Samples from ARC Confirm up to 99.8% Native Copper

RNS Number : 6505V
GreenX Metals Limited
11 August 2022
 

 

GreenX Metals Limited

NEWS RELEASE 11 August 2022

LABORATORY ANALYSIS OF HISTORICAL SAMPLES FROM ARC CONFIRMS UP TO 99.8% PURE NATIVE COPPER

 

·     Laboratory XRF analysis of native copper samples from the ARC Project in Greenland show high purity consistently over 99% copper

· Analysis also confirmed the presence of silver in one sample, and no significant deleterious elements in any of the three analysed historical samples

· Three native copper samples were collected in an area spanning 30km from the Discovery Zone, Neergaard Dal, and Neergaard South prospects within ARC

·     Current field work program now underway, with results to be released as they develop over the coming months

 

GreenX Metals Limited (GreenX or Company) and its joint-venture (JV) partner Greenfields Exploration Ltd (Greenfields) are pleased to announce the results of preliminary analysis on three historical samples of native copper nodules from the ARC Project (ARC or the Project) in Greenland. The samples were obtained from a recently opened government geological storage facility in Copenhagen. Three native copper samples found at Discovery Zone, Neergaard Dal, and Neergaard South within ARC were subject to advanced micro-XRF scanning, a more precise and comprehensive technology when compared to more common portable XRFs. The best analysis result was for a sample found immediately south of the Discovery Zone, which indicated median copper purity of 99.8%, with 255 g/t silver, 0.004% antimony and 0.000% arsenic. The samples from Neergard Dal and Neergard South indicated copper purity of 99.7% and 99.4% respectively, with low to no deleterious elements detected in any of the samples. The high quality of the analysed samples is comparable to blister copper, a product typically produced by smelting prior to being sent to a refinery.

Dr Jon Bell, Greenfields' Technical Director commented: "We were confident that the native copper would be rich with low levels of deleterious elements, but we didn't expect the results to be so spectacular. The non-destructive nature of this methodology means that we can start collecting metallurgical as well as grade information from early in the exploration cycle."

 

BACKROUND

In June 2022, the JV was granted access to recently constructed government geological storage facilities in Copenhagen, Denmark.  These facilities store multiple historical samples from the ARC Project, largely collected in 1978 and 1979, from an area spanning 30km from the Discovery Zone, Neergaard Dal, and Neergaard South prospects.

Three samples of native copper i.e., near-pure copper metal found in nature, were identified:

· native copper from immediately south of the Discovery Zone prospect,

· fissure copper from the central Neergaard Dal prospect, and

· native copper from Neergaard South prospect.

Notably, the existence of the samples from the Neergaard Dal and Neergaard South prospects was not previously known in the historical data set.

Similarities to Keweenaw Peninsula

The ARC native coppers are of particular interest to the Company, given the potential for them to be geologically analogous to the Keweenaw Peninsula (Michigan, USA).  The native copper at Keweenaw was extremely enriched, almost pure, with very little in the way of deleterious elements. Due to the high purity of the historical samples recovered, the Company considers these results to be reminiscent of the Keweenaw mineralisation, and it looks forward to future exploration results to substantiate this indication.

The main by-product element found with the Keweenaw copper was silver, an element that is also recorded in the historical assays from ARC, and the currently analysed Discovery Zone sample containing 255g/t Ag. Notably, the records of the silver at Keweenaw are incomplete as it is reported that much of it was misappropriated by the miners, giving testament to the silver size and quality. The historical mining companies at Keweenaw were instead focussed on the almost pure native copper, that in some cases weighed hundreds of kilograms. These extreme native copper occurrences were hosted in 'fissures' (faults).  Significantly, the native copper sample from Neergaard Dal is hosted within a fault, giving the potential for similarly intense mineralisation.

Results of Micro-XRF Analysis

ARC's mineralisation is thought to be the product of multiple mineralisation events, an early native-copper event and a later copper sulphide event. Understanding the quality of the native copper was the prudent focus of this preliminary analysis. The native copper sample from the Discovery Zone was partially polished and sent to an independent university facility, with the other two samples being sent to a consulting firm for micro-XRF analysis.  This advanced technology was used to perform scans within which more focussed point analyses were performed.  Like the well-known portable XRF units, micro-XRF units use X-ray fluorescence to analyse the elemental composition of a sample.  However, micro-XRF is an order of magnitude more precise than portable XRF and it can also perform scans over much larger areas - giving it a significant advantage in both precision and scale.  Micro-XRF is sensitive enough to analyse down 0.025mm, whereas the more portable XRF units are limited to no better than 3.0mm, some 120 times coarser. The result of the scanning is that highly precise elemental maps can be generated.  As a cross-check, a copper alloy-calibrated handheld portable XRF unit was used to perform spot checks.  This specially calibrated united produced similar results to the high powered micro-XRF units.

This non-destructive technology can give elemental, as well as mineralogical information. To determine the purity of the native copper, only elemental analysis is necessary.  The statistics of the scans are shown in Tables 1 to 3. This information is useful for guiding future, more quantitative work programs focussed on the native copper quality that may include assaying.  Additional statistical tables are contained in the Appendices A to C.

FUTURE WORK

The results of the micro-XRF analysis are supportive of the potential quality of the mineralisation at the ARC project and will inform the current field program. The current field program incorporates geochemical sampling, portable core drilling, and geophysics at high-priority targets within ARC. The Discovery Zone, where the highest-purity analysed sample was recovered, is the highest priority exploration target. GreenX expects it will be in the position to release substantial further news flow in relation to this project across the coming months.

