Annual Report 2005
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Mineral resources |
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On-line access to Greenland's
mineral occurrences
In early 2005, GEUS opened its new web service "Greenland Mineral Occurrence Map (GMOM)", which gives the mining industry and others access to information about hundreds of mineral deposits in Greenland. Users can search via an interactive map and the web service moreover allows you to see occurrences of minerals together with other types of cartographical data, such data on coastlines, rivers, lakes, and digital terrain models. Furthermore, the GMOM contains a series of geodata, for example airborne geophysical measurements and geochemical data made available as background maps.The user can combine the different data types with maps of mineral occurrences and create plots and files for own use.The user also has access to PDF files with GEUS interpretations of the occurrences of mineralisation mapped, including images and special maps for areas where this type of data is available. All depictions contain an overview of publications and company exploration reports. GMOM was developed in collaboration with the BMP in Greenland and covers the area between 66ºN and 70º 15'N in West Greenland. Mineral occurrences often occur in special geological environments, and in the latter part of 2005 GMOM was expanded to include a search option on main types of geological environment throughout Greenland and a view option showing these together with selected occurrences of the minerals associated with the environments. |
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Mapping and new geological find
Detailed geological maps are in great demand by the mining industry and constitute an important basis for commercial exploration activities. In 2005 GEUS published a geological map of North Kangersuneq ("Kangersuneq, 68V.2 Nord") in the scale of 1:100,000, and a map containing geological profiles of the basalts on Disko Island in West Greenland.The profiles include detailed information about the individual lava flows and document the build-up of parts of West Greenland's basalt province. During the summer, geologists continued the detailed, 1:100 000 scale mapping of Greenland. GEUS is concentrating the detailed mapping on areas where mineral-resources interest is greatest, and in 2005 geologists mapped areas around Kapisillit at the bottom of the Godthåb Fjord. During this survey, a hitherto unknown occurrence of carbonatite, a volcanic rock, was discovered. Furthermore, dikes and rocks of lamprophyres were found in the vicinity of the carbonatite, and these are interesting in the context of diamond exploration. Carbonatites are in some places known to hold economically significant minerals. However, the economical potential of the new find is still unknown. GEUS has instigated examinations of samples collected in order to determine the age and formation of the carbonatite and lamprophyres. |
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New gold mineralisations
The Nuuk area in West Greenland was once more the target of geologists' efforts to explain the geological history and map the processes of nature that have led to concentrations of gold in the mountains. In particular the geologists have had their eyes on the so-called Precambrian supracrustal rocks, because these rocks are typical host rocks for gold mineralisations. In connection with geological examinations of ore in the field, GEUS in 2005 developed statistical models in order to describe the special characteristics of e.g. gold mineralisation on the basis of different types of data, including magnetic, gravity, and geochemical data. Results from the models are used as guidelines for exploration of the field and help promote an understanding of why mineralisation occurs in the given geological environments. During the summer of 2005 several new gold mineralisations were discovered and better understanding of the relationship between occurrences and the different types of supracrustal environments was achieved. Finally, new magmatic formations in the Fiskefjord area were discovered revealing a potential for platinum group mineralisations in the area. |
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Strengthened collaboration
across the Baffin Bay
Greenland and the eastern part of Canada were linked many million years ago and their geology is therefore very similar. Throughout the years institutions working with geology and minerals exploration on either side of the Baffin Bay have collaborated. In 2005 GEUS and the BMP in Greenland hosted a workshop with the purpose of developing and expanding the collaboration and network among institutions and researchers working in the area.The workshop dealt with themes of common interest within geological correlations, geological environments, and mineral resources. GEUS subsequently published a report presenting abstracts and results from the workshop. Moreover, there was agreement among participants that a similar workshop be held in 2007 hosted by Canada. |
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Status on optimistic diamond hunt
The opening of diamond mines in Canada has intensified the mining industry's interest in West Greenland because the geology here and in Canada are the same and the 1990s saw large-scale exploration for these lucrative precious stones. Several mining companies have maintained interest in the area, and in 2005 a Canadian mining company uncovered the biggest diamond found so far in Greenland. In recent years, GEUS has followed up mining company efforts with a scientific survey of kimberlites, a rock type that can contain diamonds. In 2005, focus was on processing and analyses of samples collected in the previous years. Geochemical analyses of the minerals in the kimberlite samples show there is cause for optimism as results confirm the presence of classical kimberlites in Greenland.The outcome of five years of research efforts was presented at a workshop in Copenhagen in November, hosted by GEUS and the BMP in Greenland. The workshop was visited by 40 Danish and foreign researchers and representatives from exploration companies with knowledge from diamond provinces throughout in the world, exchanging experience and discussing future efforts within diamond exploration in Greenland. |
