Eclipse Metals Ltd (ASX:EPM) has drilled a total of 538 metres in 40 holes as part of its ongoing first stage of exploration at the Ivigtût Project in Greenland.
Executive chairman Carl Popal has been supervising activities with assistance from Greenlandic geological consultants and contractors.
Using recently produced geophysical and remote sensing models as a guide, the program aims to collect sub-surface samples of the rare earth elements (REE) bearing carbonatite formation and to obtain samples of the Ivigtût mine wall rocks.
Eclipse is also pitting and trenching waste dumps at the historical Ivigtût cryolite mine to assess the variety of mineralisation styles, host lithologies and grades of material mined to better understand their geochemical nature.
The dumps will also be prioritised according to their grade and tonnage potential as a future source of saleable product.
Grønnedal carbonatite complex
The Grønnedal Carbonatite was partially drill-tested in the mid-1900s to evaluate small-scale magnetite seams.
More recently, surface samples collected by Eclipse returned significant values for a range of REE bearing minerals.
No systematic exploration has been conducted in the area until the current program.
On the Grønnedal carbonatite complex, Eclipse has completed 31 drill holes over a ~3.0 km by ~1.5 km area to depths between 3m and 22m.
The aim of Eclipse’s drilling program was to re-test known magnetite mineralisation and to obtain fresh samples of carbonatite and a magnetic dolerite dyke at depth to assess content of rare earth elements.
Trenching in rubble covered areas has provided samples of in-situ rock formations.
Sub-samples from several tonnes of trench samples are being prepared for shipment to Australia.
Trench samples showing altered dolerite dyke with pink mineral and highly altered carbonatite with magnetite.
Also on the Grønnedal Carbonatite complex, Eclipse’s drilling and trenching in an area of 200 metres by 200 metres has confirmed the highly altered magnetic dolerite dyke to be widespread and deep seated.
This is based on the drilling and geophysical interpretation that a vertically extensive magnetite-hematite-carbonate alteration system containing REE is now confirmed in rock chip descriptions and visually in trenches and drill holes.
Ivigtût mine precinct
Historical production from the Ivigtût mine is recorded as 3.8 million tonnes of high-grade cryolite for use as a flux in alumina smelting.
An exploration target of between 870,000t and 916,200t of cryolite mineralisation grading between 16.0% and 17.7% cryolite has been estimated as remaining within the old workings, based on historical drilling results.
Eclipse has also identified the unique mineral cryolithionite which has only been recognised at Ivigtût, providing encouragement for further exploration of the project’s potential for lithium mineralisation.
Visual estimates indicate there is substantial tonnage potential for mine waste-rock on surface containing visible cryolite, fluorite and quartz.
Typical mine waste dump at Ivigtût.
Presence of the zinc mineral sphalerite and lead mineral galena was also noted in these dumps, which will also be assessed for content of other potentially economic minerals, including REE, lithium and tin.
Eclipse has collected and prepared ~5 tonnes of bulk samples from five trenches in the dumps for shipment to Australia.
Collecting trench samples at Ivigtût.
The presence of REE in host rocks of the cryolite and fluorite deposit has previously been recorded.
Nine holes were drilled in proximity to the mine during the latest program to obtain fresh samples for assessment of the geological setting and potential REE content of these formations.
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