Geological setting
South Greenland is dominated by
the Palaeoproterozic Ketilidian
Orogen (20001750 Ma), which
covers the southern tip of Greenland.
The middle Proterozic Gardar
province includes pronounced intru-
sive complexes (13001120 Ma) in
the central part of the area. The
environments for gold deposition
can be grouped into several different
geological scenarios:
1) Archaean foreland composed of
highgrade gneisses serving as a
basement to Palaeoproterozoic
volcano-sedimentary successions
2) Archaean border zone affected by Ketilidian orogenesis
3) A magmatic arc represented by the 30,000 km
2
,
calcalkaline Julianehåb Batholith and large segments
of volcano-sedimentary sequences located near the
interface to
4) The Psammite Zone south of the batholith composed
of metasediments and locally volcanic rocks that are
deformed and sometimes migmatised and
5) The Pelite Zone located most southerly and com-
posed of turbiditic sedimentary rocks, which are
highly deformed and migmatised. The supracrustal
successions are intruded by a rapakivi suite between
17551732 Ma.
Gold and pathfinder
elements
The gold potential of South
Greenland is indicated in the
geochemical mapping by the
distribution of high values for
gold (Au) and pathfinder ele-
ments like arsenic (As) and
antimony (Sb) in the fine frac-
tions (<0,1 mm) of stream
sediments. Using this informa-
tion together with gold anom-
alies in bedrock and in heavy
mineral concentrates of
stream sediments, the
presently recognised potential
for gold mineralisations is focused on specific regions
and smaller areas.
The most prospective areas are around the
Sermiligaarsuk fjord, at the southern margin of the
Julianehåb Batholith domain, and within large parts of
the Psammite Zone.
Gold occurs in various settings
· Archaean Tartoq Group greenstone:
Sermiligaarsuk
· Palaeoproterozoic border zone:
Arsuk and Kobberminebugt
· Julianehåb Batholith:
Qoorormiut, Niaqornaarsuk, Igutsaat
· Border of Julianehåb Batholith and Psammite Zone:
Gold mineralisation and gold
potential in South Greenland
Gold occurrences
Kobberminebugt
Igutsaat fjord
Kangerluluk
Kutseq fjord
Kangerluluk and Sorte
Nunatak
· Psammite Zone:
Nalunaq, Lake 410, Ippatit
and Kutseq
A visit to these localities will
reveal a variety of environ-
ments and mineral occurrences.
They are briefly described here
with emphasis on the geologi-
cal setting and including some
important analytical results.
Selected localities with primary gold
accumulation
Sermiligaarsuk: The gold occurrences in the Taar-
toq supracrustals in Sermiligaarsuk are assumed to
be deposited between 25003000 Ma, and are so
far the only Archaean gold mineralisation in South
Greenland.
In a quartz association gold occurs as discrete
inclusions in pyrite. Other sulphides include arsen-
opyrite, chalcopyrite, tennantite, and chalcocite.
The highest grade recorded for gold is 50 g/t, but
typical values are 58 g/t .
Qoorormiut: The gold concentration varies signifi-
cantly in this type of mesothermal gold mineralisa-
tion within batholith granite and reaches 380 ppm
in narrow silicified shear zones. Chip samples from
preliminary exploration activities resulted in assay
results up to 114 ppm gold in quartz veins, and up
to 14 ppm in zones with carbonated amphibolite.
Nalunaq: The Nalunaq gold deposit is hosted in
metapelites and metabasic rocks of Ketilidian age
(18501800 Ma). The supracrustal successions are
intruded by postkinematic biotite granites and
subsequently by anorogenic rapakivi granites
around 1750 Ma.
The gold mineralisation is epigenetic and
resides mainly in quartzveins. The `Main Vein' of
Nalunaq has so far been estimated to be 1700 m
long and 0.1 to 2 m wide.
The gold is genetically related to metalliferous
fluids associated with the emplacement of late
intrusive stages of the Julianehåb Batholith granites
(18001770 Ma) followed by local remobilisation.
Measured and indicated resources are 292,000
ounces of gold with an average grade of 25 g/t.
As inferred resources 718,000 ounces of gold are
considered in ore averaging 19 g/t Au. The
Nalunaq deposit is expected to go into production
during 2003.
Kangerluluk: A goldbearing sulphide mineralisation
is hosted by a 200300 m thick mafic volcanosedi-
mentary supracrustal sequence exposed over an
area of app. 4 km
2
. The supracrustals rest uncon-
formably on granites and granodiorites of the
Julianehåb Batholith.
The ore minerals related to a `quartz association'
are dominated by pyrrhotite and pyrite. Locally mas-
sive pyrrhotite occurs at the contacts between sedi-
ments and more massive quartz veins. Narrow silici-
fied alteration halos with very high gold concentra-
tions are associated with the quartz veins. A grab
sample from a halo contains 118 ppm gold.
Concluding remarks
Gold mineralised occurrences in South Greenland
are located within two major geological environ-
ments, the Archaean and the Palaeoproterozoic.
During exploration activity in the 1980s and the
1990s the knowledge about gold mineralisation
has been increased and refined. Consequently the
potential for locating viable gold deposits in the
future has improved. As the result of recent explo-
ration and research, a new mine is expected to be
in operation soon (2003) at the Nalunaq deposit.
Greenland Resources A/S
Tuapannguit 38
P.O. Box 821
DK-3900 Nuuk
Greenland
Tel: (+299) 32 79 13
Fax.: (+299) 32 79 14
E-mail: gras@greennet.gl
Internet: www.resources.gl
Geological Survey of Denmark
and Greenland (GEUS)
Øster Voldgade 10
DK-1350 Copenhagen K
Denmark
Tel: (+45) 38 14 20 00
Fax.: (+45) 38 14 20 50
E-mail: geus@geus.dk
Internet: www.geus.dk
Bureau of Minerals and Petroleum
(BMP)
Government of Greenland
P.O. Box 930
DK-3900 Nuuk
Greenland
Tel: (+299) 34 68 00
Fax.: (+299) 32 43 02
E-mail: bmp@gh.gl
Internet: www.bmp.gl
Authors:
H.Stendal & K.Secher
Editor: K.Secher
Layout: GEUS, Grafisk
© GEUS 2002
3 mm
Key references
Steenfelt, A. 2001: Geochemical atlas of Greenland West and
South Greenland. Danmarks og Grønlands Geologiske
Undersøgelse Rapport 2001/46, 40 pp.
Steenfelt, A., Nielsen, T.F.D. & Stendal, H. 2000: Mineral ressource
potential of South Greenland: review of new digital sets.
Danmarks og Grønlands Geologiske Undersøgelse Rapport
2000/50, 47 pp.
Stendal, H. (ed.) 2000: Exploration in Greenland: discoveries of
the 1990s. Transactions of the Institution of Mining and
Metallurgy, section B, Applied earth science 109, B1-B66.
