Eclipse Metals Ltd.:Promising Mineralogical Results at Grønnedal Rare Earth Prospect, Greenland
- Encouraging mineralogical determinations from Grønnedal
- Composite ferro-carbonate mineral containing elevated medium to heavy REE
- Grønnedal Pr+Nd account for 55% of the measured 4REE (La+Ce+Pr+Nd)
- On-going assessment of material found over a wide area in Grønnedal
- Located within the Ivigtût multi-commodity project in SW Greenland
- Assays from drilling at Ivigtût project are expected this quarter
Eclipse Metals Ltd (Eclipse or the Company) (ASX: EPM) is pleased to provide an update on the Company’s mineralogical determinations and percussion drilling program for its Grønnedal prospect within the Ivigtût multi-commodity project in SW Greenland.
Ongoing mineralogical assessment of pink-orange mineralised material found over a wide area (1.5 km x 3 km) in Grønnedal, including scanning electron microscope (SEM) examination at CSIRO, has identified composite ferro-carbonate minerals containing elevated medium to heavy REE.
Cautionary Statement
Visual estimates of mineral abundance should never be considered a proxy or substitute for laboratory analyses where concentrations or grades are the factor of principal economic interest. Visual estimates also potentially provide no information regarding impurities or deleterious physical properties relevant to valuations.
Executive Chairman Carl Popal commented: “These initial results at Grønnedal are of great significance for Eclipse and follow up the sampling of drill core from the Ivigtût pit which also confirmed the presence of REE mineralisation. The REE prospectivity at both Ivigtût and Grønnedal aligns with our strategy of becoming a leading supplier of metals and minerals used in the green energy industry. Eclipse will continue to actively explore the historic Ivigtût pit and the nearby Grønnedal prospect during 2023.”
Previous ambiguous mineralogical determination attempts could not name the pink/orange coloured minerals containing these REEs with anomalous Pr, Nd and Dy content. Precise mineralogical identification is essential in processing REE and is an important step in prefeasibility studies.
The pink-orange coloured minerals were first submitted by Eclipse for mineralogical determinations in 2021, which initial assessment determined that there is a possible combination of several minerals. During 2022, an XRD assessment was conducted by the St Andrews University School of Earth Science which identified possible bastnasite and proposed further thorough assessment to identify the precise composite nature of the minerals (ASX release 1 November 2022).
Previous laboratory and pXRF assay results from Grønnedal rock chip samples using polished thin sections (ASX release 17 November 2021) and now Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) have confirmed the presence of rare earth minerals in three of the four rock samples examined at CSIRO. SEM/EDS (SEM with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy) analysis of one sample returned chemistry corresponding to the rare earth minerals Parisite and Ancylite. These two minerals were distinguished by the difference in CaO values showing a composite mineral structure containing REEs with elevated Pr, Nd and Dy values.
Figure 3. Grønnedal trenching area marked in yellow.
Drilling and trenching at Grønnedal identified this material within part of a widespread dolerite dyke system intruding the carbonatite. Analysis of historical geological and geophysical work has indicated that the dolerite dykes are deep-seated.
Drill and trench samples collected at Ivigtût and Grønnedal in October 2022 are currently being analysed by a laboratory in Australia, with results due during the next few weeks. The laboratory has confirmed significant progress in its work with some samples exceeding the limit of detection (ME-MS61L method). The Company anticipates assay results to be received by the end of July. To ensure accuracy, these samples will undergo further testing using the over-limit methods by the laboratory.
Grønnedal Carbonatite
Drill sample analysis using a portable XRF analyzer (pXRF) on five 1.5m composite samples from drillhole L3-9, returned an intersection average of 7.5m @ 0.8% La2O3+Ce2O3+Pr2O3+Nd2O3 (4REO), with praseodymium (Pr)/lanthanum (La) and neodymium (Nd)/cerium (Ce) ratios of about 1:2, plus base metal values of 0.49% Zn+Pb+Ni (Refer ASX announcement 28 November 2022)
Importantly, the pXRF readings suggest that Pr and Nd are significantly enriched in drillhole L3-9 compared to La and Ce, an observation that is consistent with academic studies as well as laboratory results received previously (Refer ASX announcement 28 November 2022).
