Factbox-Greenland’s wealthy however largely untapped mineral sources

(Reuters) – U.S. President-elect Donald Trump final week reiterated his curiosity in taking management of Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, which could possibly be helpful for the U.S. due to its strategic location and wealthy mineral sources.

A 2023 survey confirmed that 25 of 34 minerals deemed “crucial uncooked supplies” by the European Fee have been present in Greenland.

The extraction of oil and pure gasoline is banned in Greenland for environmental causes, and growth of its mining sector has been snarled in purple tape and opposition from indigenous individuals.

Under are particulars of Greenland’s important mineral deposits, primarily based on knowledge from Greenland’s Mineral Sources Authority:

RARE EARTHS

Three of Greenland’s greatest deposits are positioned within the southern Gardar province.

Corporations searching for to develop uncommon earth mines are Important Metals Corp, which purchased the Tanbreez deposit, Vitality Transition Minerals, whose Kuannersuit undertaking is stalled amid authorized disputes, and Neo Efficiency Supplies.

Uncommon earth parts are key for everlasting magnets utilized in electrical automobiles (EV) and wind generators.

GRAPHITE

Occurrences of graphite and graphite schist are reported from many localities on the island.

GreenRoc has utilized for an exploitation license to develop the Amitsoq graphite undertaking.

Pure graphite is usually utilized in EV batteries and steelmaking.

COPPER

In accordance with the Mineral Sources Authority, most copper deposits have seen solely restricted exploration campaigns.

Particularly fascinating are the underexplored areas within the north-east and central-east of the island, it stated.

London-listed 80 Mile is searching for to develop the Disko-Nuussuaq deposit, which has copper, nickel, platinum and cobalt.

NICKEL

Traces of nickel accumulations are quite a few, based on the Mineral Sources Authority.

Main miner Anglo American (JO:AGLJ), was granted a five-year exploration licences in western Greenland in mid-2019 and has been on the lookout for nickel deposits, amongst others.

ZINC

Zinc is usually discovered within the north in a geologic formation that stretches greater than 2,500 km.

Corporations have sought to develop the Citronen Fjord zinc and lead undertaking, which had been billed as one of many world’s largest undeveloped zinc sources.

GOLD

Essentially the most potential areas for gold potential are across the Sermiligaarsuk fjord within the nation’s south.

Amaroq Minerals launched a gold mine final 12 months in Mt Nalunaq within the Kujalleq Municipality.

DIAMONDS

Whereas most small diamonds and the most important stones are discovered within the within the island’s west, their presence in different areas can also be important.

IRON ORE

Deposits are positioned at Isua in southern West Greenland, at Itilliarsuk in central West Greenland, and in North West Greenland alongside the Lauge Koch Kyst.

TITANIUM-VANADIUM

Recognized deposits of titanium and vanadium are within the south-west, the east, and south.

Titanium is used for business, medical and industrial functions, whereas vanadium is especially used to supply specialty metal alloys. Crucial industrial vanadium compound, vanadium pentoxide, is used as a catalyst for the manufacturing of sulfuric acid.

TUNGSTEN

Used for a number of industrial functions, tungsten is usually discovered within the central east and north-east of the nation, with assessed deposits within the south and west.

URANIUM

In 2021, the left-wing Inuit Ataqatigiit occasion banned uranium mining, successfully halting growth of the Kuannersuit uncommon earths undertaking, which has uranium as a byproduct.

($1 = 7.2705 Danish crowns)