Greenland, Eclipse Metals signs research MoU to help create economic benefit

Eclipse Metals Ltd has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Minerals, Materials and Society Program at the University of Delaware, USA as it looks to ensure regional sustainable development and diversification of the economy around its Ivigtût Project in Southwest Greenland.

The partnership will work collaboratively to research potential avenues for regional economic development of the Ivigtût project areas, which will be supported by funding from the US government’s National Science Foundation.

The aim is to create economic benefit within the local community.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with the University of Delaware on research to look at areas for potential economic redevelopment in Greenland,” Eclipse Metals executive chairman Carl Popal said.

“Our Ivigtût project, which has a historic mining life extending over 120 years, is a prime example of an opportunity for redevelopment and we hope this research will provide an insight into how we can do this to the benefit of Greenland and the local communities as well as Eclipse and our shareholders.”

Larger project redevelopment

The MoU fits into EPM’s larger project to redevelop legacy energy and mineral sites in the Arctic, for a just and sustainable transition that recognises greater access to the region due to changing climate.

The university will be provided with access to EPM’s project data and research. It will also be able to engage with stakeholders to discuss potential commercial development of all resources in the area.

It is hoped the outcome will provide a framework for Social Impact Assessment (SIA), a document that is submitted in stages to the Greenlandic mining authority (MLSA) as part of an application for a mining license.

Several research projects underway

Further to its work with the university, the scoping phase of the social and environmental impact assessments, conducted by Eclipse and Danish consultancy COWI, are now almost finished and will be submitted to the MLSA in the coming weeks.

“This collaboration with the University of Delaware is in addition to collaborative research programs that are already underway with the University of St Andrews, UK and the Natural History Museum at the University of Oslo, Norway, which is focused on rare earth elements and green technology metals,” Popal said.

“There is plenty of scope for development in Greenland and we are encouraged to see this renewed attention in the arctic region as we look towards expanding its potential for strategic mineral and economic development.”

Eclipse is busy at the moment, having recently completed its maiden percussion drilling and trench sampling program at Ivigtût. This includes the Grønnedal carbonatite complex, with laboratory results from this work expected during Q2, Pro Active Investors writes.

Eclipse Metals has applied to Greenland’s Mineral Resources Authority

Eclipse Metals 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 [and] 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, Small Caps writes.