Previous laboratory and pXRF assay results from Grønnedal rock chip samples
- On 17th November 2021, the Company reported pXRF results indicating potentially significant rare‐earth element content. Subsequent laboratory results from samples tested by pXRF confirmed significant 4REE (La+Ce+Pr+Nd) (reported on 9 March 2022).
- On 22nd November 2021, Eclipse reported laboratory assays from historical Grønnedal drill core sample IVT 21-4, which yielded 2.1% TREO, including 0.12% Pr2O3 and 0.46% Zn.
- On 9th March 2022, the Company reported highly anomalous heavy REE laboratory assay results for six rock chip samples (G21010, G21011, G21014, G21016, G21017 and G21019), demonstrating that the Grønnedal carbonatite complex is – at least in part – enriched in Pr and Nd.
- On 24th March 2022, Eclipse reported the final laboratory assay results for the above samples with G21016 having returned 4.66% TREO, 0.13% Gd2O3 and 3.3% BaO, and sample G21011, collected from an aplite cutting the Grønnedal complex, returned analyses of 0.93% Nb2O5, 0.07% Rb2O and 1.77% ZrO2.
Discussion
Overall, analysis of the Grønnedal rock chip samples demonstrated unusual patterns for Pr/La and Nd/Ce ratios compared with other REE-mineralised carbonatite complexes such as Mountain Pass (California) and Mt Weld (Western Australia).
Lower La and Ce content measured by pXRF, if confirmed by laboratory assay results across the Grønnedal complex or a significant part thereof, would indicate that REE mineralisation at Grønnedal contains a higher proportion of the commercially more valuable magnetic REE, Pr and Nd. The latter are often termed the ‘magnet feed’ REE which are critical elements for high-performance magnets in high demand from the automotive sector and for wind turbines.
More specifically, pXRF readings and laboratory assay results recorded thus far show a relatively large proportion of Pr and Nd, comprising up to 55% of the measured 4REE.
This can be compared with other rare earth deposits:
i) Grønnedal Pr+Nd: 55% of the measured 4REE (La+Ce+Pr+Nd)
ii) Mountain Pass* Pr+Nd: 17% of the measured 4REE (La+Ce+Pr+Nd)
iii) Mount Weld CLD* Pr+Nd: 25% of the measured 4REE (La+Ce+Pr+Nd)
* Reference: Technology Metals Research, TMR (2015)
Such a difference in composition for the project could have positive implications for the so-called “basket price”. The basket price is described as the sum of proportions of individual REOs in the product multiplied by the price of the individual REOs.
Figure 4. MEL 2007-45 Location Map, showing the geology of the Grønnedal covering nepheline syenite with a carbonatite plug.
Authorised for release by the Board of Eclipse Metals Ltd.
Carl Popal
Executive Chairman
Aiden Bradley
Investor Relations
Webseite: https://www.eclipsemetals.com.au/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eclipse-metals-2833ba204/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EclipseMetals
Figure 5. Greenland REE Deposits and location of Grønnedal and Ivigtût
About Eclipse Metals Ltd (ASX: EPM)
Eclipse Metals Ltd is an Australian exploration company focused on mineral exploration in South-western Greenland, Northern Territory and Queensland for multi commodity mineralisation. Eclipse Metals Ltd has an impressive portfolio of assets prospective for cryolite, fluorite, siderite, quartz, REE, gold, platinum group metals, manganese, palladium, vanadium and uranium mineralisation. The Company’s mission is to increase shareholders’ wealth through capital growth and ultimately dividends. Eclipse Metals Ltd plans to achieve this goal by exploring for and developing viable mineral deposits to generate mining or joint venture incomes.
Competent Persons Statement
The information in this report / ASX release that relates to Exploration Results and Exploration Targets is based on information compiled and reviewed by Mr. Rodney Dale, Non-Executive Director of Eclipse Metals Ltd. Mr. Dale holds a Fellowship Diploma in Geology from RMIT, is a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (FAusIMM) and has sufficient experience relevant to the styles of mineralisation under consideration and to the activity being reported to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves. Mr Dale consents to the inclusion in this report / ASX release of the matters based on information in the form and context in which it appears. Additionally, Mr Dale confirms that the entity is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information contained in the ASX releases referred to in this report.
Link to the original announcement: https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02678036-6A1154868?access_token=83ff96335c2d45a094df02a206a39ff4
