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Eclipse Metals PhD collaboration expected to have immediate impact in developing Ivittuut as source for critical metals in Europe

Last updated: 01:02 01 Mar 2022 GMT, First published: 00:50 01 Mar 2022 GMT

Eclipse Metals Ltd - Eclipse Metals Ltd PhD collaboration expected to have immediate impact in developing Ivittuut as a source for critical metals in Europe

Eclipse Metals Ltd (ASX:EPM) will collaborate with leading European research organisations to advance its Ivittut Project in Greenalnd.

A PhD research program will focus on mineralogical and petrological characterisation (geology) of the Ivittuut mine in Greenland and will involve world-renowned REE specialists Professor Adrian Finch at the University of St Andrews, UK, and Associate Professor Henrik Friis at the Natural History Museum at the University of Oslo, Norway.

The program is called 'The Search for Green Technology Metals – How Fluids Make or Break Critical Metal Deposits' and the planned research will focus on the impact of hydrothermal fluids on movement of elements in and out of critical metal deposits.

A key focus will be on green technologies and a zero-carbon future.

Eclipse anticipates that this academic project will further its understanding of the genesis and controls on REE mineralisation in its Ivittuut mine with implications for its Grønnedal-Ika carbonatite project.

Put simply, the search for green technology metals is expected to deliver an improved geological framework, enabling more effective exploration and resource development at the Ivittuut prospect.

Gaining clearer understanding

“The PhD collaboration will provide us not only with advanced research to deliver a clearer understanding of the geology at Ivittuut but also address one of the biggest challenges facing global energy sustainability in decarbonised economies with new materials for the modern world," EPM executive chairman Carl Popal said.

“The PhD research will have immediate impact in developing Ivittuut as a source for critical metals in the European green technology market, directly addressing these issues.

“The Ivittuut cryolite mine has been a multi-commodity producer and has potential for further polymetallic mineralisation to be exploited. The Ivittuut area is known to be a prime REE target in South Greenland.

"Access to the knowledge of these REE experts will provide support in understanding and development of mineralisation within the project area, with a view to defining a REE resource in line with the company’s mission towards advancing developments in sustainable green energy metals.”

Expected to have major impact

Due to its geological nature, all major potential European REE sources are in Scandinavia with Greenland playing host to some of the largest REE deposits, not just in Europe but globally.

Ivittuut was formed about 1.3 billion years ago as cooling hydrothermal fluids moved through the Earth’s crust and has been identified as having significant potential to contribute to the academic knowledge base for REE mineralisation.

Professor Adrian Finch and Associate Professor Henrik Friis, specialise in the geology of REE mineralised systems, the processes that form them and the tectonic environments in which they occur.

The collaboration will span 36 months with the first 18 months based in St Andrews and the subsequent 18 months in Oslo.

Professor Finch will lead the research in isotopic and petrological characterisation of the mineralisation, whereas Professor Friis will provide his expertise and skills in rare mineral identification and characterisation.

These REE specialists are expected to have a more immediate impact on the success of Eclipse Metals’ exploration activities at Ivittuut with implications for the Grønnedal-Íka prospect.

About Ivittuut

Ivittuut is in southwestern Greenland and has a power station and fuel supplies to service this station and local traffic to support mineral exploration.

About 5.5 kilometres to the northeast of Ivittuut, the settlement of Kangilinnguit (Grønnedal), provides a heliport and an active wharf with infrastructure. The Grønnedal-Íka carbonatite complex is less than 10 kilometres from Ivittuut and only 5 kilometres from the port of Grønnedal.

This complex is one of the 12 larger Gardar alkaline intrusions in Greenland and is recognised by GEUS as one of Greenland’s prime REE targets along with Kvanefjeld and Kringlerne (Tanbreez).

Eclipse Metals sees potential for early cashflow in Greenland

Eclipse Metals Ltd (ASX:EPM) chairman Carl Popal tells Proactive he’s encouraged by the possibility of an early restart of Ivigtût cryolite mine within its 100%-owned multi-commodity project in southwest Greenland after identifying potentially valuable polymetallic mineralisation in waste rock...

on 21/8/23