IGO starts drilling for copper at Encounter’s Yeneena project

Encounter’s strategy of partnerships with larger miners continues to rank it as one of the most active explorers for big discoveries as IGO starts diamond drilling at the Yeneena copper project in Western Australia’s Paterson Province.

Hot on the heels of drill success at its 100%-owned ground in the West Arunta, the three holes being drilled at Encounter’s Lookout Rocks prospect will test the down plunge position of known copper mineralisation grading up to 1% that was intersected in prior diamond drilling.

These holes are part of a broader program of five diamond holes totalling 2,900m and 26 aircore holes totalling 2,600m that IGO is drilling under its $15m farm-in agreement to earn 70% of Yeneena.

Encounter Resources (ASX:ENR) managing director Will Robinson noted that the Paterson Province is one of Australia’s most prospective regions for new copper discoveries under shallow cover.

“The upcoming diamond and aircore drill programs will test a number of high-quality targets between July to September 2023.”

Yeneena project and drill program

Yeneena covers more than 1,450km² in the Paterson and is prospective for copper and cobalt mineralisation.

IGO had in March 2020 exercised its right to earn 70% in the project by spending $15m in exploration over a maximum of seven years.

Exploration at the project is focused on discovering high-value sediment-hosted copper deposits with IGO using cutting edge techniques to acquire high-quality, belt-scale geological, geochemical and geophysical datasets.

Besides the three diamond holes at Lookout Rocks, IGO will also drill two diamond holes at BM5 to test for copper mineralisation at structural trap sites within the reduced shales.

Other activity during the September quarter include the drilling of 20 aircore holes at BM7 southwest to test a paleo high and possible copper trap site as well as six aircore holes at the Orca prospect to test potential trap sites for cupriferous brines migrating along an interpreted bounding fault.

Results from the drill programs are expected in the December quarter.

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.