Eclipse Metals Ltd (ASX:EPM) has confirmed high-grade polymetallic rare earth mineralisation at its Ivittuut Project in Greenland with new samples from historic drilling returning results of 536.30 parts per million (ppm) total rare earth elements (REE), 3.54% tin and 3,680 ppm tungsten.
The assay results have also confirmed the project’s potential to contain deposits of high-grade quartz, cryolite, siderite, sphalerite and carbonate material.
Very low uranium values ranging from 0.7 to 24.3 ppm are well below the Greenland Government’s legislated maximum of 100 ppm and should have no effect on exploration or production.
Sample analysis from selected sections of drill core returned significant values for a range of heavy and light rare earth elements (HREE and LREE) in both the Ivittuut mine precinct and nearby Gronnedal-Ika carbonatite area.
Ivittuut mine samples
Core samples from the Ivittuut mine precinct which contained fluoride yielded a total rare earth oxide (REO) value of 536.6 ppm. This is the first time that REE mineralisation has been confirmed within the Ivittuut mine sequence.
The historic cryolite pit at Ivittuut returned high grades of silica, with sampling of the quartz body below the pit returning assays of 99.7%, 99.65%, and 99.12% SiO2. Niobium, tungsten and strontium were also present in levels of up to 3670 ppm, 7010 ppm and 5.67%, respectively.
The area has not been systemically explored for other commodities, including the REE mineralisation of the carbonatite complex. Both light and heavy rare earths were detected in the Ivittuut core samples and tin of up to 3.54%.
Gronnedal-Ika samples
Samples of core from three diamond core holes drilled in the Gronnedal-Ika carbonatite complex in the 1940s returned high rare earth element content, up to 22,695 ppm total rare earth oxides.
The cores were drilled to explore for iron mineralisation, but magnetite deposits (iron deposits) were shown to be narrow and intermittent. Recent sampling has returned significant amounts of light and heavy REE.
Historical sampling results also indicate very high europium values compared with other REE deposits, an element in extremely short supply globally.
Overall, the results confirm strong REE potential at surface in Gronnedal-Ika, with historical records indicating the potential for rapid development and production of cryolite, fluorite, quartz, REE, carbonate, zinc and siderite.
Geophysical interpretations identified a strong correlation between REE mineralisation and magnetic zones – this will be used as the main geophysical tool in exploration for further REE mineralisation, utilising petrological and mineralogical determinations as a guide.
Forward strategy
Given the continued advancement of the Greenland development plan, Eclipse is continuing to review its asset portfolio to assess ways to best extract value from its projects for shareholders, including a potential repositioning of assets to ensure an appropriate exploration and development focus can be maintained in relation to the Ivittuut Project.
As part of that review, the company is in early-stage discussions with third parties with respect to potential joint venture partnerships and other opportunities that will further advance its Australian projects and add value for shareholders.
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