Lithium-Tantalum-Niobium Stream Anomalies Identified at Lolworth, Queensland

Lithium-Tantalum-Niobium Stream Anomalies Identified at Lolworth, Queensland

ECR Minerals plc

ECR MINERALS plc

(“ECR Minerals”, “ECR” or the “Company”)

Lithium-Tantalum-Niobium Stream Anomalies Identified at Lolworth, Queensland

ECR Minerals plc (LON: ECR), the exploration and development company focused on gold in Australia, is pleased to announce encouraging Lithium, Tantalum and Niobium anomalies identified within the first round of results from the recent stream sediment sampling campaign undertaken at the Lolworth Range project, North Queensland, Australia.

ECR Minerals plc has 100% ownership of three exploration tenements (EPM27901, EPM27902 and EPM27903), which covers the Lolworth Range, located 120km west of the famous gold district of Charters Towers. The project is being explored by ECR’s Australian wholly owned subsidiary Lux Exploration Pty Ltd (“LUX”).

HIGHLIGHTS

• Encouraging Anomalous Lithium (Li), Tantalum (Ta) and Niobium (Nb) results recognised in the first batch of stream samples to date.
• Li-Ta-Nb anomalies are present in streams draining from a common area.
• Still awaiting results from a further 212 stream sediment samples.
• Multiple un-sampled pegmatites observed throughout the tenements.

ECR CEO Andrew Haythorpe commented: “In our recent interview I stated how the early results from our 2022 Lolworth campaign were way in excess of my expectations. In addition to the visible gold reported across a number of samples, the fact that the first batch of stream samples contain significant levels of Lithium, Tantalum and Niobium is significant for ECR as an exploration company, as it adds a new dimension to our shareholder and investor proposition. It is still early days, but this first set of sample results is an exciting development for our Company.”

“I reiterate my statement from the recent interview: I believe we have laid some great foundations for our shareholders in 2022, and our Board are excited by the potential for further discoveries across our projects in 2023.”

The location of Lithium, Tantalum and Niobium anomalies within ECR’s Lolworth tenements are shown on the plan located here:

Figure 1: https://www.ecrminerals.com/images/2022/Fig1_Li-Ta-Nb-LUX_221222.png

MULTI-ELEMENT ANALYSIS

ECR reported multiple gold anomalies from the first round of stream sediment results on December 12 2022 (see RNS here ). In addition to assaying for gold, ECR undertook a 4-acid digest, ME-ICP analysis of these samples.

ME-ICP results show a number of the samples are high in Lithium (Li), Niobium (Ni) and Tantalum (Ta). 30 samples have a Lithium content greater than 1000 ppm (0.1%). 15 samples have a Niobium content greater than 500 ppm (0.05%) and 7 samples are greater than 300 ppm (0.03%) in Tantalum. All results have been statistically analysed, standardised and ranked into groups accordingly by a ‘standard deviation range’ from the average in the keys on the spatially plotted maps in Figure 1 (See above).

Li-Ta-Nb ANOMALOUS LOCATIONS

Figure 1 above shows clustered high Lithium to be concentrated within what is known as Gorge Creek. In particular, concentrations are particular present in drainages falling in from the east side of Gorge Creek.

Tantalum and Niobium minerals (such as Columbite-Tantalite) are often found together. Figure 1 above shows this to be the case with the main concentrations located in drainages related to a north flowing tributary to Glen Creek. Tantalum is also present in some of the drainages that contain Lithium within the Gorge Creek area.

The presence of Ta and Nb in the first batch of stream samples is significant, in that anomalous Ta and Nb is within watercourses that are draining the same mountain ridges where the Li-bearing watercourses are also sourced. Primary Li-Ta-Nb mineralisation is often sourced from LCT (lithium-Caesium-Tantalum) pegmatites. During the recent stream sampling campaign, pegmatitic rocks were seen and although it has not yet been established whether these pegmatite rocks contain Lithium, Tantalum or Niobium, the ECR Board have taken the decision to sample these pegmatites in next year’s exploration campaign. This sampling will be followed up alongside the reported gold anomalies.

TABLE 1: Stream Sampling results to date for Lithium (Li), Tantalum (Ta) and Niobium (Nb), arranged by decreasing Lithium values.

