| January 31, 2012 Bulletin No. 25: Upper Cretaceous chalk facies and depositional history recorded in the Mona-1 core, Mona Ridge, Danish North Sea by K. Anderskouv and F. Surlyk  Bulletin No. 25 Upper Cretaceous chalk facies and depositional history recorded in the Mona-1 core, Mona Ridge, Danish North Sea Upper Cretaceous – Danian chalks form important hydrocarbon reservoirs in the North Sea, contributing significantly to the national economies of Denmark, Norway and the United Kingdom. Understanding the process of chalk sedimentation thus has implications not only for charting the evolution of the Cretaceous chalk sea, but also for predicting the distribution and nature of potential reservoir chalks in the subsurface. In particular, North Sea chalk reservoirs commonly include a range of redeposited chalk facies types, yet rigorous documentation of such facies is scarce in the published literature. This bulletin presents a detailed analysis of chalk deposits from an exceptionally well-cored borehole (Mona-1) in the northern Danish Central Graben. Chalk sedimentation in this area in the Late Cretaceous was strongly influenced by active intrabasinal tectonics, controlling sea-floor morphology and the location of depocentres. Chalk ooze was commonly remobilised, creating a wide spectrum of chalk facies types that record processes ranging from suspension settling to slumping and debris flow. Download the entire bulletin from: www.geus.dk/publications/bull/nr25/index-uk.htm The printed version of Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland Bulletin is available from: Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland Øster Voldgade 10, DK-1350 Copenhagen K Phone: 38 14 20 00, fax: 38 14 20 50, e-mail: geus@geus.dk Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland Bulletin: Scientific, internationally reviewed papers based on research results from Denmark, Greenland, the Faroe Islands and off-shore areas, as well as other countries where the Survey works. The Bulletin is currently published with three annual issues, including Review of Survey activities which contains a number of concise, 4-page contributions about selected research activities. All articles in the Bulletin series can be downloaded on: www.geus.dk/publications/bull/index-uk.htm |
| January 25, 2012 Errors in the Greenland map in Times Atlas have now been corrected with Danish assistance The publisher HarperCollins behind Times Atlas has just published a special-issue insert map that corrects the errors in the Greenland map that appeared in the latest edition of their famous atlas. The new correct reproduction of Greenland is based partly on information about the location of ice margins and the Greenland coastlines, which has been prepared by GEUS. A special-issue insert map to the world famous atlas, The Times Comprehensive Atlas of the World, has just been released by publisher HarperCollins. It is a new edition of the Greenland map, which was flawed in the recent 13th edition of the atlas. The error, which included incorrect positions of the ice margins, in September, led the publisher to conclude that 15 per cent of the ice in Greenland had disappeared in the period from 1999 to 2011. This caused many polar researchers to react strongly, because the percentage was wrong. The ice has shrunk in recent years, but not so much, said the researchers. Satellite images showed quite clearly that both glaciers and ice sheet were present in many of the areas the atlas map showed as ice-free. The response from the research community prompted HarperCollins into action, and in the autumn the publisher began a revision of the map in dialogue with the researchers. The result is a new map of Greenland published as a special-issue map, which replaces that of Greenland shown on the original Plate 94 in the Times Atlas. The new Greenland map is based partly on information about the location of ice margins and the Greenland coastlines, which has been prepared by GEUS. The new ice-extent information is based on aero-photogrammetric maps and is updated to the 2011 situation using data from the MODIS instrument onboard NASA's Terra and Aqua satellites. "It's been an interesting job to help revise the map of Greenland in the Times Atlas," says glaciologist, Michele Citterio from GEUS, who, together with research colleagues, monitors the ice in the programme PROMICE - Programme for Monitoring of the Greenland Ice Sheet. "The new map for the atlas uses the best representation of ice margins that exists in this scale and they cover the whole of Greenland," he concludes. But it is not just the ice margin on the new map of Greenland, which is based on Danish-produced data; Greenland's coastlines are also reproduced from a mapping by GEUS. "The