ABOUT THE ARCTIC RIFT COPPER PROJECT

ARC is an exploration joint venture between GreenX and Greenfields.  GreenX can earn 80% of ARC by spending A$10 M by October 2026. The ARC Project is targeting large scale copper in multiple settings across a 5,774 km2 Special Exploration Licence in eastern North Greenland. The area has been historically underexplored yet is prospective for copper, forming part of the newly identified Kiffaanngissuseq metallogenic province.  This province is thought to be analogous to the Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan, USA, which contained a pre-mining endowment of +7 Mt of copper contained in sulphides and 8.9 Mt of native copper.  Like Keweenaw, ARC is known to contain at surface, high-grade copper sulphides, 'fissure' native copper, and native copper contained in what were formerly gas bubbles and layers between lava flows.

Table 1 : Elemental Statistics of the Scanned Native Copper from the Discovery Zone

Elements

Cu

Ag

Zn

As

Sb

S

Cr

Mn

Fe

 

Units

%

g/t

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

 

Median

99.83

255

0.01

0.0000

0.0036

0.01

0.02

0.00

0.03

 

Average (arithmetic)

99.78

319

0.01

0.0058

0.0121

0.01

0.09

0.01

0.04

 

Max

99.93

1,397

0.15

0.0492

0.0817

0.05

0.69

0.14

0.17

 

Min

99.2

-

0.01

0.0000

0.0000

0.00

0.01

0.00

0.01

 

Standard deviation

0.15

302

0.02

0.0115

0.0166

0.01

0.16

0.02

0.02

 

Skew

-2.19

1

8.21

2.40

1.74

1.20

2.75

5.57

4.20

 

Kurtosis

4.36

2

68.34

5.13

3.48

0.70

6.73

35.62

26.14

 

 

This table present the partial suite of the elemental responses with reduced interpretational filtering. It may be that some of the spectral responses are artificial artefacts.  For the silver, arsenic and antimony, the Company considers the responses to be realistic given what is known about the style of mineralisation, and the historical assay data.

Table 2: Elemental Statistics of the Scanned Native Copper from Neergaard Dal

Elements

Cu

Al

Si

S

Units

%

%

%

%

Median

99.69

0.20

0.10

0.01

Average (arithmetic)

99.61

0.33

0.95

0.03

Max

99.74

0.33

0.95

0.03

Min

98.69

0.18

0.06

0.00

Standard deviation

0.24

0.03

0.22

0.01

Skew

-3.14

3.36

3.06

0.89

Kurtosis

9.74

14.02

8.9

-0.47

 

This table presents a filtered suite of the relevant elemental responses based on the consultant's judgment that focussed on the most certain spectral responses. 

Table 3: Elemental Statistics of the Scanned Native Copper from Neergaard South

Elements

Cu

Al

Si

S

Units

%

%

%

%

Median

99.40

0.23

0.34

0.02

Average (arithmetic)

99.40

0.23

0.34

0.02

Max

99.59

0.32

0.51

0.05

Min

99.13

0.19

0.19

0.01

Standard deviation

0.15

0.04

0.11

0.01

Skew

-0.32

1.25

0.09

1.91

Kurtosis

1.2

-1.27

4.00

2.16

 

This table presents a filtered suite of the relevant elemental responses based on the consultant's judgment that focussed on the most certain spectral responses.

 

Forward Looking Statement

This release may include forward-looking statements, which may be identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "projects", "plans", and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on GreenX's expectations and beliefs concerning future events. Forward looking statements are necessarily subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the control of GreenX, which could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. GreenX makes no undertaking to subsequently update or revise the forward-looking statements made in this release, to reflect the circumstances or events after the date of that release.

Competent Persons Statement

Information in this announcement that relates to Exploration Results is based on information compiled by Dr Jonathan Bell, a Competent Person who is a member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists. Dr Bell is the Executive Director (Technical) of Greenfields Exploration Limited and holds an indirect interest in performance rights in GreenX.  Dr Bell has sufficient experience relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and the activity being undertaken, to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the 'Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves'.  Dr Bell consents to the inclusion in this announcement of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears.

 

To view this announcement in full, including all illustrations and figures, please refer to www.greenxmetals.com .

 

 

APPENDIX A: MICRO XRF ELEMENTAL CONCENTRATIONS from the DIscovery Zone Sample

 

Bruker Nano GmbH, Germany













M4 Tornado













6/9/2022













Quantification results













Mass percent (%)













Date:













Spectrum


  0.02












Cu

Ag

Co

Ni

Au

Zn

As

Sb

S

Cr

Mn

Fe

Median

99.83%

  255

0.01%

0.00%

  - 

0.01%

0.0000%

0.0036%

0.01%

0.02%

0.00%

0.03%

Average (arithmetic)

