European Lithium Ltd has released assay results of historical deep diamond drill holes DDH 306-13 drilled in 2013, and DX-02 drilled in 2010 from its Tanbreez Project in Greenland. It is the first time these results have been released and they give weight to the recent Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) of ~45MT of REEs @ 0.38% and the robust economic results from the Tanbreez Scoping Study showing the NPV of US$2.4 ~US$3.0 billion on a 10% and 8% discount and an IRR of 162% before tax.
The Tanbreez Project is operated by Tanbreez Mining Greenland A/S and is currently owned by Critical Metals Corp., which currently holds a 42% interest with the right to earn 92.5% interest, with European Lithium holding a 7.5% interest. European Lithium currently holds approximately 68% of the issued capital in CRML.
The project is among the world’s largest hard rock deposits of rare earth elements (REEs). It is distinguished by its high concentration of heavy rare earth elements (HREEs), which are essential to advanced technologies, renewable energy systems, and defence applications. In contrast to many other major REE deposits, Tanbreez hosts minimal levels of uranium and thorium, enhancing its environmental and regulatory appeal.
The Tanbreez Fjord and the Tanbreez Hill rare-earth mineral sites are hosted within a Kakortokite unit covering an area of approximately 5km x 2.5km, estimated at 4.7 billion tonnes of Kakortokite this does not indicate any certainty of hosting mineralisation.
“It’s exciting to report more deep diamond drill hole results and outstanding assay results from historical deep drilling that may confirm higher tonnage potential that extends a lot deeper and wider than was originally expected for the Tanbreez Project,” executive chairman Tony Sage said.
“We are assembling a highly experienced team and moving quickly to the next major milestone measuring the true potential of the Tanbreez Project that is gaining significant interest from Western Governments.
“The team is now planning resource drilling to extend and grow the Tanbreez resource and mobilising a crew to Greenland in preparation for a series of exploration, mining and engineering surveys working closely with the Greenland Government and stakeholders in country which is now underway.”
New diamond drill hole historical results
Drilling at Tanbreez was conducted for stratigraphic and mineralogical studies as part of the company’s ongoing re-assaying of historical samples collected in 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2024. These efforts aim to confirm and reconcile previous data and potentially expand the existing JORC 2012 Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) of 45 million tonnes (MT) at 0.38% total rare earth oxides (TREO).
Deep Diamond Hole intersections containing high grade TREO average mineralisation from surface to 195m vertical depth in hole DX-01, and to 338m vertical depth in D306-013.
Assay results from DX-02 and D306-13 show average TREO grades of 0.42% and 0.47%, with heavy rare earth element (HREE) content of 24% and 28%, extending to depths of 195m and 328m respectively, within the Kakortokite host rock. This host rock is estimated to contain approximately 4.7 billion tonnes, although the company cautions that not all of it may be economically mineralised.
The results are consistent with earlier drill holes A1-24, D7-14, and DX-01, which recorded similar TREO and HREE values. Drill holes D7-14 and D306-13 ended in mineralisation, indicating further drilling is needed. Assays for hole K-24, drilled in December 2024, are expected in late May 2025.
Results as follows:
Drill Hole DX-02
Drilled vertically to 195m from surface and intersected high-grade rare earths oxides averaging:
- 4211ppm (0.42% TREO) (“including averaged heavy rare HREO of 24%”)
- 0.91% ZrO₂ “zircon oxide” cut-off grade at 0.5%
- 63ppm Ta₂O₅ “tantalum pentoxide”
- 1293ppm Nb₂O₅ “niobium pentoxide”
- 181ppm HfO₂ “hafnium oxide”
- 98ppm Ga₂O₃ “gallium oxide”.
Drill DX-02 was collared approximately 505m to the east of the Hill Zone 22MT @ 0.38% REE Maiden Mineral Resource (March 13 2025 ASX Announcement 45MT @ 0.38% TREO).
Drill Hole D306-13
Drilled vertically to 328m from surface and intersected high-grade rare earths mineralisation averaging:
- 4539ppm (0.45% TREO) (“including averaged heavy rare HREO of 27%”)
- 1.7% ZrO₂ “zircon oxide” cut-off grade at 0.5%
- 2479ppm Nb₂O₅ “niobium pentoxide” “gallium oxide” was not assayed.
Mineralisation average from surface to 328m downhole. Drill collar approximately 400m to the east of the Fjord 23.6MT @ 0.42% REE Maiden Mineral Resource (March 13 2025 ASX Announcement 45MT @ 0.38% TREO).