coastlines of the new Greenland Map for the Atlas are the best available," says geodesist, Willy Lehmann Weng from GEUS, and he continues: "Our coastlines are based on a solid foundation from the National Survey and Cadastre in Denmark, and they correct the errors in the coastal location in North Greenland that affected several public domain data." "We at Collins Geo are very grateful to Michele and Willy and everyone else at GEUS," says Keith Moore, Head of Cartographic Services at Collins Geo, HarperCollins Publishers. Contact: Michele Citterio, GEUS Phone: +45 38 14 21 13 E-mail: mcit@geus.dk Willy Lehmann Weng Phone: +45 38 14 22 60 E-mail: ww@geus.dk Read press release from HarperCollins www.timesatlas.com/News/Pages/Home.aspx?BlogID=63 Read more about the monitoring programme PROMICE promice.dk/about_us_uk/main.html |
| January 23, 2012 Bulletin No. 24: The East Greenland rifted volcanic margin by C. Kent Brooks  Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland Bulletin 24 is now available on geus.dk and in a printed version.The bulletin describes one of the Earth's largest and best exposed igneous manifestations. The price for the printed version is DKK 200 excluding VAT and postage. The East Greenland rifted volcanic margin The East Greenland sector of the Palaeogene–Recent North Atlantic Igneous Province is one of the Earth's largest and best exposed igneous manifestations, and it includes the Skaergaard intrusion, probably the most studied igneous body worldwide. This volume contains an introductory historical review, descriptions of the igneous activity and related mineralisation processes in the regions throughout its rifting, spreading, stabilisation and uplift history. Finally, the underlying, plate-tectonic mantle processes are discussed. The text is accompanied by an extensive reference list and an appendix with selected age data from several sources. Download the entire bulletin from: www.geus.dk/publications/bull/nr24/index-uk.htm The printed version of Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland Bulletin is available from: Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland Øster Voldgade 10, DK-1350 Copenhagen K Phone: +45 38 14 20 00, fax: +45 38 14 20 50, e-mail: geus@geus.dk Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland Bulletin: Scientific, internationally reviewed papers based on research results from Denmark, Greenland, the Faroe Islands and off-shore areas, as well as other countries where the Survey works. The Bulletin is currently published with three annual issues, including Review of Survey activities which contains a number of concise, 4-page contributions about selected research activities. All articles in the Bulletin series can be downloaded on: www.geus.dk/publications/bull/index-uk.htm |
| 20 January 2012 Release of geological 1 : 100 000 scale map of the Kapisillit area in southern West Greenland  The Kapisillit map sheet completes the 1:100 000 scale map coverage of the Nuuk/Godthåbsfjord region in southern West Greenland. The map area comprises tectonically interleaved and complexly folded Eoarchaean and Meso- to Neoarchaean orthogneisses and granitic rocks. Like elsewhere in the Nuuk region the orthogneisses contain numerous remnants of volcanic belts with gold potential and related anorthositic and ultramafic rocks. The region has had a complex structural and thermal evolution including several granulite facies episodes followed by Neoarchaean hydrous retrogression in its southern part. The map also covers part of the recently discovered, 158 Ma old Tikiussaq carbonatite.Rehnström, E.F. 2011: Geological map of Greenland 1:100 000, Kapisillit 64 V.2 Syd. Copenhagen. Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland. Printed: Laursen Grafisk A/S, Denmark 2011 Digital compilation and data collation: the GIS group, Geological Data Center at GEUS. Offset print directly from PDF file produced in ArcMap. You can buy the map for 200 DKK here: The reception of the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) Øster Voldgade 10 DK – 1350 Copenhagen K |
| December 9, 2011 December 13, 2011 - International Polar Year 2012 - Lecture by professor Peter Harrison INVITATION Professor Peter Harrison from Queen's University in Canada will give a lecture on: "The International Polar Year 2012" Tuesday 13 December at 15:15, GEUS, Øster Voldgade 10, Copenhagen The lecture will be held at Geocenter Denmark in Auditorium A.  Dr. Peter Harrison gives a lecture on the "The International Polar Year 2012" in advance of the conference in Montréal in April 2012. The International Polar Year (IPY) 2012 Conference in Montréal draws international attention to the Polar Regions, global change, and related environmental, social and economic issues. The Conference will contribute to the translation of new polar scientific findings into an evidence-based agenda for action that will influence global decisions, policies and outcomes over the coming years. Dr. Peter Harrison is Chair of The International Polar Year 2012 - From Knowledge to Action Conference. He is also Professor, Stauffer-Dunning Chair and Director of the School of Policy Studies (SPS) at Queen's University (Kingston, Ontario). For further information please contact: Dr. Karen Edelvang Head of department of marine geology and glaciology Phone: 38 14 29 29 kae@geus.dk |
