European Lithium Ltd (ASX:EUR, OTCQB:EULIF) has unveiled fresh assay results from its Tanbreez Rare Earth Project in Greenland, with new 2024 diamond drilling confirming consistent high-grade mineralisation and a high proportion of strategic heavy rare earth oxides (HREOs).
The company released results from four drill holes at the Fjord Deposit, all of which intersected significant rare earth mineralisation with Total Rare Earth Oxide (TREO) grades ranging between 0.48% and 0.55% and heavy rare earths representing about 25–27% of the total. The program also returned strong zirconium oxide (ZrO₂) grades of 1.86–1.99% and gallium oxide assays of 90–100 parts per million (ppm), highlighting the project’s multi-metal potential.
High-grade intersections
The reported holes – A1-24, A2-24, B-24 and C-24 – were all drilled vertically through stratiform kakortokite layers, intersecting mineralisation at true thicknesses. Key highlights include:
- DDH-A1-24: 40 metres at 0.48% TREO with 27.1% HREO, plus 1.86% ZrO₂ and 100 ppm gallium oxide.
- DDH-A2-24: 41 metres at 0.52% TREO with 26.9% HREO, 1.96% ZrO₂ and 95 ppm gallium oxide.
- DDH-B-24: 61.3 metres at 0.50% TREO with 26.0% HREO, 1.99% ZrO₂ and 100 ppm gallium oxide.
- DDH-C-24: 65.25 metres at 0.55% TREO with 25.5% HREO, 1.98% ZrO₂ and 90 ppm gallium oxide.
All holes ended in mineralisation, indicating that the system remains open at depth. Assays from a further nine holes drilled in 2025 are expected between late August and October.
Drill hole collar map with 2024 collar positions in green, 2013 collar positions in red and 2025 drill collars in white with star bursts awaiting drilling.
“These results underscore the strategic value of Tanbreez as a rare earth and gallium project with scale, grade, and a high proportion of critical heavy rare earths,” said European Lithium CEO and executive chairman Tony Sage.
“With China's control over the rare earth market, securing sources of these critical minerals has become paramount for US defence capabilities and national security. Our rare earth grades position Tanbreez as a strategically important asset for Western supply chains.”
He added that the company’s progress so far — including the processing of the 2024 drill cores and completion of more than 1,500 meters of drilling as part of its 2025 Fjord Resource Upgrade program — positions the company to build on its significant resource base.
“With further assays pending and more drilling under way, we see strong potential to grow the scale and nature of the project's mineral inventory.”
Resource upgrade under way
The ongoing 2024–2025 drilling campaign at the Fjord Deposit is designed to validate historical results, refine the geological model and support future mine planning. The more than 1,500 metres already drilled this year is part of a planned 2,200-metre program.
Fjord and Hill Deposit drill hole locations for 2007, 2010, 2013, 2024 in red with 2025 drill hole collars completed in July with 9 diamond holes awaiting drilling.
Tanbreez is recognised as one of the world’s largest hard-rock rare earth deposits, notable for its high heavy rare earth content and extremely low levels of uranium and thorium, making it both strategically significant and environmentally viable.
European Lithium holds a 7.5% direct interest in Tanbreez through its majority stake in Critical Metals Corp (NASDAQ:CRML), which has rights to earn up to 92.5% of the project.