ECR Minerals PLC (AIM: ECR) announced that it is focusing intently on high-potential areas as it conducts rock chip sampling at the Lolworth project in Queensland, Australia.
The company collected a total of 74 rock chips from outcropping pegmatites in the niobium (Nb) stream catchment area, which is part of the upper end of the project’s Oaky Creek area. These samples yielded results of up to 96.7 parts per million (ppm) Nb. Additionally, 12 other samples all registered greater than 50 ppm Nb.
The company is continuing to gather more rock chip samples. The board is optimistic that the integration of previous soil sample results with these follow-up rock chip samples may unveil a potential source of mineralisation.
In a separate set of samples taken from streams on the western and southern sides of Reedy Creek, some samples displayed visible gold, as reported by ECR.
The Lolworth Range, where ECR owns 100% of three exploration tenements, is situated 120km west of the renowned gold district of Charters Towers. Previous exploration in 2021 revealed the presence of gold, niobium-tantalum, and rare earth mineralisation.
Chief Executive Andrew Haythorpe commented, “Exploring and mapping a vast, untouched area demands a systematic and disciplined strategy. Nonetheless, it is increasingly clear that, owing to the meticulous efforts of our field team, we are honing in on high-potential zones at Oaky Creek and Reedy Creek. I am eager to share more updates in the upcoming weeks.”
Currently, the field team has shifted further south within the project area to investigate gold-bearing drainages. Additionally, a refined soil sampling programme, built on the most promising previous results, is being executed, with analysis for Nb set for this month.
Management is confident that these results will lead to the identification of superior outcrops, which can subsequently be corroborated with rock chip sampling to confirm the presence of Nb.
The timeline for this work is coordinated with cattle mustering activities in the region, but completion is anticipated within the next few weeks.
In a separate development, a substantial rock chip programme is set to commence “shortly” at the Hurricane Project, which is located 400km north of Lolworth.