| 29 November - 1 December 2011 Mineral Resource Assessment Workshop: The zinc potential in Greenland A workshop on assessment of the zinc potential in Greenland will be held at Geological Survey and Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) from 29 November to 1 December 2011. All with an interest in economic geology can participate as observers at the workshop. The workshop is organised by GEUS and the Bureau of Minerals and Petroleum (BMP). The aim of the workshop is to assess the presence of undiscovered zinc deposits in Greenland in the top 1 km of the Earth's crust. Compiled information on known deposits and examinations of different geological provinces are used to assess the zinc potential. The workshop will make use of a standardized process in which an expert panel, comprising geoscientists with knowledge on zinc mineralisation and/or Greenland geology assess all data, literature, former work, map, etc. and discuss and assess the possibilities of undiscovered sedimentary zinc deposits within predefined areas. Two international zinc deposit experts will attend. The present knowledge about different known zinc deposits in Greenland and the geology and settings of the zinc potential areas will be presented. The workshop is open to all with an interest in economic geology. However, all non-panel participants will have a status as observer in the workshop and cannot participate in the expert panel. Download: Programme for workshop: Assessment of the zinc potential in Greenland (pdf-file ~110kb) Time: 29 November - 1 December 2011 Place: Theodor Sorgenfrei Auditorium Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, Øster Voldgade 10, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark Further information and registration Registration no later than 24 November 2011 To: Senior geologist Lars Lund Sørensen, GEUS Phone: +45 38 14 22 71, Mobile: +45 51 76 39 34 E-mail: lls@geus.dk |
| 18 November 2011 3D@GEUS.DK – International Workshop on 3D Geological Modeling  Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) is proud to be hosting a 3Days International Workshop about 3D Geological Modeling-Database-Visualization where experience and knowledge will be shared with representatives from Geological Surveys, Universities and the Industry. The workshop will take place on 7-9 December 2011 at GEUS, and offers a unique opportunity to present and discuss recent progress of 3D Modeling applied to Ore and Mine Geology, Structural Geology, Applied Geology and to Groundwater. Part of the workshop will be dedicated to discuss techniques and systems for visual exploration of solid earth data and models dealing with large and multiple datasets, for 3D visualization of Earth models and structures at various scales and resolutions and 4D visualization of time-varying spatial data interactively in real-time. The following topics will be discussed at the workshop: 3D Data Modeling: experience from geological surveys, universities and industries
3D Data Visualization: Immersive visualization systems, 3D software/hardware solutions For further information, please see attached programme (pdf-file ~1 mb). For registration Pierpaolo Guarnieri Senior Researcher, Structural Geologist Telephone: +45 3814 2254 E-mail: pgua@geus.dk |
| Miocene Workshop at GEUS Thursday, Oct 6. 2011 Theodor Sorgenfrei Auditoriet The entrance (Trappe N) is open half an hour before the morning (9:00) and afternoon (13:30) sessions; otherwise contact the GEUS reception at the main entrance Program for oral presentations Download pdf-file miocene_workshop_2011.pdf (~ 700kb) |