99.78%

  319

0.01%

0.00%

  31

0.01%

0.0058%

0.0121%

0.01%

0.09%

0.01%

0.04%

Max

99.93%

  1,397

0.03%

0.03%

  575

0.15%

0.0492%

0.0817%

0.05%

0.69%

0.14%

0.17%

Min

99.25%

  - 

0.01%

0.00%

  - 

0.01%

0.0000%

0.0000%

0.00%

0.01%

0.00%

0.01%

SD

0.15%

  302

0.00%

0.00%

  90

0.02%

0.0115%

0.0166%

0.01%

0.16%

0.02%

0.02%

Skew

-  2.19

  1

  3.52

  7.01

  4

  8.21

  2.40

  1.74

  1.20

  2.75

  5.57

  4.20

Kurtosis

  4.36

  2

  21.12

  51.43

  21

  68.34

  5.13

  3.48

  0.70

  6.73

  35.62

  26.14














Zn_and_normal_areas 82

99.48053

0

0.010484

0

0

0.009948

0.001521198

0

0.001635

0.44602

0

0.049864

Zn_and_normal_areas 81

99.71564

0.06331587

0.008421

0

0

0.009972

0

0.0063919

0.035094

0.085398

0.055051

0.020712

Zn_and_normal_areas 80

99.52458

0.12359591

0.009276

0

0.000284

0.009952

0

0.0304267

0.008835

0.138741

0.143506

0.010806

Zn_and_normal_areas 79

99.25101

0

0.009219

0

0

0.009925

0.007330727

0.0470599

0.016861

0.618008

0

0.040588

Zn_and_normal_areas 78

99.90128

3.6213E-05

0.00896

0

0

0.00999

0

0.0341853

0.011119

0.010896

0

0.023538

Zn_and_normal_areas 77

99.45732

0.01775047

0.00948

0

0

0.009946

0.000337071

0

0.011012

0.462366

0

0.031793

Zn_and_normal_areas 76

99.67852

0.09225785

0.013582

0

0.005091

0.009968

0

0

0.02642

0.073547

0.058492

0.042123

Zn_and_normal_areas 75

99.84204

0

0.015345

0

0.009336

0.009984

0

0

0.022632

0.028685

0.03023

0.041752

Zn_and_normal_areas 74

99.8431

0.00783151

0.009072

0

0

0.009984

0.038761831

0.0046371

0.044728

0.01695

0

0.024935

Zn_and_normal_areas 73

99.84692

0.04218033

0.010165

0

0

0.009985

0

0.0188927

0.03124

0.01062

0.000691

0.029303

Zn_and_normal_areas 72

99.90603

0.01571432

0.009837

0

0

0.009991

0

0.0094404

0.016629

0.009923

0

0.022434

Zn_and_normal_areas 71

99.75626

0.02985474

0.008658

0

0

0.009976

0

0.0226209

0.004268

0.127337

0

0.041027

Zn_and_normal_areas 70

99.8015

0.0353914

0.010177

0

0.002915

0.00998

0

0.0150694

0.03899

0.026203

0.007096

0.052681

Zn_and_normal_areas 69

99.8619

0.01669255

0.013167

0

0

0.009986

0.000378565

0

0.032389

0.019832

0.004846

0.040807

Zn_and_normal_areas 68

99.88677

0.02307305

0.011092

0

0

0.009989

0

0.0140025

0.022408

0.00834

0

0.024321

Zn_and_normal_areas 67

99.82003

0.06318373

0.012787

0

0

0.009982

0

0

0.020148

0.030262

0.010989

0.032615

Zn_and_normal_areas 66

99.76601

0.02251341

0.012644

0

0.027953

0.009977

0.006123192

0

0.03616

0.04323

0

0.075391

Zn_and_normal_areas 65

99.81774

0.06307957

0.01136

0

0

0.009982

0.013961435

0.00337

0.003299

0.010652

0.001138

0.065421

Zn_and_normal_areas 64

99.78699

0.08436548

0.009984

0

0.006395

0.009979

0

0

0.014478

0.030448

0.012993

0.044365

Zn_and_normal_areas 63

99.83924

0.0156951

0.011816

0

0

0.009984

0.02312325

0

0.037036

0.018172

0.00783

0.037103

Zn_and_normal_areas 62

99.84961

0.03200754

0.014082

0

0

0.009985

0

0.0092223

0.026827

0.013835

0.005396

0.039034

Zn_and_normal_areas 61

99.82637

0.030533

0.011156

0

0.000194

0.009983

0.005037741

0

0.034211

0.021924

0

0.060587

Zn_and_normal_areas 60

99.74062

0.02390928

0.008227

0

0.057468

0.009974

0.001289064

0.0511308

0.020326

0.035409

0

0.051646

Zn_and_normal_areas 59

99.83234

0.06254426

0.011053

0

0

0.009983

0.000338353

0

0.011131

0.015718

0.001633

0.05526

Zn_and_normal_areas 58

99.86079

0.01900527

0.010048

0

0.003785

0.009986

0

0.019093

0.000874

0.028078

0.006088

0.042249

Zn_and_normal_areas 57

99.85288

0.02023063

0.013415

0

0

0.009985

0

0

0.053415

0.008679

0.000227

0.041169

Zn_and_normal_areas 56

99.8271

0.04184688

0.014881

0

0

0.009983

0

0.006414

0.033573

0.015562

0.007759

0.042877

Zn_and_normal_areas 55

99.87162

0

0.010795

0

0.012857

0.009987

0.000398998

0

0.030385

0.020978

0

0.042983

Zn_and_normal_areas 54

99.85592

0

0.010995

0

0.00962

0.009986

0

0.035722

0.015101

0.02058

0

0.042077

Zn_and_normal_areas 53

99.7324

0.10096725

0.008895

0

0.007784

0.009973

0

0.0254151

0.014375

0.036228

0.020755

0.043208

Zn_and_normal_areas 52

99.86848

0.025461

0.010428

0

0

0.009987

0.023395734

0

0.001085

0.013272

0.002092

0.045796

Zn_and_normal_areas 51

99.87737

0.04634072

0.014392

0

0

0.009988

0.003344793

0

0

0.009408

0.000934

0.038219

Zn_and_normal_areas 50

99.88344

0.02850463

0.013358

0

0

0.009988

0

0

0.024008

0.010313

0.000669

0.029716

Zn_and_normal_areas 49

99.87994

0.03075256

0.013375

0

0

0.009988

0

0.0059852

0.012563

0.016549

0

0.03085

Zn_and_normal_areas 48

99.81195

0.05604722

0.013055

0

0.016996

0.009981

0

0.0125456

0.008564

0.025869

0

0.044987

Zn_and_normal_areas 47

99.89405

0.01605605