SampleID	Easting (GDA94-Z55)	Northing (GDA94-Z55)	Li	Nb	Ta
			ppm	ppm	ppm
LWSS153	314177	7750104	11300	16	10
LWSS263	315668	7749611	10400	17	30
LWSS260	314761	7749497	7640	21	50
LWSS265	315862	7749728	7500	21	250
LWSS299	312481	7752372	7030	19	30
LWSS262	315110	7749620	6990	21	20
LWSS310	307401	7750946	6370	37	30
LWSS304	312678	7751527	4730	19	40
LWSS211	313613	7751298	4720	17	20
LWSS311	306543	7750203	4650	22	30
LWSS155	315871	7750430	4540	12	200
LWSS264	316057	7749541	4470	12	10
LWSS149	314050	7749308	3800	16	120
LWSS267	313740	7747905	3690	28	110
LWSS157	315638	7750751	3640	10	80
LWSS148	314497	7750420	3630	18	60
LWSS198	308766	7749452	3390	21	20
LWSS212	313254	7751090	3180	21	10
LWSS259	314827	7749266	3000	27	100
LWSS159	315634	7750949	2790	15	150
LWSS213	314792	7751560	2790	7	10
LWSS266	314210	7748585	2630	43	170
LWSS147	314728	7750217	2550	10	10
LWSS261	315704	7749178	2540	19	20
LWSS214	315085	7751833	2430	12	680
LWSS215	314111	7751469	2150	24	30
LWSS151	313877	7749836	1800	21	60
LWSS156	315934	7750591	1725	14	10
LWSS199	309150	7750178	1265	23	10
LWSS154	313066	7750055	1205	16	20
LWSS158	315522	7750861	954	20	230
LWSS302	311523	7749673	686	18	10
LWSS300	312627	7751525	679	18	10
LWSS303	312124	7749962	671	27	50
LWSS150	313877	7749442	567	20	50
LWSS016	315186	7757739	20	2000	1230
LWSS161	314025	7751352	20	21	10
LWSS001	313692	7754116	10	1450	480
LWSS004	313731	7755304	10	1150	430
LWSS010	314122	7755631	10	1345	390
LWSS012	314429	7756692	10	1435	340
LWSS013	314749	7757292	10	1020	310
LWSS014	315088	7757059	10	662	280
LWSS015	315398	7757471	10	691	240
LWSS019	315000	7758786	10	701	230
LWSS020	314845	7759325	10	555	230
LWSS021	314880	7759692	10	896	220
LWSS022	315123	7759928	10	796	220
LWSS023	315423	7759960	10	698	190
LWSS047	316619	7762170	10	589	180
LWSS048	316799	7762572	10	600	150
LWSS049	316520	7763146	10	411	140
LWSS050	317024	7762572	10	332	120
LWSS051	317701	7762773	10	344	120
LWSS052	317687	7762589	10	433	120
LWSS053	320247	7759063	10	394	100
LWSS054	320614	7759154	10	280	100
LWSS055	320485	7759341	10	232	90
LWSS056	322200	7758347	10	338	80
LWSS057	322298	7759119	10	357	80
LWSS058	322401	7759109	10	315	70
LWSS077	298690	7758966	10	203	50
LWSS078	299057	7758698	10	179	50
LWSS079	297703	7759449	10	153	50
LWSS080	296668	7758625	10	146	50
LWSS081	296770	7758311	10	163	50
LWSS082	296660	7761733	10	148	50
LWSS083	297026	7761835	10	210	50
LWSS084	296931	7761606	10	132	40
LWSS085	296445	7761243	10	77	40
LWSS086	296497	7760905	10	157	40
LWSS087	298260	7760330	10	106	40
LWSS088	297121	7760196	10	168	40
LWSS089	298907	7761224	10	168	40
LWSS090	298814	7761280	10	78	30
LWSS091	299379	7761447	10	105	30
LWSS092	299499	7761370	10	79	20
LWSS093	298823	7760665	10	94	20
LWSS094	299023	7760941	10	110	20
LWSS095	299113	7758233	10	26	10
LWSS096	299042	7758162	10	26	10
LWSS097	297749	7758092	10	56	10
LWSS098	297587	7757887	10	31	10
LWSS099	297343	7758123	10	19	10
LWSS100	297855	7756964	10	44	10
LWSS101	298880	7756788	10	42	10
LWSS103	298827	7756012	10	37	10
LWSS104	298923	7755998	10	89	10
LWSS105	298380	7756231	10	7	10
LWSS106	297597	7756893	10	12	10
LWSS107	295140	7758331	10	41	10
LWSS108	294982	7758582	10	19	10
LWSS109	294996	7757753	10	34	10
LWSS110	295174	7757482	10	5	10
LWSS112	294249	7760316	10	5	10
LWSS113	294516	7759731	10	88	10
LWSS114	294601	7760538	10	36	10
LWSS115	300995	7758832	10	18	10
LWSS116	301122	7758691	10	5	10
LWSS117	301316	7758712	10	67	10
LWSS118	300925	7757017	10	78	10
LWSS119	301164	7757644	10	33	10
LWSS120	301614	7759087	10	21	10
LWSS121	302020	7761157	10	49	10
LWSS122	302221	7760593	10	14	10
LWSS123	302598	7760783	10	13	10
LWSS124	301584	7759673	10	26	10
LWSS125	300997	7760547	10	42	10
LWSS160	314212	7751253	10	35	10
LWSS162	314191	7751930	10	25	10
LWSS163	314060	7752103	10	11	10
LWSS164	314120	7751648	10	41	10
LWSS184	321213	7753612	10	17	10
LWSS185	321160	7752942	10	21	10
LWSS186	321273	7752575	10	5	10
LWSS187	321527	7752498	10	9	10
LWSS188	321604	7752635	10	5	10
LWSS189	320156	7754105	10	56	10
LWSS190	319775	7753062	10	5	10
LWSS204	316062	7752448	10	5	10
LWSS205	315876	7752635	10	31	10
LWSS206	317254	7753680	10	30	10
LWSS207	316998	7753627	10	58	10
LWSS208	317012	7752528	10	72	10
LWSS209	317656	7751602	10	50	10
LWSS210	317846	7752778	10	34	10

