Eclipse Metals Doubles Grønnedal Rare Earth Resource and Defines Maiden Ivigtût Critical Minerals Resource

Grønnedal Rare Earth Resource Surges

Eclipse Metals Ltd (ASX:EPM) has unveiled a significant leap in its Greenland portfolio, with the Grønnedal Rare Earth Elements (REE) Mineral Resource Estimate more than doubling to 208 million tonnes at a grade of 7,239ppm total rare earth oxides (TREO). This expanded resource now contains approximately 1.5 million tonnes of TREO, including an initial Indicated Resource of 6 million tonnes at 7,139ppm TREO, marking a substantial advancement in both scale and confidence.

The 2025 drilling program was pivotal, intersecting broad zones of Nd-Pr-rich mineralisation from surface to depths approaching 200 metres. Key drill holes revealed intervals with TREO grades exceeding 6,000ppm, and neodymium plus praseodymium consistently comprised around 30% of the TREO content, underscoring the deposit’s magnet rare earth element potential. Geological continuity and vertical extension of mineralisation were confirmed, with the resource remaining open along strike and at depth.

Additional assays reinforced a broader critical metals profile at Grønnedal, identifying yttrium, niobium, strontium, gallium, and scandium mineralisation associated with the REE-bearing carbonatite system. Uranium levels remain low, averaging 4.16ppm, well beneath Greenland’s 100ppm regulatory threshold, enabling continued focus on REE development within the current regulatory framework.

Ivigtût Emerges as Hafnium-Led Critical Minerals Hub

Beyond Grønnedal, Eclipse’s historic Ivigtût mine has been redefined as a fluorite-enriched, layered critical minerals system. The 2025 diamond drilling program confirmed high-grade fluorite alongside a suite of critical elements including gallium, rubidium, niobium, tantalum, hafnium, yttrium, and zirconium. Notably, drill intersections included 10 metres at 32.2% fluorine and extended intervals of gallium enrichment, such as 122 metres at 37ppm Ga from surface.

Following quarter end, Eclipse announced a maiden Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate at Ivigtût of 4.87 million tonnes grading 188ppm hafnium oxide (HfO₂), 61ppm gallium oxide (Ga₂O₃), 147ppm yttrium oxide (Y₂O₃), and 3,380ppm zirconium (Zr). This resource adds a complementary critical minerals dimension to the company's Greenland portfolio, sitting just 5 kilometres from the Grønnedal REE deposit.

Metallurgical Advances Highlight Processing Potential

Metallurgical testing at Grønnedal has delivered encouraging early results. Phase 1 Wet High-Intensity Magnetic Separation (WHIMS) tests showed that 78–86% of the sample mass responded to magnetic separation at 7,000 Gauss, with over 90% of iron deporting to magnetic fractions. This suggests a strong beneficiation handle, potentially enabling significant mass reduction ahead of hydrometallurgical processing. Key rare earth minerals such as synchysite, bastnäsite, and monazite were identified, with liberation characteristics indicating relatively coarse grain sizes conducive to efficient flotation and magnetic separation.

Phase 2 testing is underway using quarter-core samples from the 2025 drilling, focusing on grind size optimisation, staged magnetic separation, and detailed mineralogical characterisation to refine recovery and grade parameters.

Exploration Momentum and Strategic Positioning

Eclipse’s Greenland geological team is preparing for a field program anticipated to commence in August 2026, aiming to advance geological verification, target refinement, and drilling. The company is also progressing strategic engagement with offshore capital markets and potential partners to secure funding pathways for its Greenland critical minerals portfolio.

Meanwhile, in Australia’s Northern Territory, Eclipse received Traditional Owners’ consent for exploration activities on EL 27584, including airborne surveys, access reconnaissance, rock-chip sampling, and up to 12 helicopter-supported diamond drill holes. This marks a key step toward renewed uranium exploration in Arnhem Land, with biosecurity and environmental considerations front of mind.

Positioning Greenland in Global Critical Minerals Supply

Located in southwest Greenland with existing infrastructure such as a power station, heliport, and deep-water port access, the Ivigtût Project and Grønnedal REE deposit are strategically positioned to support Western efforts to diversify critical mineral supply chains. The project’s polymetallic nature, encompassing rare earths, fluorite, and a suite of critical metals, aligns with growing demand from sectors including electric vehicles, renewable energy, and defence.

While the resource expansions and metallurgical findings are promising, Eclipse cautions that further technical work is required to confirm economic extraction and processing pathways. The company ended the quarter with $4.051 million in cash, maintaining a solid foundation as it advances its Greenland and Australian exploration programs.