FIELD ACTIVITIES IN GREENLAND 2002
1 - The Upernavik area
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4 - Maniitsoq Icecap - Nordre
Strømfjord
In July and August, the geologists will evaluate the potential
for finding diamonds in West Greenland. The work, which is
concentrated in the area around Kangerlussuaq/Søndre Strømfjord, is
a follow-up to the mining companies' earlier diamond exploration.
In spite of the companies' extensive activities, there are still
areas which have not been closely surveyed. The geologists will be
looking in particular for the so-called kimberlites - rocks which
are potentially diamondiferous. Data from geochemical and
geophysical researches will also be employed in the search for
these rocks. The aim is to publish a survey of the diamond
potential in the area, describing where micro-diamonds and
kimberlites occur, and signs that the kimberlites are potentially
diamondiferous. The work is being carried out with helicopter
support from Kangerlussuaq Airport.
Responsible scientist:
Sven Monrad Jensen
Task:
Mineral resource investigations
Period:
July and August
Number of participants:
2
5 - The Kangerlussuaq area, West
Greenland
Advanced remote sensing from the air of the reflections from
rocks in the visible and infra-red parts of the spectrum will be
undertaken in the area between Maniitsoq and Nordre Strømfjord.
These so-called hyperspectral measurements have been successfully
deployed in recent years in mineral explorations in various
environments around the world. In conjunction with the aerial
measurements, samples will be gathered and precise measurements of
the rocks' spectral characteristics at the Earth's surface will be
made. These precise measurements will assist in the interpretation
of the aerial measurements. The aerial measurements will be made by
the Australian company HyVista, and the surface measurements will
be made in collaboration with the Geological Surveys of Finland and
Germany. The work forms part of the HyperGreen 2002 project, funded
by the Bureau of Minerals and Petroleum of the Government of
Greenland. The flights will be made from Kangerlussuaq Airport in
July. It is expected that several mining companies exploring in the
area will also contribute. The project will also be coordinated
with the other activity in the area aimed specifically at
kimberlites.
Responsible scientist:
Tapani Tukiainen
Task:
Mineral resource investigations
Period:
Juli
Number of participants:
9
6 - The Nuuk area
A study of Holocene changes in the West Greenland current and
the regional climate are the principal aims of a marine geological
research expedition at the beginning of September. From cores taken
from the sea-bed, geologists will investigate the development of
the sea-current and climate, focusing in particular on the time
when the earlier Scandinavian inhabitants disappeared from West
Greenland. The work, which comprises seismic analyses of sea-bed
sediments and drillings, will be undertaken partly in the Godthåb
and Lyse fjords and partly on the Nuuk coastal shelf. The work will
be carried out from the German research vessel, the "Alexander von
Humboldt" and performed in collaboration with the GEOMAR research
institute of the Christian-Albrechts University in Kiel and the
Institute for Baltic Sea Research, Rostock University. Researchers
from Columbia University in the USA and the Greenland National
Museum will also participate. The major part of the activities are
funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research
Council).
Responsible scientist:
Antoon Kuijpers
Task:
Investigations of climate and environment
Period:
September
Number of participants:
11
7 - The Narsaq area
Measurements made by NASA, the US space administration, show a
very substantial thinning of the southern part of the Greenland ice
sheet. In May and in August, glaciologists will continue surveys of
climate, ice-melt and glacial movements in the Narsaq area to shed
light on this thinning. The work is also aimed at dating the ice
with a view to future exports of ice cubes. These activities are
funded by the Bureau of Minerals and Petroleum of the Government of
Greenland.
Responsible scientist:
Carl Egede Bøggild
Task:
Investigations of climate and resources
Period:
May and August
Number of participants:
4
8 - Nanortalik
In August, geologists will gather supplementary data from
Nalunaq near Nanortalik, where Greenland's first goldmine is
expected to be opened. The work comprises a geological description
of tunnels dug as part of the on-going exploration. The project's
aim is to draw up a description of the ore geology of the Nalunaq
area. The work will be carried out in collaboration with the
Nalunaq I/S mining company, which has the concession for the area,
and the Bureau of Minerals and Petroleum.
Responsible scientist:
Sven Monrad Jensen
Task:
Geological investigations
Period:
August
Number of participants:
2
9 - South Greenland and Tasiilaq
In August, this region sees the start of the hunt for rocks
which can be used as facing stones. A team of geologists will visit
several locations in South Greenland and the area around Tasiilaq
in East Greenland, where the geological conditions indicate that
there are rocks suitable for facing stones to be found. What
interests geologists in particular here are rocks with few cracks
and with distinctive coloration and textures. In the western part
of the target area in South Greenland, geologists will also search
for locations where shards can be broken. They will be looking
especially for rocks with qualities best-suited for the production
and export of shards for building materials and road-making. The
surveys will be made by ship and the activities are funded by
Greenland Resources A/S.
Responsible scientist:
Thomas Rasmussen
Task:
Mineral resource investigations
Period:
August
Number of participants:
2
10 - Tasiilaq
Glaciological fieldwork was already underway in April, gathering
data about the snow structure and temperature on the Greenland ice
sheet at Tasiilaq in East Greenland. The aim of the work is to shed
light on how satellite signals are dispersed in snow, which is
important for the precision of the elevation change measurements
which the Cryosat satellite is recording on the ice sheet.
Additionally, an automatic station was installed to measure climate
and ice-melt in an area of the ice sheet, which has thinned
markedly over recent years. The work is being carried out in
collaboration with KMS (the Danish National Survey and Cadastre)
and funded by the Danish Natural Science Research Council.
Responsible scientist:
Carl Egede Bøggild
Task:
Investigations of climate and environment
Period:
April-May
Number of participants:
2
11 - Jameson Land and Milne Land
In August, GEUS will head a field excursion in Jameson Land with
participation from several oil companies. Transport in the area
will be by helicopter from Constable Pynt airfield. As an extension
of the excursion, a team of geologists will survey Upper Jurassic
and Lower Cretaceous sediments in Milne Land, where it is possible
to study on land the strata which also occur under the sea-bed off
the Norwegian coast. The work is a part in the mapping of the
sedimentary environment of the North Atlantic and includes the
surveying of sedimentological profiles, sampling and the collection
of ammonites for a time description of the strata.
Responsible scientist:
Michael Larsen
Task:
Petroleum geological investigations
Period:
August
Number of participants:
2
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