hematite-chlorite-altered granite with a narrow mafic intrusion.
Assays include zones of anomalism in copper (up to 0.1%), gold (up to 48 parts per billion), molybdenum (up to 155 parts per million), niobium (up to 773ppm) and highly elevated rare earth elements (up to 0.8% total rare earth oxides) consistent with the IOCG deposit model.
Notably, the presence of REEs and the two recent mineralised carbonatite discoveries by WA1 Resources – from a total of just six drill holes completed – indicate that an alkaline magmatic hydrothermal system has been active in the region.
Such systems are known to play an important role in the formation of both IOCG and carbonatite-hosted REE deposits.
Magnetic-Radiometric Survey
The 100m spaced survey covered ~50 strike kilometres of the western part of the project and identified the Hurley and Macklin targets.
Hurley is a discrete magnetic target highlighted east of the Worley and Crean targets on the major Elephant Island fault while Macklin is an interpreted intrusion located on the key Endurance fault that hosts the Caird gravity target and WA1’s recent mineralised carbonatite discovery at Luni.
Interpretation and integration of the new data is ongoing with expanded gravity coverage planned for early in the 2023 field season.
This article was developed in collaboration with Encounter Resources, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.
This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.
