Mining development company Critical Metals has initiated a diamond drilling programme at the Tanbreez rare earth mine in Greenland, aiming to upgrade the mineral resource classification.

The 14-hole drilling programme, spanning up to 2,200m, is designed to transition the resource from Inferred to Indicated status and to support an increase in throughput from 500,000 tonnes per annum to three million tonnes (mt) per annum.

The programme will focus on drill core samples for geological analysis and petrological testing.

Expected to last around 30 days, the drilling marks a key step in the company's strategy to conduct a SK-1300 assessment and a comprehensive feasibility study.

Following this phase, Critical Metals will undertake a percussion drilling programme to delineate mineralisation, twin hole drilling for quality assurance and control, and validate the revised geophysical model.

Critical Metals holds a 42% stake in the Tanbreez Project, one of the largest known rare earth deposits globally with an estimated 4.7 billion tonnes of resources, including 980mt of eudialyte.

Critical Metals has made significant progress regarding the pre-operational activities at the Tanbreez project, which secured an exploitation licence four years ago.

Critical Metals CEO and chairman Tony Sage said: “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 defence applications, thereby bolstering national security.

“We look forward to the results of this drilling programme as we continue to advance our development strategy for this foundational rare earth asset.”