Multi-commodity explorer Eclipse Metals Ltd (ASX:EPM) continues to discover polymetallic mineralisation at the Grønnedal prospect around the historical Ivigtût cryolite mine in Greenland, with a focus on gallium alongside a raft of other rare earth elements (REE).
Gallium in waste dumps
Recent analysis of bulk samples from the historical waste dumps has delivered promising results while the company is encouraged by the REE potential at the Grønnedal prospect within its broader Greenlandic project.
At Grønnedal, initial findings suggest the presence of deep-seated rare earth deposits, with a depth potential of more than 500 metres, picked out using interpretation of historical airborne electromagnetic surveys.
Five bulk samples, collected by trenching the mineralised waste dumps, were blended and sub-samples were crushed and ground for analysis using the ME-MS61 method.
The assays of these bulk samples have confirmed the presence of strong concentrations of gallium of up to 43.1 parts per million (ppm) with an average of 39.16 ppm across the five samples.
Gallium is a key component in a range of emerging technologies such as semiconductors and solar cells and the find will galvanise Ivigtût as contributor to the global ex-China gallium supply.
A raft of minerals and rare earths
In addition to gallium, the samples contained multiple valuable elements, including silver (up to 16.55 ppm), copper (up to 538 ppm), zinc (up to 3,180 ppm) and lead (up to 2,650 ppm).
Continuing laboratory analysis of historical diamond drill cores from Grønnedal reveals rare earth element (REE) and gallium mineralisation at depth, which points to considerable mineral resource expansion.
Recent pXRF core scans from historical drill holes point to widespread rare earth mineralisation, with neodymium standing out as a key element of interest.
The rare earth mineralisation at Grønnedal spans an aerial extent of 5 kilometres by 2 kilometres, with an immediate target area of 3 kilometres by 800 metres focused on ferrocarbonatite.
Preliminary pXRF results also highlight the presence of elevated levels of medium rare earth elements (MREE) such as neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium, with numerous applications in renewable energy technologies, alongside magnets and electric vehicles.
These conductive targets are recommended for follow-up drilling, which could unlock significant new resource areas.
Eclipse is buoyed by the consistency of neodymium ratios from surface to depths of at least 200 metres, which speaks to the continuity of the mineralisation and validates previous surface sampling and drilling efforts.