Fig. 4: Gravity survey imagery at Eclipse Metals\u2019 EL24808 tenement, known as Cusack\u2019s Bore<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nA desktop review of the Rock Hill project highlights the scant amount of exploration undertaken across this historic copper field in the past 50 years. The Northern Territory (NT) Department of Mines\u2019 documents show a small tonnage of high-grade copper ore extracted from the field in the 1960s, whilst the NT Geological Survey (NTGS) conducted the only significant exploration in the 1970s.<\/p>\n
The NTGS work programme consisted of mapping, sampling and eight diamond drill holes around 500m of strike along the main Rock Hill prospect returning the intersections reported above. The tenure has yet to be tested utilising modern exploration techniques representing a blank canvas for future base and precious metal discoveries.<\/p>\n
Eclipse Metals is seeking Native Title and government approvals to commence exploration at Rock Hill whilst planning an airborne electromagnetic survey to identify priority targets for future drill testing.<\/p>\n
With the company planning its next steps at Yuendi\/Rock Hill and first-pass drilling already divulging a wealth of mineralisation, Eclipse looks to have a prime position in the Arunta Block.<\/p>\n
Eclipse now has the challenge of delineating an extensive ore system at Rock Hill. However, with initial studies indicating the silver-copper trend may extend over more than 10km of strike, the company looks to have plenty of runway to make significant discovery in this underexplored NT terrane.<\/p>\n
Shallow U-V Sr Mineralisation delineated in the Ngalia Basin Project<\/h3>\n Elsewhere across Ngalia Basin tenements, Eclipse has delineated shallow uranium, vanadium-strontium mineralisation from RAB drilling results at Mt Wedge Station and Rabbit Bore areas in its Ngalia East tenement and plans to complete initial reconnaissance drilling at two tenements; Cusack\u2019s Bore and Ngalia North, to follow up uranium-vanadium-bearing paleochannels indicated in a geophysical survey. Cusack\u2019s Bore is about 10km from the Bigrlyi uranium deposit managed by Energy Metals.<\/p>\n
\u201cEclipse holds approximately 9,020sqkm of quality uranium exploration interests in the Northern Territory proximal to known uranium deposits. Results from historical exploration highlight the diverse nature of the Eclipse Metals mineral exploration assets in tune with the growing demand for Green Energy,\u201d Popal said.<\/p>\n
On its Ngalia East tenement, Eclipse has delineated seven untested target zones based on interpreted radiometric data. These targets present opportunities for substantial exploration upside for deeper mineralisation. The previous drilling programme only tested near-surface mineralisation with holes to an average depth of only 8.3m and the maximum depth of 16m.<\/p>\n
Eclipse has progressed negotiations with the Central Land Council to assist with preparing an exploration agreement with the Traditional Owners. Once an agreement is reached, the company will commence exploration.<\/p>\n
Eclipse has already assessed the reprocessed and re-interpreted available geophysical data, which targets particular radiometric anomalies for further RAB drilling in the mineralised zones and infill drilling of the Central and Western section of the exploration tenement area.<\/p>\n
Uranium prices have bounced off recent lows and could be headed higher on the back of surging worldwide demand for green energy. New mine supply is on the radar of international power companies, and Australia continues to be seen among the top jurisdictions for long-term, reliable production demanded by utilities.<\/p>\n
\u201cEclipse is well-positioned to take advantage of the evolving uranium sector with its diverse Australian portfolio of mineral interests and, in particular, the company\u2019s extensive uranium portfolio in the NT, including the Devil\u2019s Elbow and Cusack Bore,\u201d Popal said.<\/p>\n
Devil\u2019s Elbow prospect<\/h3>\n The Devil\u2019s Elbow prospect is situated near a major shear zone on the northern side of McArthur Basin, encroaching on the Pine Creek Oregon and on the Ranger geological fault line between the Alligator River and Goomedeer River.<\/p>\n
Devil\u2019s Elbow was discovered by Uranerz Australia in the late 1970s and early 80s and further explored by uranium giant Cameco between 2002 and 2008. Samples from shallow trenching yielded high-grade uranium of up to 5.8%, plus precious metal assays, including up to 31.8 g\/t gold and 28.02 g\/t palladium.<\/p>\n
\u201cBoth Uranerz and Cameco could see there was something there [at Devil\u2019s Elbow] and delineated the target zone, but they only had limited access to the ground for drilling. We were fortunate to pick it up from a local prospector who was very close to the Traditional Owners,\u201d Popal said.<\/p>\n
The Eclipse tenements straddle the Ranger Fault and cover areas to the South of the fault previously not accessible for exploration.<\/p>\n
Since 2013, Eclipse Metals has conducted extensive and detailed historical data review over the Devil\u2019s Elbow area and its surrounding tenements and delineated several new drill targets South of the Ranger Fault, which warrant significant follow-up exploration activity.<\/p>\n
These anomalous structural zones are displayed in red, yellow and green patches on the radiometrics map, (see Fig. 5, below).<\/p>\nFig. 5: Radiometric anomalies surrounding Eclipse Metals\u2019 Devils\u2019 Elbow Prospect<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThose anomalies were never explored because Cameco was not able to access that area.<\/p>\n
Cameco and Rio Tinto<\/a> both believe that somewhere within that area, there is potential for a monster of a project \u2013 such as another Ranger or Nabarlek. Cameco delineated a conceptual target but it was never drill tested.<\/p>\nNow that Eclipse Metals has secured a lifetime agreement to explore and mine at the Devil\u2019s Elbow prospect, the company aims to execute a work programme in 2021\/2022, including detailed exploration, not just for uranium, but also for gold and palladium across the tenement area.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe plan to pick up on Cameco\u2019s geophysical results and expand on the anomalies towards the South. Subsequent to that, there are some clear target areas which we can go out and drill. The important thing for us is to develop existing geophysical and geological mapping to delineate further targets,\u201d Popal said.<\/p>\n
Eclipse Metals received additional geophysical data on the Devil\u2019s Elbow prospect that was not available until released by Cameco in February 2020. This extensive data-set reveals several untested targets that Eclipse will incorporate with its existing data and mapping over this year.<\/p>\n
A geologist\u2019s heaven in the Northern Territory<\/h3>\n In the West Arnhem Land region of the NT, East of Darwin, Eclipse is focused on several uranium, gold, and palladium prospective tenements. These prospects are located within the Alligator Rivers Uranium Province (ARUP), an area that Popal describes as \u2018a geologist\u2019s heaven\u2019.<\/p>\n
An increased understanding of the role of nuclear energy in a low carbon world over recent years has seen more investors looking for uranium exploration opportunities. After listing with these projects in 2011, Eclipse has made substantial progress since 2018 in unlocking these for exploration.<\/p>\n
Popal concluded by saying that: \u201cWest Arnhem is a well sought-after area in the exploration mining world. 96% of past uranium production and 95% of known uranium resources in the NT are located in the ARUP.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost of our neighbours are big players such as Cameco and Rio Tinto. They and others have delineated some big uranium deposits like Ranger, the biggest uranium mine in the Southern Hemisphere and Nabarlek \u2013 a world-class, high-grade uranium and copper mine. Having said that, it is still a very pristine area to explore.\u201d<\/p>\n
Please note, this article will also appear in the seventh edition of our\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>quarterly publication<\/strong><\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Eclipse Metals is uncovering the exceptional potential of the unique Ivittuut mine site in Greenland, which it acquired earlier this year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":14070,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[24204],"tags":[24203,529,582,24163,24134,24247,24308,24185],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Greenland mine provides unique green opportunity with rare Earth minerals<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n