ECR Minerals PLC (AIM:ECR) Lolworth Exploration Update & Drilling Plans

ECR Minerals plc (AIM: ECR), the gold exploration company focused on Australia, provides an update on the latest exploration results from the Lolworth Gold and Critical Minerals Project, located in North Queensland, Australia (the “Lolworth Project”) as well as ECR’s 2025 field season plans for the Lolworth Project.

Highlights

·    Total of 165 pan concentrate samples collected from alluvial sources

·    9 samples returned gold values greater than 9 ppm Au

·    5 samples returned Niobium-Tantalum concentrations greater than 1,000 ppm of Nb (0.1%)

·    Discussions advancing with contractors for a proposed maiden Lolworth drilling programme

Programme Overview (see Map 1)

A total of 165 pan concentrate samples were gathered from alluvial sources in the Eastern Area of EPM27903, covering creeks located north of the Uncle Terry Prospect, east of the Gorge Creek Prospects and southeast of the Dagwood Prospect. These pan concentrate samples mark an initial phase of exploration, extending eastward beyond the previously examined regions of Gorge Creek  and Dagwood.

Summary of Gold Results (See Table 1)

·    Nine samples yielded gold values exceeding 9 ppm Au.

·    Three high-grade samples reported concentrations of 1,245 ppm, 175.5 ppm and 127 ppm Au.

The most significant results came from creeks in the headwaters of Fat Hen Creek, situated one mile east of the Dagwood Prospect. These findings indicate the potential presence of undiscovered gold sources in the surrounding hills.

Additional high-grade results were identified in streams draining from the ridgeline east of the Gorge Creek Prospects, reinforcing evidence of further gold-bearing sources in the area.

A high gold anomaly detected in creeks north of the Uncle Terry Prospect area suggests that mineralisation extends beyond the currently mapped prospect boundaries

Summary of Niobium-Tantalum Results (See Table 2)

·    Five samples yielded Niobium-Tantalum concentrations exceeding 1,000 ppm of Nb (0.1%).

These samples were taken from streams along the northwestern margin of what is interpreted to be a Pegmatitic Intrusional Complex. The southern boundary of this intrusion remains untested and is a priority for future sampling.

Lolworth 2025 Field Season Plans

Building on the successful exploration campaign in 2024, ECR is refining its focus on five key gold prospects including Gorge Creek West, Butterfly Creek, Uncle Terry, Gorge Creek Diggings and Woolshed Creek. 

These prospects have been identified for sub-surface evaluation by drilling, with discussions currently underway with drilling contractors. Further announcements will be made in due course. 

Adam Jones, ECR’s Chief Geologist, said: “These latest results from the Lolworth Project reinforce our confidence in the Project’s gold and critical minerals potential. The discovery of high-grade gold samples in new areas, along with potentially significant niobium-tantalum values, highlights the untapped potential of this under-explored region. We look forward to further defining these targets through drilling in 2025.”

Nick Tulloch, ECR’s chairman, said: “Although visiting Lolworth was not on the itinerary for my recent visit to Australia, it featured prominently in discussions during the week. The scale of the project area and our ongoing very promising results from the work we are undertaking there gives us considerable optimism for our forthcoming drilling plans.  Our partnerships with Geological Survey of Queensland and James Cook University at Lolworth are a further reminder of the widening interest of a project that is prospective for both gold and critical minerals.”

Map 1: Selected Lolworth Project Sampling Areas

 Table 1: Best Gold Results

Table 2: Best Niobium-Tantalum Results

 Review of Announcement by Qualified Person

This announcement has been reviewed by Adam Jones, Chief Geologist at ECR Minerals Plc. Adam Jones is a professional geologist and is a Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (MAIG). He is a qualified person as that term is defined by the AIM Note for Mining, Oil and Gas Companies.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: