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Eclipse Metals’ Ivittuut bulk sample analysis returns 99.9% silica result


“Identification of scarce heavy REEs, rare critical metals and high purity quartz has cemented our conclusion of the uniqueness of the polymetallic nature of the Ivittuut pit precinct," executive chairman Carl Popal said.


The Ivittuut mine area in Greenland


Eclipse Metals Ltd (ASX:EPM) confirms that recent laboratory analysis of a quartz bulk sample from its Ivittuut multi-commodity project in southwest Greenland has returned a high-silica, low-impurity result.

The sample of several kilograms of quartz was collected from historical mine dumps and shipped to Perth, Western Australia, for analysis.

Further simple purification possible


In-depth analysis of the quartz reveals it can be further purified with a simple acid wash process to substantially increase grade by removing impurities.

This potentially makes it suitable for the high-tech semiconductor industry, further increasing the deposit value.

The results from this bulk sample confirm results previously reported by North Atlantic Mining Associates.

Eclipse Metals executive chairman Carl Popal said: “Our evaluation of historical data has unveiled massive economic potential at Ivittuut, being the world’s only known commercial mine of naturally occurring cryolite but with potential to be a multi-commodity project.”

Modelling of historical exploration data from the Ivittuut deposit indicates the presence of a large cylindrical body of in-situ high-silica-grade, low-impurity quartz immediately below the pit floor, as defined by historic drilling.

High-grade silica quartz recovered at Ivittuut.​

Significant economic opportunity


The modelling, which supports an estimated exploration target of between 5.70 million tonnes and 5.94 million tonnes of quartz ranging between 90%, confirms the company’s view of the significant economic potential to exploit this high-silica-grade quartz body.
Historical assays of individual quartz intersections returned high grades ranging from 99.02 to 99.98% silica and historical averaged drill intersections include:

• 54 metres at 97.6% silica from 32 metres;
• 24 metres at 93.2% silica from 12 metres; and
• 53 metres at 94.8% silica from 45 metres.

Eclipse has defined an exploration target for high-silica-grade quartz at Ivittuut, and has further exploration plans in the works, with a view to preparing a maiden JORC 2012-compliant resource estimate for the quartz body at Ivittuut, expected in the second half of the year.

Global quartz market growing

The global quartz market is projected to reach $13.61 billion by 2026, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 6.9% from 2020 to 2030 according to Persistence Market Research.

“Our recent sampling program has verified the potential of both Ivittuut and Grønnedal-Ika to host rare earth element (REE) mineralisation as well as base and critical metals, and now confirmed a quantifiable mass of low impurity quartz containing up to 99.9% silica,” Popal said.

“Identification of scarce heavy REEs, rare critical metals and high purity quartz has cemented our conclusion of the uniqueness of the polymetallic nature of the Ivittuut pit precinct.

"Overall, the recent exploration results highlighted the potential for much of the mineralisation within the pit to have economic value, thus enhancing potential economics for the redevelopment of this mine.”