Eclipse Metals enters academic collaboration to re-develop Ivittuut cryolite project
Eclipse Metals is looking to generate short-term cash flow by extracting cryolite and REE from waste dumps at Ivittuut.
Multi-commodity explorer Eclipse Metals (ASX: EPM) has entered into a collaborative research program with rare earths specialists in the United Kingdom and Norway to study the mineralogical and petrological characteristics of the mothballed Ivittuut mine in Greenland.
The company has announced it will work with Professor Adrian Finch at the University of St Andrews and Associate Professor Henrik Friis at the Natural History Museum at the University of Oslo on the program, which will centre around the search for green technology metals.
Eclipse expects the research will further its understanding of the genesis and controls on rare earth elements mineralisation at Ivittuut, with implications for the nearby Grønnedal-Ika carbonatite project.
Critical metals
Executive chairman Carl Popal said the 36-month academic collaboration would have an immediate impact in developing the mine as a source of critical metals in the European market.
“It will provide us with advanced research to deliver a clearer understanding of the geology at Ivittuut and address one of the biggest challenges facing global energy sustainability in decarbonised economies with new materials for the modern world,” he said.
“Accessing the knowledge will provide support in understanding and developing the mineralisation within the project area, with a view to defining a rare earths resource.”
World’s largest cryolite mine
Located near Cape Desolation in southwestern Greenland, Ivittuut was the world’s largest commercial cryolite mine producing 3.8 million tonnes before closing in 1987 after 120 years of operation.
The deposit was formed about 1.3 billion years ago as cooling hydrothermal fluids moved through the earth’s crust.
It is the world’s only naturally-occurring cryolite deposit and also contains a potential treasure trove of accessory minerals including zinc, fluorite, rare earth elements, and high silica-grade quartz.
Historical exploration at Ivittuut included 19,000m of diamond drilling, the core of which is now stored in a government facility and available for re-logging and sampling.
A preliminary assessment of the data showed lvittuut to be associated with a “distinct leucogranitic intrusion in contact with basement granites, which hosts a wealth of high-value, specialty minerals”.
Eclipse acquired Ivittuut in early 2021 and recently received approval from the Greenland Government to commence a fieldwork program as the first step in bringing new life to the project.