Reviewed by Lexie CornerSep 5 2024
Critical Metals Corp., a leading mining development company focused on critical metals and minerals essential for electrification and next-generation technologies, has announced the commencement of a diamond drilling program at the Tanbreez Greenland Rare Earth Mine. This project is strategically important for Europe and its Western partners, as it aims to produce key resources required for advanced technological applications.
Drill core with rare earth occurrences. Image Credit: Critical Metals Corp
The drilling program includes 14 holes totaling up to 2,200 m in length and will assess the mine's resources and expected lifetime. Depending on weather conditions and site accessibility, the drilling operation is projected to take around 30 days.
The Tanbreez project offers immense potential for reducing Western countries’ reliance on China for critical materials needed to support the transition to clean energy and defense applications, thereby bolstering national security. The Tanbreez project offers immense potential for reducing Western countries’ reliance on China for critical materials needed to support the transition to clean energy and defense applications, thereby bolstering national security.
Tony Sage, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, Critical Metals Corp.
Drilling Program Details and Core Extraction
The program is being run by the experienced Greenland drilling contractor, 60 North Greenland, under the direction of a group of globally recognized specialists in rare earth geology, including Mr. Gregory Barnes, the founder of Tanbreez Project, Mr. Hans Kristian Schønwandt, a former Deputy Minister of Mines for Greenland, and Mr. Ole Christiansen.
They collectively bring with them a wealth of knowledge about the Tanbreez mineral deposit and over 40 years of experience developing mining projects from the greenfield stage to production.
In my 22 years’ experience of drilling in Greenland, I have never seen a core sample quite like this. I am anxiously awaiting the assay results.
Gregory Barnes, Founder, Tanbreez Project
The primary goals of the current drilling program are to increase the throughput target from 0.5 million tons per year to 3 million tons per year and to drill core samples for petrological testing and geological analysis to convert the mineral resource from indicated to indicated status.
Critical Metals Corp is progressing toward completing a thorough feasibility study and going through an SK-1300 evaluation. After the drilling program, the company will start a percussion drilling program to identify the mineralization in the chosen areas, drill twin holes on multiple targets to meet QAQC requirements, and successfully test the updated geophysical model, thereby strengthening its project development plan.
Considerable advancements have already been made regarding the asset's pre-operational tasks. Four years ago, after thorough research, Tanbreez was granted a key exploitation license.
Apart from the 14 drill holes allocated for the program, 414 drill holes and over 366,000 tests have been carried out, offering an extensive database on the geology, geochemistry, and distribution of rare earth elements in the deposit.
Extensive bulk testing, weighing around 709 tons, emphasizes the asset’s noteworthy magnitude and the extent of the work that has already been finished.
About The Project
Critical Metals Corp now holds 42 % of the Tanbreez Project, which is strategically positioned in Southern Greenland with easy access to major transportation routes. The company has previously stated aspirations to acquire a majority shareholding.
Tanbreez is one of the world’s largest known rare earth deposits, with an estimated reserve of 4.7 billion tons, which includes 980 million tons of the rare earth mineral eudialyte. Tanbreez stands out for its high concentration of heavy rare earth elements, which account for more than 25 % of the resource.