| Mining as an engine to legacy infrastructure in the north Wednesday 5 October at 15:00 Open lecture by Robert A. Gannicott In the last century, infrastructure development in the Arctic relied heavily on military initiatives with a relatively small contribution from resource development. The thawing of both The Cold War and the polar sea ice has reversed this emphasis. It is appropriate then to consider how the mining industry has performed in the creation of legacy infrastructure and what lessons we can learn from the past to steer the future. When: Wednesday 5 October at 15:00 Where: University of Copenhagen Auditorium A, 3rd floor Mining as an engine to legacy infrastructure in the north Øster Voldgade 10 1350 København K About: Robert A. Gannicott. Formerly the president of Platinova Resources A/S, was the driving force behind many of the significant mineral discoveries in Greenland during the 1980’s and 1990’s, including Skærgaard Au-Pd, Citronen Fjord Pb-Zn and Washington Land Pb-Zn. Today, Robert Gannicott is Chairman of the Board & Chief Executive Officer of Harry Winston Diamond Corporation, joint venture operator of Diavik diamond mine in Canada (www.diavik.ca). Robert Gannicott has over 35 years of experience in the mining industry and has worked extensively in the Northwest Territories and Greenland. Contact: Karen Hanghøj, e-mail: kha@geus.dk |
| Aug 24, 2011 South-East Greenland 2011 Expedition; unraveling one of the lesser-known regions of Greenland  2011 fieldwork in the Skjoldungen region, South-East Greenland GEUS have made geological reconnaissance work in South-East Greenland and done significant and interesting preliminary findings. Several mineralizations have been localised in the highly metamorphosed rock. GEUS have successfully completed a major field campaign in South-East Greenland - one of the lesser-known and under-explored regions of Greenland. Despite challenging sea ice and weather conditions at the start of the season, the expedition was successful with significant and interesting preliminary findings. The project is co-financed by GEUS and the Bureau of Minerals and Petroleum (BMP) of the Government of Greenland, and its objective is to gain a better understanding of the geology and economic potential of the region, and to collect data to attract the mineral exploration industry. The program in South-East Greenland was initiated in 2009 with geological reconnaissance work and systematic regional geochemistry of stream sediments and surface water. The work in the craton part of SE Greenland continues in 2012, and in 2013 GEUS will continue similar field work slightly to the north in the Palaeoproterozoic Ammassalik Mobile Belt. Twenty geologists and students, including collaborative researchers from University of Aarhus, University of Copenhagen (including the Geological Museum), University of Stellenbosch and Centre of Exploration Targeting at University of Western Australia participated in the fieldwork. Furthermore, a research team from the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources studying polar bears, and two exploration companies who hold mineral licenses in the area, used GEUS’ logistical platform in the area. GEUS worked in teams of two to four geologists out of small tent camps, or from a ship-based base-camp on the expedition vessel M/V Fox, with the aid of a helicopter and zodiac dinghies. Field campaign highlights The North Atlantic craton in South-East Greenland is dominated by orthogneisses, mafic granulite, belts and slivers of paragneiss, mafic and ultramafic units. The region is structurally complex with at least seven deformation events and regional metamorphism up to granulite facies, partial melting and syn- to late-orogenic magmatism of the Archean Skjoldungen Alkaline province. Younger, brittle deformation and greenschist facies hydrothermal systems are also present. The focus and some of the findings in 2011 include:
Further information For more information about the project in South-East Greenland and the results, please contact Karen Hanghøj (kha@geus.dk) or Bo Møller Stensgaard (bmst@geus.dk) at GEUS |
| August 4, 2011 Communication wanted: Non-seismic alternatives for oil and gas exploration onshore Principle investigators from GEUS want to communicate with companies or individuals, who have personal experience with non-seismic methods, which can be used for onshore oil and gas exploration. Principle investigators from GEUS want communication with companies or individuals, who have personal experience with non-seismic methods, which can be used for onshore oil and gas exploration. In a recently started project, they are looking for preferable commercial versions of the following types: Geochemistry, 3D gravimetric modelling, magnetotellurics (MT), High-Moment Electromagnetics (HMEM), High-Powered Spectral Induced Polarization (HPSIP), an electron para-magnetic resonance based method (TST), and Airborne Transient Pulse Surveys. The search for hydrocarbons touches both offshore and onshore areas in Denmark. The two environments exhibit different challenges, not the least, when it comes to the protection of parks and sensitive natural biological entities, and manmade structures. Seismic investigations involving many explosions as the source of the seismic signal do not agree well with fragile houses, protected