ANNUAL REPORT 2002
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Mineral resources and Greenland mapping |
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Compilation of mineral knowledge for East Greenland
East Greenland is known for its many types of mineral deposits, found during extensive exploration and surveys by mining companies, universities and GEUS over more than 50 years. Several of these are found in igneous rock, which originally solidified in passages or chambers deep below the surface, called 'intru-sions'. In 2002, GEUS finished compiling the extensive volume of existing geological data for 69 intrusions in East Greenland, and collected it in a database.This includes data from well-known locations like Malmbjerget, Flammefjeld, Skærgården, and Kap Edvard Holm, with finds of minerals such as molybdenum, silver, gold, platinum and palladium.And there might well be more waiting, as many of the localities described have not been investigated as thoroughly as one might wish, despite many activities throughout the years. GEUS has also carried out detailed mineralogical studies of samples from Skærgården, in cooperation with Russian researchers, to assess the region's economic potential. |
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Better marketing of Greenland mineral resources
The potential for finding minerals in Greenland has been presented throughout the year at several large conventions attended by mining industry representatives from all over the world. GEUS has participated in large conventions in Canada, Australia, and Northern Scandinavia.The advances in Greenland diamond exploration were presented, together with the mineral potential in South Greenland, with a special focus on gold and speciality metals. Marketing has been further improved in 2002 with the launch of two new publication series. These are the 'Geology and Ore' magazine, in which readers can find information about geology, exploration and mining operations in Greenland, and 'Fact Sheets', which discuss mineral issues in brief. These publications are available via MINEX, on-line on GEUS' website. The MINEX newsletter is also available here. These marketing activities have taken place in cooperation with the Bureau of Minerals and Petroleum and Greenland Resources A/S. |
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Focus on gold and diamonds
In 2002, field surveys of the mineral resources between Maniitsoq/Sukkertoppen and Disko Bugt in West Greenland continued.The surveys in 2002 have focused on possible gold deposits and the possibility of finding diamonds. The work of analysing potential diamond sites follows up on earlier diamond exploration by mining companies. Despite extensive activities by these companies, there are still regions which have not been closely investigated. Our geologists are particularly looking for kimberlites, a type of rock which can be diamondiferous. The goal is to publish an overview of the potential for diamonds, describing where microdiamonds, kimberlites, and signs that kimberlites might be diamondiferous have been found. In this connection, a database has been established which compiles all the public available data from private diamond exploration in West Greenland. These diamond exploration activities also involve the use of advanced hyperspectral data, collected by aircraft during the summer over a 7000 km2 region, with financial support from the Bureau of Minerals and Petroleum. In South Greenland GEUS has collected geological information with the aim of preparing an ore geological description of the Nalunaq region, where Greenland's first goldmine is expected to open. This work is being carried out together with the Bureau of Minerals and Petroleum and the mining company, Nalunaq I/S, which has the license for the area. |
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Patent on new stable, high-quality concrete
A new type of high-quality concrete has been produced by adding a cheap, fibre-shaped clay mineral. It is self-compacting, which means that it does not have to be vibrated during pouring. It also has viscoelastic properties which ensure that the reinforcement is well enveloped, and it has high stability, so that it does not separate into water and powder phases. Finally, it can be pumped, for example into a mould, even under high pressure. The new concrete has been developed as part of an EU research project, and GEUS had a European patent approved in 2002 and issued in 2003 for the invention, together with Dansk Beton Teknik A/S, and the Dutch company, Intron BV. A number of clay minerals have been analysed by GEUS and tested throughout the project, with the final result that Palygorskite was identified as giving concrete these useful properties. The Palygorskite, which comes from Spain, has a quite unique fibre structure. This clay type is used today, for example, to produce cat litter. In 2002, GEUS continued to work on applications for clay minerals as additives in concrete as part of a project funded by the Materials Technology Development Programme under the Danish Natural Science Research Council. |
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The geological structure under scrutiny
The geology in West Greenland was under scrutiny for the third year in a row, with the aim of producing more detailed geological maps – one of the items the mining industry asks for before they commit themselves to investment in mineral exploration. The roots of a now disappeared, ancient mountain range called the Nagssugtoqidian Orogen are being mapped in order to explain the geological environment and the processes which have reigned here for billions of years. The work is being carried out together with a number of foreign universities and the Geological Institute of the University of Copenhagen. In 2002 the Christianshaab map sheet was surveyed, together with smaller adjacent regions. North of Disko Bugt, between Uummannaq and the Svartenhuk Peninsula, a number of investigations have started of the equally ancient mountain range called the Rinkian Belt. One of the aims of this work is to shed light on whether the entire region between Kangerlussuaq/Søndre Strømfjord and Upernavik is one large cohesive mountain range formation, similar in width to the Himalayas. The results will also shed light on the early movements of the earth's lithosphere plates, since the Rinkian Belt connects mountain range formations in Labrador, Baffin Island, the southern part of West Greenland, East Greenland and on to the Baltic.This work is being carried out together with universities in the USA and England, and is financially supported by the Carlsberg Foundation. |