0.009142

0

0

0.009989

0.029504771

0

0

0.009565

0

0.031696

Zn_and_normal_areas 46

99.78677

0.01618082

0.012265

0

0

0.009979

0.049239073

0.0817482

0.00452

0.009064

0

0.030234

Zn_and_normal_areas 45

99.87124

0.03775575

0.012736

0

0

0.009987

0.008592669

0

0.004497

0.013733

0.00127

0.040185

Zn_and_normal_areas 44

99.86086

0.0264772

0.015158

0

0

0.009986

0

0.0217187

0.003496

0.024725

0.003606

0.033971

Zn_and_normal_areas 43

99.76525

0.01645323

0.01558

0

0

0.009977

0

0.0035768

0.012742

0.138397

0.001232

0.036791

Zn_and_normal_areas 42

99.90559

0

0.013961

0

0

0.009991

0.005803438

0.0033254

0.003414

0.024058

0

0.033859

Zn_and_normal_areas 41

99.91932

0

0.007057

0

0

0.009992

0.001537063

0

0.006565

0.009309

0

0.046222

Zn_and_normal_areas 40

99.84409

0.06083985

0.00731

0

0

0.009984

0.00064345

0.0363117

0.003111

0.011066

0

0.026647

Zn_and_normal_areas 39

99.87593

0.03868358

0.010721

0

0

0.009988

0.006752162

0.0019693

0.001308

0.013344

0

0.04131

Zn_and_normal_areas 38

99.87124

0.00402956

0.014962

0

0

0.009987

0.030004727

0.028366

0.000957

0.014245

0

0.026204

Zn_and_normal_areas 37

99.8392

0.03360156

0.014857

0

0

0.009984

0

0

0.014526

0.044884

0.002347

0.0406

Zn_and_normal_areas 36

99.81678

0.07913394

0.011308

0

0.001985

0.009982

0.004332156

0

0.008964

0.026129

0

0.04139

Zn_and_normal_areas 35

99.8946

0.02586648

0.008164

0

0

0.009989

0.004161093

0

0.008346

0.010318

0

0.038559

Zn_and_normal_areas 34

99.85317

0.02853613

0.009119

0

0

0.028974

0

0.0239332

0.002602

0.009297

0

0.044373

Zn_and_normal_areas 33

99.93285

0

0.010464

0

0

0.009993

0

0

0.003624

0.01337

0

0.029694

Zn_and_normal_areas 32

99.88793

0.00877244

0.012976

0

0

0.009989

0.019661017

0.0043742

0.005394

0.021752

0

0.029154

Zn_and_normal_areas 31

99.80386

0.01620226

0.012345

0

0.016344

0.00998

0.010740191

0.0540501

0.009964

0.032916

0

0.033595

Zn_and_normal_areas 30

99.66744

0.06617634

0.012454

0

0.036268

0.009967

0

0

0.01351

0.028296

0

0.165888

Zn_and_normal_areas 29

99.87499

0

0.01452

0

0

0.009987

0.03840998

0.0182549

0.004655

0.011028

0

0.028156

Zn_and_normal_areas 28

99.80579

0

0.013234

0

0

0.149768

0.000162021

0.0010699

0.000884

0.010086

0

0.019003

Zn_and_normal_areas 27

99.88963

0

0.014224

0

0

0.009989

0.046067139

0.0012819

0.000302

0.013108

0

0.025401

Zn_and_normal_areas 26

99.89194

0.02209734

0.011488

0

0

0.009989

0.000993312

0.0058203

0.002896

0.02574

0

0.029032

Zn_and_normal_areas 25

99.82937

0.03733356

0.008376

0

0

0.009983

0.002349026

0.0317478

0.009663

0.036347

0

0.034836

Zn_and_normal_areas 24

99.84828

0

0.032538

0

0

0.009985

0

0

0.011661

0.033168

0

0.064368

Ni_rich_area 22

99.82824

0.05931445

0.008657

0

0

0.009983

0.000943875

0.0221122

0.008672

0.024681

0.000971

0.036425

Ni_rich_area 21

99.88652

0.04176941

0.010882

0

0

0.009989

0

0.0069708

0.000809

0.01604

0.000777

0.026246

Ni_rich_area 20

99.73259

0.072822

0.009466

0

0

0.009973

0

0.0351901

0

0.112203

0

0.027752

Ni_rich_area 19

99.77885

0.0404977

0.010008

0

0

0.009978

0

0

0.000882

0.133512

0

0.026268

Ni_rich_area 18

99.76725

0.05979761

0.008882

0

0

0.009977

0

0.020374

6.78E-05

0.108896

0

0.024753

Ni_rich_area 17

99.81571

0.01451649

0.007213

0

0.004552

0.009982

0

0.0207233

0.002822

0.094087

0.001534

0.028857

Ni_rich_area 16

99.53289

0.1396942

0.009442

0

0

0.009953

0

0.0239929

0.004307

0.250783

0

0.028937

Ni_rich_area 15

99.68706

0.02433213

0.01075

0

0

0.009969

0

0.0407525

0.007317

0.193532

0

0.026291

Ni_rich_area 14

99.77227

0

0.009695

0

0

0.009977

0

0

0.005771

0.162012

0.023295

0.016982

Ni_rich_area 13

99.35286

0.0025755

0.011904

0.013061

0

0.009935

0.009626373

0

0

0.584031

0

0.016005

Ni_rich_area 12

99.25542

0

0.012297

0.00032

0

0.009926

0.014840959

0

0.001214

0.689209

0

0.016779

Ni_rich_area 11

99.29155

0.03738731

0.012257

0.030765

0

0.009929

0.001444255

0

0.004862

0.586412

0

0.025391

 

APPENDIX A: ELMENTAL CORRELATIONS for the Discovery Zone SAMPLE

 

R

Cu

Ag

Co

Ni

Au

Zn

As

Sb

S

Cr

Mn

Fe

Cu

  1.00

-  0.14

  0.11

-  0.49

-  0.04

  0.03

  0.08

-  0.09

  0.11

-  0.94

-  0.20

  0.05

Ag


1.00

-  0.22

-  0.03

  0.04

-  0.13

-  0.30

  0.07

  0.00

-  0.09

  0.45

  0.12

Co



  1.00

  0.03

-  0.06

  0.05

  0.08

-  0.25

  0.07

-  0.09

-  0.07

  0.18

Ni




  1.00

-  0.05

-  0.02

-  0.03

-  0.12

-  0.12

  0.51

-  0.05

-  0.12

Au





  1.00

-  0.05

-  0.11

  0.20

  0.18

-  0.11

-  0.03

  0.55

Zn






  1.00

-  0.07

-  0.07

-  0.12

-  0.07

-  0.04

-  0.11

As







  1.00

  0.16

-  0.10

-  0.06

-  0.13

-  0.13

Sb







 