lands and infrastructure important for society. Naturally, companies look for other, alternative methods to use that do not destroy or damage anything but still produces useful data reflecting the presence of oil or gas. There are methods making that claim but they are not commonly used, because it is very hard to compete with the detailed and accurate information gained through seismic investigations, and frankly, there are many who simply doubt the applicability of these other methods. New project wants contact with experts However, sometimes it is simply a no-go to use seismic methods. Two Danish oil companies, Dong Energy A/S and Nordsøfonden A/S, have experienced this when exploring in onshore Denmark; they have commissioned GEUS to carry out a comparative study of several alternative methods:
The project, ALTKUL ("Alternative methods for onshore exploration of hydrocarbons in Denmark), has just been initiated, and the two principle investigators Thorkild M. Rasmussen & Leif Thorning are interested in communicating with companies or individuals, who have personal experience with preferably commercial versions of these methods. We will be approaching interested companies and individuals known to us, but there are most likely many more that we are not aware of at this time. Send an e-mail to Thorkild M. Rasmussen tmr@geus.dk or Leif Thorning lth@geus.dk Project ALTKUL will end mid 2012, hopefully after having tested one or two of the most promising methods in the field in Denmark. The study will subsequently become available to the public. |
| July 27, 2011 19 short papers covering minerals, petroleum and nature and environment ‘Review of Survey activities’ presents a selection of 19 papers reflecting the wide spectrum of activities of the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, from the microscopic to the plate-tectonic level. Review of Survey activities presents a selection of 19 papers reflecting the wide spectrum of activities of the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, from the microscopic to the plate-tectonic level. The Survey's activities in Denmark and surrounding areas are illustrated by 12 articles covering petroleum geology, groundwater geology, applied marine geology, Quaternary stratigraphy, sea-level changes, disposal of radioactive waste and the use of satellite radar data to detect elevation changes. The depth of two earthquakes has been determined using data from array stations in Canada and Niger. Activities in Greenland are covered by six papers dealing with mineral and petroleum exploration. One paper comes with further evidence that the controversial Wegener Fault is a myth. The influence of recent climate change on the Greenland ice sheet is the subject of another article; 2010 was the warmest year ever recorded in Greenland, and the ice sheet is losing mass at an accelerating rate. The Survey's international activities are the subject of a paper dealing with quality control of geophysical data in Ghana. Review of Survey activities 2010 Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland Bulletin 23, 2011 www.geus.dk/publications/bull/nr23/index-uk.htm |
| June 20, 2011 Did Climate Change Cause Greenland's Ancient Viking Community to Collapse? Our changing climate usually appears to be a very modern problem, yet new research from Greenland published in Boreas, suggests that the AD 1350 collapse of a centuries old colony established by Viking settlers may have been caused by declining temperatures and a rise in sea-ice. The authors suggest the collapse of the Greenland Norse presents a historical example of a society which failed to adapt to climate change. The research, led by Dr Sofia Ribeiro from the University of Copenhagen, currently at the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, focused on Disko Bay in Western Greenland and used a marine sediment record to reconstruct climate change over the last 1500 years. Events which occurred during this time frame included the arrival of Norse settlers, led by Eric the Red in AD 985. After establishing a colony known as the Western Settlement the Norse traveled north to Disko Bay, a prime hunting ground for walruses and seals. "Our study indicates that at the time the Norse arrived in West Greenland, climate conditions were relatively mild and were favorable to the settlers" said Ribeiro. "However, in AD 1350 the settlement collapsed, the cause of which has long been debated." The marine perspective of the research is especially relevant as the Norse inhabited inner fjord areas. The team's research compared robust air temperature reconstructions based on ice-core data with their own marine record, The results underline the regional complexity of climate patterns in the study area, which may