Wedoany.com Report-May 29, Encounter Resources has announced the full reacquisition of the Yeneena copper-cobalt project in Western Australia, following the withdrawal of IGO from their joint venture agreement. The Yeneena project, covering over 1,450 square kilometres, is located in the Paterson Province, a region known for its mineral resources. It lies approximately 60 km south-west of the Telfer copper-gold mine and south of the Nifty copper mine.

The company’s immediate focus will be on the BM1 high-grade copper oxide discovery and the BM5 copper leakage anomaly.

During the six-year partnership, IGO invested around A$15 million in exploration activities, including drilling programs and geological studies. With complete control of the project now returned, Encounter Resources intends to use the comprehensive dataset generated during the joint venture to guide the next phase of exploration.

Will Robinson, executive chairman of Encounter Resources, stated: “The return of the Yeneena Copper Project comes at a time of strong demand for Tier 1 copper opportunities. With renewed control, we are evaluating the high-quality data generated under the farm-in, with plans to advance exploration at the high-grade BM1 copper zone and targets defined at BM5. While Yeneena presents compelling copper upside, our West Arunta Niobium Project remains a core strategic priority, reflecting the strength and balance of Encounter’s project portfolio. We thank the IGO team for their collaborative and professional contribution over the past six years.”

Encounter’s near-term focus will be on advancing the BM1 and BM5 targets. The BM1 zone, known for its high-grade copper oxide mineralisation, will be re-evaluated using updated geological models to assess its potential for resource definition. At BM5, the company plans to follow up on copper-silver-palladium anomalies identified in earlier aircore drilling, aiming to determine the source and scope of the mineralisation.

The reassessment of BM1 and further exploration at BM5 are expected to play a key role in shaping the future of the Yeneena project. The analysis of existing data will support the design of new drilling campaigns and the broader exploration strategy.

While Yeneena offers significant potential in copper, Encounter also highlighted that the West Arunta Niobium Project remains a key strategic asset in its portfolio. The company continues to balance exploration efforts across both projects to maximise long-term value.

The reacquisition of Yeneena gives Encounter the flexibility to manage exploration timelines and targets independently, positioning the company to respond to market demand and further investigate the copper potential in one of Western Australia’s established mineral regions.