Eclipse Metals applies for drilling and mining licence at Greenland projects
Eclipse Metals chairman Carl Popal says the drilling team may be able to mobilise to Grønnedal-Ika to begin the field season in July.
Eclipse Metals (ASX: EPM) has applied to Greenland’s Mineral Resources Authority to proceed with drilling at the Grønnedal-Ika carbonatite rare earth elements (REE) prospect during this year’s field season.
The company has engaged a local contractor to carry out the proposed campaign and executive chairman Carl Popal has visited the site to assess ground conditions and facilitate the planning of access and drill hole locations.
“We took the contractors onsite and discussed the mobilisation of appropriate equipment, with the team potentially able to mobilise in July,” he said.
“We were able to locate several historic drill collars which will assist in planning the program.”
Ivittuut mining licence
Mr Popal also met with Greenland’s Environmental Agency for Mineral Resource Activities to discuss the requirements for a mining licence application for the Ivittuut historic cryolite mine.
Eclipse is actively exploring Ivittuut and Grønnedal-Ika for lithium, base and precious metals and industrial minerals.
The meetings will help it work more closely with government departments to move forward at Ivittuut, where pit dewatering remains a significant licencing issue.
Mr Popal said the company would provide the government with information for its planned dewatering procedures.
“The meeting regarding environmental requirements related to the mining licence and drainage of the pit in the licence area was productive we are encouraged to work with environmental officers to develop the requirements to empty the pit,” Mr Popal said.
“We plan to engage a specialist to assist with addressing these requirements to ensure dewatering is in line with best practice.”
Eclipse has also entered into talks with the municipality of Sermersooq to establish ways in which it can assist the restoration of the local Ivittuut mine museum.
Magnetic bodies
Last month, Eclipse revealed that 3D modelling of airborne magnetic data over Grønnedal-Ika had identified several high amplitude and vertically-extensive magnetic bodies indicative of REE mineralisation.
They are believed to be spatially coincident with a cluster of electromagnetic bedrock conductors identified by a previous explorer.
Eclipse said the bodies suggest the potential for a larger extent of magnetite-bearing carbonatite and carbonatite breccia in the subsurface than indicated by earlier mapping.