Aircore drilling at the Joyce prospect within the Aileron Project in Western Australia has intersected high-grade niobium mineralisation, including 4 metres at 2.4% Nb₂O₅ from 40 metres to the end of the hole in drill hole EAL1692.

Encounter Resources reported that a second hole, EAL1693, returned 6 metres at 1.3% Nb₂O₅ from 88 metres, also ending in mineralisation. The Joyce prospect is situated approximately 6 kilometres east of the Green deposit. Initial aircore drilling at Joyce in 2024 first identified anomalism in niobium and rare earth elements, which preceded follow-up drill programs. Encounter received the 2025 AMEC Prospector Award for discovering the Aileron niobium and rare earth element system in the West Arunta province.

The company is currently awaiting assay results from 200 metres on either side of the reported intercepts. These results will help determine the lateral continuity of the high-grade zone and guide the design of deeper drilling at the prospect.

Three drill rigs are operating across the Aileron Project. Further aircore drilling assay results from Joyce are expected in October 2026. Encounter is also conducting pre-development activities at Aileron, including geotechnical and hydrogeological drilling, metallurgical testwork, flora, fauna and heritage surveys, and project studies.

“Encounter continues to build on what is already a province scale carbonatite system at Aileron, with Joyce shaping up as another zone of shallow, end of hole, high grade mineralisation, located ~6km east of Green. Further assay results are due next month from drilling along strike which will give us a clearer picture of the dimensions of mineralisation.”

“The Company is laying the groundwork for continued growth of its resource base, while also completing infill drilling on the expected high-grade starter pit areas within its existing resource, as part of its dual track strategy of systematic exploration and de-risking the path to development.”

— Will Robinson, Managing Director

Drilling momentum across the wider Aileron Project remains strong as Encounter advances its dual-track strategy of regional exploration and resource definition heading into the final quarter of 2026.

Read the full announcement: High-Grade Niobium Zone Emerging at Joyce