  1.00

-  0.15

-  0.01

  0.03

-  0.16

S









  1.00

-  0.20

  0.13

  0.18

Cr










  1.00

  0.01

-  0.19

Mn











  1.00

-  0.17

Fe












1.00

 

 

R2

Cu

Ag

Co

Ni

Au

Zn

As

Sb

S

Cr

Mn

Fe

Cu

  1.00

  0.02

  0.01

  0.24

  0.00

  0.00

  0.01

  0.01

  0.01

  0.89

  0.04

  0.00

Ag


  1.00

  0.05

  0.00

  0.00

  0.02

  0.09

  0.00

  0.00

  0.01

  0.21

  0.01

Co



  1.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.01

  0.06

  0.00

  0.01

  0.00

  0.03

Ni




  1.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.01

  0.01

  0.26

  0.00

  0.02

Au





  1.00

  0.00

  0.01

  0.04

  0.03

  0.01

  0.00

  0.30

Zn






  1.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.02

  0.00

  0.00

  0.01

As







  1.00

  0.02

  0.01

  0.00

  0.02

  0.02

Sb








  1.00

  0.02

  0.00

  0.00

  0.03

S









  1.00

  0.04

  0.02

  0.03

Cr










  1.00

  0.00

  0.03

Mn











  1.00

  0.03

Fe











 

  1.00

 

 

 

The elemental correlations are from the Discovery Zone native copper sample.  The full suite of results was not provided by the consultant for the Neergaard Dal or Neergaard South samples.

 

APPENDIX B: MICRO XRF ELEMENTAL CONCENTRATIONS from the Neergaard Dal FIssure copper sample #233852

 

Bruker Nano GmbH, Germany
















M4 Tornado












Quantification results







Mass percent (%)







Date:


2/08/2022





Spectrum

Cu

Al

Si

S

Ti

Rh

Median

99.69

0.20

0.10

0.01

0.00


Average (arithmetic)

99.61

0.21

0.17

0.01

0.00

0.00

Max

99.74

0.33

0.95

0.03

0.00


Min

98.69

0.18

0.06

0.00

0.00


SD

0.24

0.03

0.22

0.01

0.00


Skew

-3.14

3.36

3.06

0.89

4.46


Kurtosis

9.74

14.02

8.90

-0.47

21.26


233852-25.spx

99.67

0.19

0.11

0.03

0.00

0.00

233852-24.spx

99.64

0.22

0.11

0.03

0.00

0.00

233852-23.spx

99.68

0.20

0.10

0.02

0.00

0.00

233852-22.spx

99.69

0.20

0.10

0.01

0.00

0.00

233852-21.spx

99.71

0.21

0.08

0.01

0.00

0.00

233852-20.spx

99.48

0.23

0.28

0.00

0.00

0.00

233852-19.spx

98.69

0.33

0.95

0.03

0.00

0.00

233852-18.spx

99.62

0.22

0.15

0.02

0.00

0.00

233852-17.spx

98.98

0.23

0.77

0.01

0.00

0.00

233852-16.spx

99.70

0.18

0.10

0.02

0.00

0.00

233852-15.spx

99.71

0.20

0.07

0.03

0.00

0.00

233852-14.spx

99.68

0.20

0.11

0.01

0.00

0.00

233852-13.spx

99.70

0.20

0.08

0.01

0.00

0.00

233852-12.spx

99.74

0.19

0.06

0.01

0.00

0.00

233852-11.spx

99.74

0.20

0.06

0.01

0.00

0.00

233852-10.spx

99.72

0.21

0.07

0.01

0.00

0.00

233852-09.spx

99.73

0.18

0.08

0.01

0.00

0.00

233852-08.spx

99.70

0.21

0.07

0.01

0.00

0.00

233852-07.spx

99.74

0.18

0.06

0.01

0.00

0.00

233852-06.spx

99.63

0.20

0.15

0.02

0.00

0.00

233852-05.spx

99.72

0.18

0.08

0.01

0.00

0.00

233852-04.spx

99.54

0.21

0.24

0.01

0.00

0.00

233852-03.spx

99.69

0.21

0.09

0.01

0.00

0.00

233852-02.spx

99.70

0.20

0.09

0.01

0.00

0.00

233852-01.spx

99.66

0.21

0.13

0.01

0.00

0.00

 

APPENDIX C: MICRO XRF ELEMENTAL CONCENTRATIONS from the Neergaard SOUTH copper sample #233852

Bruker Nano GmbH, Germany
















M4 Tornado












Quantification results







Mass percent (%)







Date:


2/08/2022





Spectrum

Cu

Al

Si

S

Ti

Rh

Median

99.40

0.23

0.34

0.02

0.00

0.00

Average (arithmetic)

99.59

0.32

0.51

0.05

0.00

0.00

Max

99.13

0.19

0.19

0.01

0.00

0.00

Min

0.15

0.04

0.11

0.01

0.00

0.00

SD

-0.32

1.25

0.09

1.91

1.27

1.27

Skew

-0.89

1.20

-1.27

4.00

2.16

2.16








233950-13

99.40

0.21

0.37

0.02

0.00

0.00

233950-12

99.39

0.23

0.36

0.02

0.00

0.00

233950-11

99.44

0.24

0.31

0.02

0.00

0.00

233950-10

99.57

0.19

0.21

0.02

0.00

0.00

233950-09

99.53

0.21

0.24

0.02

0.00

0.00

233950-08

99.46

0.20

0.33

0.02

0.00

0.00

233950-07

99.23

0.24

0.51

0.02

0.00

0.00

233950-06

99.29

0.23

0.45

0.03

0.00

0.00

233950-05

99.58

0.19

0.21

0.02

0.00

0.00

233950-04

99.23

0.29

0.45

0.03

0.00

0.00

233950-03

99.37

0.25

0.34

0.04

0.00

0.00

233950-02

99.59

0.20

0.19

0.01

0.00

0.00

233950-01

99.13

0.32

0.50

0.05

0.00

0.00

 