REVIEW OF ANNOUNCEMENT BY QUALIFIED PERSON

This announcement has been reviewed by Adam Jones, Technical Director of Exploration 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:

ECR Minerals plc		Tel: [phone]
David Tang, Non-Executive Chairman Andrew Haythorpe, CEO
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.ecrminerals.com
WH Ireland Ltd		Tel: [phone]
Nominated Adviser Katy Mitchell / Andrew de Andrade
SI Capital Ltd		Tel: [phone]
Broker
Nick Emerson
Novum Securities Limited		Tel: [phone]
Broker Jon Belliss
Brand Communications		Tel: [phone]
Public & Investor Relations
Alan Green

ABOUT ECR MINERALS PLC

ECR Minerals is a mineral exploration and development company. ECR’s wholly owned Australian subsidiary Mercator Gold Australia Pty Ltd (“MGA”) has 100% ownership of the Bailieston and Creswick gold projects in central Victoria, Australia, has six licence applications outstanding which includes one licence application lodged in eastern Victoria. (Tambo gold project). MGA is currently drilling at the Bailieston Blue Moon Project (EL5433) and undertaking geochemical exploration on the Creswick (EL6148) project and has an experienced exploration team with significant local knowledge in the Victoria Goldfields and wider region.

ECR also owns 100% of an Australian subsidiary LUX Exploration Pty Ltd (“LUX”) which has three approved exploration permits covering 946 km² over a relatively unexplored area in Queensland, Australia.

Following the sale of the Avoca, Moormbool and Timor gold projects in Victoria, Australia to Fosterville South Exploration Ltd (TSX-V: FSX) and the subsequent spin-out of the Avoca and Timor projects to Leviathan Gold Ltd (TSX-V: LVX), Mercator Gold Australia Pty Limited has the right to receive up to A$2 million in payments subject to future resource estimation or production from projects sold to Fosterville South Exploration Limited.

ECR holds a 70% interest in the Danglay gold project; an advanced exploration project located in a prolific gold and copper mining district in the north of the Philippines, which has a 43-101 compliant resource. ECR also holds a royalty on the SLM gold project in La Rioja Province, Argentina and can potentially receive up to US$2.7 million in aggregate across all licences

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