Drill Hole A1-24
Drilled vertically to 40m from surface and intersected high-grade rare earths and oxides averaging:
- 4722.51ppm (0.47% TREO) (including 26.96% averaged heavy rare earth (”HREO”)
- 1.82% ZrO₂ “zircon oxide”
- 130.92ppm Ta₂O₅ “tantalum pentoxide”
- 1852.22ppm Nb₂O₅ “niobium pentoxide”
- 393.68ppm HfO₂ “hafnium oxide”
- 101.67ppm Ga₂O₃ “gallium oxide”
Mineralisation average from surface to 40m downhole.
Drill Hole DX-01
Drilled vertically to 338m from surface and intersected high-grade rare earths and oxides averaging:
- 4209.22ppm (0.42% TREO) (“including averaged heavy rare HREO of 24.45%”)
- 2.45% ZrO₂ “zircon oxide” cut-off at 0.5%
- 73ppm Ta₂O₅ “tantalum pentoxide”
- 1174.06ppm Nb₂O₅ “niobium pentoxide”
- 266.45ppm HfO₂ “hafnium oxide”
- 103.03ppm Ga₂O₃ “gallium oxide”
Mineralisation average from surface to 338m downhole.
DX-01 was collared within the Hill Zone 22MT @ 0.38% REE Maiden Mineral Resource (13 March 2025 ASX Announcement 45MT @ 0.38% TREO).
Drill Hole D7-14
Angle drilled at 60⁰ east to 243m from surface and intersected high-grade rare earths mineralisation averaging:
- 4437.54ppm (0.44% TREO) (“including averaged heavy rare HREO of 28%”)
- 1.78% ZrO₂ “zircon oxide” cut-off at 0.5%
- 83ppm Ta₂O₅ “tantalum pentoxide”
- 1496ppm Nb₂O₅ “niobium pentoxide”
- 351ppm HfO₂ “hafnium oxide”
- Ga₂O₃ “gallium oxide” was not assayed
Mineralisation average from surface to 243m downhole.
EUR reports 98 ppm gallium oxide while uranium and thorium stands out
European Lithium has confirmed high-grade gallium oxide (Ga₂O₃) results of 98 parts per million (ppm) from diamond drillhole DX-02 at the Tanbreez Rare Earth Project in southern Greenland, highlighting consistent mineralisation across a strike length of 2,300 metres and width of approximately 370 metres.
The gallium oxide result from DX-02, drilled to a depth of 195 metres, is in line with previously reported values of 101.7 ppm and 102.2 ppm from holes A1-24 and DX-01 respectively. This supports the potential for a valuable oxide credit in the project’s mixed rare earth concentrate, enhancing the project’s economic outlook.
Drillhole D306-13, drilled in 2013 to 328 metres, was not previously assayed for gallium, tantalum or niobium. Sample pulps from this and other drillholes, including 2024’s K-24 and D7-014, will be submitted to ALS Metallurgical in Perth for assay, with results expected in the coming months.
Low uranium and thorium content continues to be a standout feature of the Tanbreez deposit, with DX-02 returning averages of 18.67 ppm uranium and 55.3 ppm thorium. These results align with other recent drillholes and underscore the deposit’s homogeneous and environmentally favourable profile.
Drillhole collar positions for the new deep diamond holes DX-O2 to 195m and D306-13 to 328m with the average assay results from surface. The lengths between drill holes is approximately 1300 metres with a total distance from A1-24 to DX-02 of approximately 2320m in a straight line 1037m with a width of 372m width between DX-02 and D306-13.
What’s next?
EUR has lodged a Program of Works application with Greenland’s Mineral Licence and Safety Authority (MLSA) for its 2025 resource drilling campaign at Tanbreez, targeting expansion and reclassification of its existing MRE.
The 2025 drilling program will focus on extending both the Fjord and Hill Zone deposits. Preparations are underway for the upcoming field season, with mobilisation of drilling and exploration teams scheduled for mid to late June.
The first phase of the resource drilling program will extend the 23 MT MRE footprint at the Fjord Deposit. This will involve drilling north of the 2024 campaign's 16-hole diamond program. Drilling will average depths of 40 to 50 metres, penetrating mineralised kakortokite zones rich in rare earth elements (REEs) and metal oxides, and extending approximately 5 metres into the basal layer to exclude lower-grade phonolite material.
The start of 2025 drilling is contingent on satisfactory results from the remaining assays of the 2024 drill program, with 15 holes still to be reported.
In the second phase, the company will target the 22 MT Hill Zone Deposit, focusing on infill drilling between key historical holes (D306-13, DX-01, and DX-02) along the east-west margins of the current resource. Drilling will extend to depths of up to 150 metres, aiming to confirm continuity of mineralisation and support a potential upgrade of Inferred resources to the Indicated category.
EUR has engaged an independent resource consultant to support the 2025 program and is in discussions with potential feasibility study partners following the release of a scoping study that estimated a pre-tax Net Present Value (NPV) of between US$2.4 billion and US$3.0 billion and an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 162%.