 

 

 

APPENDIX D: Point scans using a copper-alloy calibrated handheld XRF

 

Sample ID

Application

Method

Cu

Cu Err

Al

Si

P

S

Ti

Cr

Mn

Fe

Co

Ni

233950 Neergaard Dal

Alloys 2

LE Copper

99.6497

0.164

0.3185

< LOD

< LOD

0.0014

< LOD

< LOD

0.0065

< LOD

< LOD

< LOD



Zn

As

Se

Zr

Nb

Ag

Cd

Sn

Sb

Te

Pb

Bi



< LOD

< LOD

< LOD

0.0069

< LOD

< LOD

< LOD

< LOD

< LOD

< LOD

< LOD

< LOD
















Sample ID

Application

Method

Cu

Cu Err

Al

Si

P

S

Ti

Cr

Mn

Fe

Co

Ni

233852 Neergaard South

Alloys 2

LE Copper

99.1317

0.1709

0.3047

0.2298

< LOD

0.0012

0.0268

0.0255

0.0061

0.0335

< LOD

< LOD



Zn

As

Se

Zr

Nb

Ag

Cd

Sn

Sb

Te

Pb

Bi



< LOD

< LOD

< LOD

< LOD

< LOD

< LOD

< LOD

0.1863

< LOD

< LOD

< LOD

< LOD

 

 

 

 

 

JORC Table 1, section 2: Reporting of Exploration Results

Criteria

Arctic Rift Copper project

Mineral tenement and land tenure status

The Arctic Rift Copper project ('ARC') comprises a single Special Exploration Licence ('MEL-S' 2021-07).  The spatial area of the application is 5,774km2, the boundary of which is defined by the points:

82°3'N, 29°18'W    81°35'N, 26°8'W

82°3'N, 25°41'W    81°30'N, 26°8'W

82°0'N, 25°41'W    81°30'N, 26°54'W

82°0'N, 25°43'W    81°25'N, 26°54'W

81°59'N, 25°43'W    81°25'N, 28°20'W

81°59'N, 25°44'W    81°21'N, 28°20'W

81°58'N, 25°44'W    81°21'N, 29°35'W

81°58'N, 25°46'W    81°19'N, 29°35'W

81°56'N, 25°46'W    81°19'N, 31°0'W

81°56'N, 25°48'W    81°27'N, 31°0'W

81°55'N, 25°48'W    81°27'N, 31°42'W

81°55'N, 25°50'W    81°34'N, 31°42'W

81°53'N, 25°50'W    81°34'N, 32°7'W

81°53'N, 25°52'W    81°51'N, 32°7'W

81°50'N, 25°52'W    81°51'N, 31°0'W

81°50'N, 25°54'W    81°54'N, 31°0'W

81°46'N, 25°54'W    81°54'N, 30°18'W

81°46'N, 25°55'W    81°58'N, 30°18'W

81°35'N, 25°55'W    81°58'N, 29°18'W

 

An MEL-S confers an exclusive right to explore for minerals for three years at a reduced holding cost, provided each licence covers more than 1,000km2.  After three years, the holder of Special Exploration Licence has the right to convert the area, whole or in part, to conventional Exploration Licences.  Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, all licence obligations in Greenland were paused until the end of 2021, such that the MEL-S can convert to a normal licence at the end of 2024.

 

The minimum expenditure obligation for a MEL-S is DKK500/km2 indexed to Danish CPI as of January 1992.  The Greenfields estimates the expenditure requirement will be approximately AUD1,080,000 per annum.  However, the Government has waived all expenditure obligations for 2020 and 2021, and as such, no holding cost of the licence will crystallise until 31 December 2022.  The obligation for 2022 will be calculated on 1 January 2023 based on the area under licence on the preceding day.  Expenditure above the minimum regulatory requirement is carried forward for a maximum of three years.  ARC is in good standing. 

 

There are no third-party royalties or other rights relating to ARC.

Exploration done by other parties

North Greenland was first commercially explored in 1969 and 1972, which identified native copper and copper sulphides in eastern North Greenland.  It wasn't until 1979 and 1980 that more substantive work was performed, this time by the Government. 

 

ARC was subject to commercial exploration by Avannaa Resources Limited ('Avannaa') in 2010 and 2011.  In its first year, Avannaa focussed its work on a small area in the northern part of the licence area known as Neergaard North (and subsequently the Discovery Zone).  This work focussed on historical Government and academic work that had identified highly anomalous copper mineralisation.  In 2010, the work included geochemical soil sampling, rock chipping and trenching of high-grade material associated with NW-SE trending fault breccias.  Based on the success of the 2010 program, Avannaa undertook a much larger regional reconnaissance program in 2011.  This program involved a heli-supported geochemical sampling program over a large area designed to test the copper prospectivity of various stratigraphic positions, as well as extending the length of the 'Discovery Zone' identified in 2010.  Both aspects of this program were successful in that the Discovery Zone was shown to have a minimum strike length of 2km before disappearing undercover.  Certain stratigraphic horizons show copper anomalism over a significant lateral extent.  However, much of Avannaa's work was located to the southeast of the ARC and is now located in a Government-mandated no-go zone for mineral exploration.

