A former student of Ysgol Dyffryn Taf in Whitland is set to embark on an ambitious geological expedition to Greenland this summer.

Anthony Clarke, who also studied at Coleg Sir Gâr in Llanelli, and now attends the University of St. Andrews, in Scotland will be part of an international team that spends 40 days independently mapping a 20km2 area, to the north of a tiny village in southern Greenland Narsarsuaq.

“The aim of our mapping is to better understand the distribution and formation of rare-earth element (REE) bearing minerals,” explained Anthony.

“The area was last mapped in the 1950s before plate tectonics was a theory!

“REE elements are used in electronic goods examples including niobium.

“China dominates 90 per cent of REE economy, so finding reserves outside of China is a key priority of the European Union.

“This is arguably the most ambitious project occurring in UK Universities this summer,” he continued.

Over £2,500 of funding has been awarded towards the project by the Mining Institute of Scotland Trust (MIST).

With the trip taking place from June to July, any one who would like to sponsor and support the project can contact Anthony Clarke on 07443513817 or via email at [email protected]