vary from ice core reconstructions, and are strongly controlled by the fluctuating influence of "warm" Atlantic waters entrained by the West Greenland Current. "Our study shows a major shift towards cooler conditions and extensive sea-ice which coincides with the estimated time for the collapse of the Western Settlement in AD 1350," said Dr Ribeiro. "The Norse were proud of being Europeans, farmers and Christians, and never adopted the hunting and survival techniques of the Inuit, so these temperature shifts would have caused significant problems for the colonists and their livestock." Agricultural difficulties are believed to have forced the Norse to rely on marine resources, yet the increase in sea-ice, the team suggests, would have had a major impact on species such as migratory seals, while blocking trade routes. "We cannot attribute the end of the Norse civilisation to a single factor, but there is enough evidence to suggest that climate change played a major role in determining its collapse," concluded Ribeiro. "Harsh climate conditions made farming and cattle production increasingly difficult and the extensive sea-ice prevented navigation and trading with Europe." "There is perhaps an important lesson to learn from the Norse collapse and that is a lesson of adaptation, of being able to adjust our values and life-style when times change. That is an important challenge we face today as a society." Contact: Post Doc. Sofia Ribeiro, GEUS Tlf.: 38 14 29 02 E-mail: sri@geus.dk Ribeiro. S, Moros. M, Ellegaard. M, Kuijpers, A, "Climate variability in West Greenland during the past 1500 years: evidence from a high-resolution marine palynological record from Disko Bay", Boreas, Wiley-Blackwell, 2001, DOI: 10.1111/j.1502-3885.2011.00216.x Read abstract on Wiley Online Library: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1502-3885.2011.00216.x/abstract |
| June 6, 2011 Lecture, Monday June 20, High-pressure metamorphism in The Nordre Strømfjord Shear Zone, Central West Greenland  Vertical gradient of the total magnetic intensity field Aeromag from the coast to the Inland ice in central West Greenland. Covering the entire strike of the ice-free parts of the Nordre Strømfjord Shear Zone. Enlarge figure  Landsat satellite image mosaic between Ataneq and the Inland Ice in central West Greenland. The shear zone is seen as a distinct E-W trending feature (the dashed area bounded by solid white lines) which in segmented by a number of WNW-–ESEE and ENE–WSW striking faults clearly expressed in the topography. Across this distance the shear zone is also seen to increase in width from app. 5 kilometres in the east to 12 kilometres in the west. Enlarge figure Monday 20 June from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. The lecture will take place in the "Tove Birkelund" meeting room at GEUS - will be open for everyone interested. Entrance from staircase N from 9:45 a.m. (manned from 8:45 to 9:00). Dr. Bill Glassley from University of California works together with John Korstgård and Kai Sørensen in the shear-zone of Nordre Strømfjord. Together they will do a talk on a new important aspect of their work in Nordre Strømfjord, namely the finding of a high pressure paragenesis in a ultramafic lens in the Ataneq fjord. Abstract: In the eastern reach of Ataneq fjord there occurs a meter-scale tectonic unit that records evidence of high-pressure metamorphism. The unit is a complex assemblage of lithologies, with compositions ranging from ultramafic to calcic. Field and petrographic evidence suggests the original unit consisted of an ultramafic body in contact with a calcium-rich rock unit. The strong compositional contrast between these units lead to the development of a 2 m thick metasomatic reaction zone with multiple cm-scale compositional bands. Metamorphism of the reaction zone resulted in growth of variety of mineral assemblages, including a narrow, 10-cm thick band of garnet-olivine-orthopyroxene rock. Geothermobarometric analysis of this and associated rocks requires that this rock experienced minimum P-T of 18 kb and 750 C. The compositional characteristics of these minerals exactly match that of similar rocks in the Alpine system that were metamorphosed at depths exceeding 75 km. We interpret this and other exotic lithologies that occur along a belt at the northern margin of the Nordre Strømfjord Shear Zone as remnants of a subduction channel deformed and metamorphosed during the collisional Nagsuggtoqidian Orogeny. The rarity of preserved high-pressure metamorphic rocks in this belt is due to the relatively slow uplift on this segment of the collision zone, as demonstrated by Ar-Ar dating. For mere information om foredraget kontakt Bo Møller Stensgaard (bmst@geus.dk) eller Jochen Kolb (jkol@geus.dk) |