EPM The former NT uranium play changed focus – and location –...

EPM



The former NT uranium play changed focus – and location – buying “the world’s largest and only” cryolite mine in Greenland in January last year.


Over 120 years between 1865 and 1985, the Ivittuut mine produced 3.8 million tonnes of high-grade cryolite, a rare mineral proven to reduce energy consumption in aluminium production.

Aluminium smelters use a huge amount of power as they run 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The Tomago smelter, for example, uses about 10 per cent of NSW’s total power supply each year.

The mothballed mine also contains rare earths (REE) and base metals.

There’s also lithium potential, and an additional REE target 10km away called ‘Gronnedal-lka’, which has not been properly tested.

Eclipse recently completed a maiden percussion drilling and trench sampling program across the Ivigtût and Grønnedal targets, with assay results due “before the end of the June quarter”.

That deadline is fast approaching.

Given the focus by previous operators on only delineating and mining the Ivigtût cryolite deposit, EPM is the first company to test the REE and multi-element potential at both Grønnedal and Ivigtût.

Once assays are received a comprehensive resource assessment will follow.

Upcoming field activities also include geological mapping, assessment of historical drill core, further drilling and trenching and base-line studies preparatory to dewatering of the historic cryolite open-cut mine.