Geology

ARC contains a sequence of Mesoproterozoic-aged sandstone dominated sediments belonging to the Independence Fjord Basin, that are intruded by highly altered dolerites and overlain by 1.2km of Mesoproterozoic-aged flood basalts ('Zig-Zag Fm' basalts).  The basalts are overlain by 1.1km of Neoproterozoic-aged (1,000M to 541M years ago) clastic and carbonate sediments belonging to the Hagen Fjord Group.  The lower portion of the Hagen Fjord Group is dominated by sandstones and siltstones, and the upper part by limestone and dolomites.  Based on stream sediment samples, the iron oxide minerals switch from magnetite to the east of ARC, to haematite within ARC, which reflects a change in fluid oxidation state (from reduced to oxidised).  Fluid flow is from east to west which implies that oxidation is a component of the copper dropping out of the solution.  The oxidation of a reduced fluid is consistent with the chemistry required to form native copper, such as that observed in ARC.  The metamorphic grade of the Zig-Zag Fm basalts is of the zeolite facies, and the Hagen Fjord Group sediments show lower grade metamorphism.  There is adequate preservation aside from mechanical erosion.

 

Commercially interesting copper mineralisation occurs in the basalts and Hagen Fjord Group sediments.  The basalts are known to contain in situ native copper, and native copper is found extensively in the surrounding drainage systems.  Significantly, the native copper specimens recovered by the Government in 1979 and 1994, and by Avannaa in 2010 weigh up to 1kg.  These large native copper specimens likely originate from amygdales (gas voids) in the basalt, although native copper occurring in faults is also known to occur within ARC.  Greenfields considers that the age, setting, and mineral composition make the Zig-Zag Fm copper analogous to the copper deposits of the Michigan Upper (Keweenaw) Peninsula and a primary source of copper for the anomalies reported in the overlying sediments.  The fault breccias that transect the basalts and Neoproterozoic sediments are Greenfields interprets these to represent fluid pathways as there are zones of intense potassium alteration within the surrounding quartz dominated sedimentary rocks.  These breccias are up to 25m wide and show copper mineralisation.  The chalcocite, bornite and chalcopyrite copper-bearing minerals are significant as they demonstrate that sulphur has been added into a previously sulphur-undersaturated system.  A source of sulphur is generally considered an important factor in the sediment-hosted copper 'deposit model'.  Other important components of the deposit model are also reported, including pseudomorphed gypsum (a source of sulphur, and copper mobilising salts), hydrogeologic seals, and contrasting oxidation states.  Copper sulphides occur in the predicted geological lithological settings.  The highest copper grades are close to geophysical gravity, magnetic and electromagnetic anomalies.  The ~640 km2 area of geophysical and geochemical anomalism is dubbed the Minik Singularity.

 

The age of the known mineralisation concerns at least two episodes.  Greenfields identifies the Elzevirian Orogeny (c. 1,250Ma) as the likely event associated with the native copper mineralisation in the basalts.  However, the Neoproterozoic-aged sediment-hosted copper sulphides demonstrate that there was a second mineralising event associated with the waning Caledonian Orogeny (c. 390 to 380 Ma).  The Elzevirian and Caledonian orogenies have a similar orientation.  The c. 385 maximum age is supported by the absence of mineralisation known to younger than the Silurian Period (443.8 Ma to 419.2 Ma).  The Silurian is associated with the formation of the Citronen zinc deposit, currently licenced by Ironbark Zinc Ltd.  Greenfields considers Citronen and ARC's copper sulphides to have formed due to the same event.  The known copper and zinc, combined with a Greenfields interpreted geological history, geochronology, and hydrothermal fluid temperatures, to define the +60,000km2 Kiffaanngissuseq Metallogenic Province.

 

The two hydrothermal events that Greenfields interprets to have created the Kiffaanngissuseq Metallogenic Province are distinctly different.  Greenfields considers that the Elzevirian-aged fluids were chemically reduced but enriched in cerium.  This cerium may have triggered anoxic oxidation of the copper-bearing titanomagnetite minerals.  This interpretation is consistent with the observation at Astrup Anomaly, where the sedimentary rocks underneath the mafic appear to be chemically reduced (grey), whereas above the mafic they are oxidised.  This implies that the reduced Elzevirian hydrothermal fluids that emanated from deeper underground and cerium bearing and quite vigorous in their interaction with the mafic rock to produce the intense iron-oxide staining above it.  By comparison, the younger Caledonian hydrothermal fluids may have been oxidised, as at the Discovery Zone there is evidence that the fluids were reduced by pyrite, resulting in the precipitation of copper sulphides.

 

The basal flows of the Zig-Zag Fm basalts show a marked depletion in nickel.  Such a depletion suggests that the nickel may have been deposited into sulphides and, conceptually, as nickel sulphide deposit.  There has been no effective commercial work on testing the nickel sulphide potential.  Pentlandite, a nickel-bearing sulphide, is observed in at least one of the intrusions beneath the basalts.  There is no other evidence upon which the nickel-sulphide prospectivity can be evaluated at this stage.

 

The known copper mineralisation, both sulphide and native, appears to have a structural control.  An independent structural geologist, Dr Mark Munro, conducted a review of ARC and confirmed that there is clear evidence of reverse faulting in an area otherwise dominated by normal faulting that Greenfields observes to correlate with the known mineralisation.  This review was based on satellite imagery, as well as oblique photography of the fjords taken in 1979/1980.  Dr Munro's review also included Greenfields' revised lithological and structural mapping based on the same data, and largely concurred with Greenfields' interpretation relative to the historical mapping.  This reverse faulting does not appear to have been previously reported in the literature.  Furthermore, and new to Greenfields' understanding was that Dr Munro identified that Neergaard Valley ('Dal' in Danish) as being a fault with a west side up motion, possibly in a shortening motion.  At the analogous Keweenaw Peninsula, reverse faulting is considered a primary control on copper mineralisation, and it is closely associated with both the native copper and copper sulphides in Michigan.

 

An interactive Government portal that contains the geology, and supporting reports can be accessed via: http://www.greenmin.gl/home.seam .  A fully referenced Technical Assessment Report on ARC, can be accessed at http://dx .doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.18610.84161 .

Drill hole information

No drilling has ever occurred within the ARC or in the surrounding area.

Data aggregation methods

No data aggregation was performed. All the raw data are presented in the appendix, and statistically summarised in the main body of this announcement.

Relationship between mineralisation width and intercept lengths.

The micro-XRF was performed on isolated samples that do not relate to mineralisation widths.  The purpose of the analysis is to establish mineralogical quality and as such, intersection lengths are not currently relevant.

Diagrams

All relevant maps are presented in the main body and appendices in this document, with additional tables and figures available in the Technical Assessment Report.

Balanced reporting

Greenfields has sourced and reasonably presented all the results.  The results are presented statistically as well as graphically so that the reader can use these to make a balanced assessment of the economically interesting results.  The reader is advised that at this stage, the micro-XRF results are indicative and should not be confused with more traditional, destructive assay techniques.

Other substantive exploration data

Since Greenfields licenced ARC, the only new data is in the form of satellite multispectral data, and analysis of historical samples stored in government facilities in Copenhagen, Denmark.  The copper quality analysis presented in this release is the first of its kind for ARC, and there is no other substantive data which relates to it.

Further work

The native copper samples will be subject to additional non-destructive analyses.  As these samples are on loan from the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, it is not possible to perform destructive assays.

 

JORC Table 1, section 1

Criteria

Arctic Rift Copper project

Sampling techniques

Assay data presented in this document relate to the micro-XRF analyses of a historical samples from within the ARC project.  Cross checks were performed with using a handheld, portable XRF unit that is specifically calibrated to copper alloys.

 

The samples were partially polished by Greenfields. The Discovery Zone sample was sent to the University of Copenhagen, Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, and the Neergaard Dal and Neergaard South samples were sent to Portable Spectral Services Pty Ltd (the consultant). All three samples were analysed by Bruker M4 micro-XRF machines, with the analysis aimed on the sample's polished surfaces.  The consultant also used a Bruker S1 Titan using the factory calibration for copper alloys on the Neergaard Dal and Neergaard South samples.

 

For the sample from the Discovery Zone, the micro-XRF was used in two ways. Firstly, a rapid scan of a 12 x 15 mm area produced an elemental map where the pixels are the result of hundreds of thousands of 20-microsecond-long scans. Later, a 6 x 3 mm subarea without any surficial weathering was selected for 71 1-minute-long scans. These longer scans produced the concentration results presented in Appendix.

 

The same multi-point 1-minute-long analysis method was used for the Neergaard Dal and Neergaard South samples. The analysis of Neergaard Dal native copper comprised of 25 point scans while the and Neergaard South sample had 13 points of analysis. The analysis was taken on fresh native copper mineralisation that had been polished flat and cleared of surface weathering. The Neergaard Dal sample is in the form of a slab and the Neergaard South sample is a small copper nodule that was chipped off a larger sample.

 

All three samples were polished on a sanding table prior to the analysis. A flat area was polished into the samples to remove surface weathering and because the M4 Tornado machine works best when analysing flat surfaces.

Drill techniques

No drilling has ever occurred within the ARC.

Drill sample recovery

No drilling has ever occurred within the ARC.

Logging

No drilling has ever occurred within the ARC, and as such no logging records exist. 

Sub-sampling techniques and sample preparation

No sub sampling was performed.

 

Quality of assay data and laboratory tests

XRF information, even micro-XRF, should be treated with caution due to the small sample and the 2-dimensional nature of the analysis.  However, micro-XRF is both quantitatively and qualitatively better than the industry-common handheld XRF analysis.  The precision of the scans, and the large area that they can cover can in turn be used to determine which mineral species are present.  By contrast, hand-held XRF units only give elemental information from a single, small point.  For a first investigation into determining the quality of the native copper, the Company considers the reliability and accuracy of the method to be appropriate.   However, the consultant did use a hand-held XRF that is specifically calibrated to copper alloys to act as a check for the micro-XRF.  The results of the hand-held and micro-XRF are in agreeance.

Verification of sampling and assaying

No third-party verification of the historical assay results has been undertaken. However, the Company undertook analysis through an academic institution as well as a respected consulting firm, both of which used different machines but yielded similar results.  The Consultant also used copper-alloy calibrated hand-held XRF to confirm the micro-XRF analyses. Definitive, but destructive metallurgical analysis is not possible as the sample does not belong to the Company and must be returned to the government geological survey. 

Location of data points

The location of the historical samples is based on information that is publicly disclosed by the Government.  Grids are based on UTM Zones 26 and 27 using the WGS84 Datum.  No precise location for the analysed native copper sample was available due to it being recovered prior to the widespread adaptation of GPS technology.

Data spacing and distribution

Sampling was undertaken at selected sites within the historical area. The samples were not insitu, however Greenfields considers that their source is in the immediately vicinity given the presence of intense copper sulphide mineralisation that is likely intimately associated with pre-existing native copper mineralisation.  As the micro-XRF analysis was to determine metallurgical quality, not grades or thickness, the spatial imprecision is not considered by the Company to be material.

Orientation of data in relation to geological structure

Sampling orientation was appropriate for the intended metallurgical purpose and representative of the anticipated mineralisation.

Sample security

Greenfields has no information on the measures taken to ensure sample security.  Given the age of the sampling, it being collected and stored (largely forgotten) by the government, and the low probability of sample tampering, the Company has no cause for concern.

Audits or reviews

Greenfields is unaware of any audits or reviews within ARC. The micro-XRF analysis was of three samples. A government institution conducted the analysis for the Discovery Zone samples and the Consultant did the analysis on the Neergaard Dal and Neergaard South samples. All testing was for a preliminary, indicative purpose and an audit or review was not needed necessary. 

 

 

 

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