The mineral potential of the Nuuk region is promi-
sing, especially for gold, although the region is in
an early stage of exploration.
Presently, gold is the most prospective of the metals
with potential for future exploitation within the Nuuk
region. The high crustal level of the terrane, the occur-
rence of greenstone belts and the long geological histo-
ry with recurrent events of granite magmatism, shearing
and faulting renders a NNE-trending zone from Nuuk to
Isukasia favourable for gold mineralisation. There are se-
veral generations of Archaean greenstone belts, some
of which have close similarities with world class gold-
producing greenstone belts in Western Australia and in
Canada.
Geological setting
The gold showings in the Nuuk region seem to follow a
terrane boundary which can be traced for more than
150 km from Nuuk to Isukasia. Two gold occurrences
are found on Storø and at Isukasia together with gold
anomalies located through stream sediment surveys.
Other gold showings and anomalies at Ivisaartoq are
located on the south-eastern side of the terrane bound-
ary. Distribution patterns of lithophile and radioactive
elements demonstrate that high-level granite magma-
tism follow the same boundary. Although gold show-
ings are presently known at three sites only, there is
good chance that there are manifestations of a large
gold mineralising system affecting the entire zone.
Where observed, the terrane boundary is identified as a
narrow mylonitic zone, the Ivinnguit fault, formed dur-
ing continent-continent collision. The collision may have
happened as early as about 3.0 Ga or as late as 2.8-2.7
Ga, as granite veining at c. 2.7 Ga clearly post-dates the
mylonitic zone. The last major intrusion of granite, the
Qôrqut granite, took place at c. 2.5 Ga, and it is likely
that the intrusion was accompanied by rejuvenation of
the shear zones and additional faulting. Interpretation
of the geological history is strengthened by information
from the Survey's geochemical database, as well as
from modelling results based on airborne geophysical
data, likewise stored in the Survey archives.
Gold occurrences
On Storø high grade gold mineralisation is found over
mineable widths in mid- to late Archaean greenstones
along the Nuuk-Isukasia zone.
The discovery is a result of two drilling campaigns in
1995 by NunaOil A/S. The obtained results are up to 6
Gold in the Nuuk region of
West Greenland
Rusty Archaean greenstones with gold mineralisation, located adjacent to a major terrane boundary, Storø, Godthåbsfjord.
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
Author: P.W.U. Appel
Editor: K.Secher
Layout: GEUS, Grafisk
© GEUS 2004
ppm Au over 18 m, 20 ppm Au over 2 m and 37
ppm Au over 1.8 m.
Other gold occurrences were observed in early
Archaean greenstones at Isukasia, 100 km NE of
Storø, along the same zone. Here, grab samples
yielded up to 106 ppm gold in a shear zone-host-
ed, sheeted carbonate vein, and 3.1 ppm gold over
3 m in fuchsite-stained pyrite-rich chert.
Gold showings at Ivisaartoq are located in mid-
to late Archaean greenstones on the south-eastern
side of the zone. As the result of a brief explo-
ration campaign NunaOil A/S located rock samples
with up to 3.2 ppm Au and scree sediment sam-
ples with up to 1.5 ppm Au.
There are some indications that
the gold in the Nuuk region was
deposited from epigenetic, late
Archaean mineralising fluids, and
some of the showings contain
very good intersections.
However, the actual genesis of
the individual gold showings is
far from understood.
Exploration background
Exploration companies and
researchers have been attracted
to the Nuuk region since the
1960s. A prominent result from
the beginning of the period was
the discovery of the 2-billion
tonne iron ore deposit at Isukasia
by Kryolitselskabet Øresund A/S.
Later exploration outlined a
number of showings with a
range of commodities, including
the gold occurrences.
Contributors to this exploration
included Gemco Inc., Kidd Creek
Mines Ltd., RTZ Ltd. and NunaOil
A/S (NunaMinerals A/S).
Considering the favourable location and geological
settings of the region, exploration activity cannot
at all be said to be exhaustive. An outline of
research and company exploration, including rec-
ommendations for forward-looking activities, are
reviewed in Appel et al.(2003).
Akulleq
terrane
Tasiusarsuaq
terrane
Tre Brødre
terrane
Færingehavn
terrane
Akia
terrane
?
?
Qarliit Nunaat thrust
Ivinnguit fault
Ataneq
fault
Fiskefjord
fault
Kobbefjord
fault
500 km
-
Ivisaartoq
Fiskefjord
Isukasia
Nuuk
Godthåb
Ame
ralik
G
o
d
th
å
b
s
fj
or
d
Go
dthåbsfjord
Bj
ø
rne
øen
Sadel
ø
Storø
Kobbefjord
Qussuk
Buksefjord
en
Tre Brødre
Færingehavn
Qilanngaarsuit
Store Malene
Kangiusap
Nunaa
Sermilik
Qooqqut
Nordlan
det
Ilulialik
Qôrqut granite complex
Middle to late Archaean granites
Granulite facies
Middle to late Archaean, late-kinematic
tonalitic-granodioritic plutons
Middle to late Archaean grey orthogneiss
and granitic rocks
Noritic intrusions (Akia terrane)
Greenstone belts (undifferentiated)
Anorthosite-gabbro complexes
Early Archaean gneiss
Isua Greenstone Belt
Quaternary cover
50° W
52° W
64°N
65°N
50 km
Terrane boundary
Internal terrane boundary
Structural trend line
Palaeoproterozoic fault
The Nuuk region is in general terms the land area on the
West Greenland coast between 64° and 65° northern lati-
tude. The region has an excellent infrastructure and is easily
accessible. Ocean-going vessels can operate in the large
fjords all year round, and Greenland's largest town and cap-
ital, Nuuk, with its nearly 15,000 inhabitants provides excel-
lent communication, supply and maintenance facilities.
There are frequent international flight connections, and
helicopters are locally available. In addition there is a large
hydropower plant with sufficient capacity for new industrial
customers. The distance from Nuuk to Storø is 40 km and to
Isukasia about 150 km.
Key references
Appel, P.W.U.,Garde, A.A., Jørgensen, M.S., Moberg, E.,
Rasmussen, T.M., Schjødt, F. & Steenfelt, A. 2003:
Preliminary evaluation of the economic potential of the
greenstone belts in the Nuuk area. Danmarks og Grønlands
Geologiske Undersøgelse Rapport 2003/94, 147 pp. (DVD
included).
Appel, P.W.U., Bliss, I.C., Coller, D.W., Grahl-Madsen, L. &
Petersen, J.S. 2000: Recent gold discoveries in Archaean
rocks of central East Greenland. Transactions Institution
of Minig and Metallurgy, 109, B34B41.
Rasmussen, T.M., Thorning, L., Stemp, R.W., Jørgensen, M.S.
& Schjøth, F.2001: AEM Greenland 19941998 - sum-
mary report. Copenhagen: Danmarks og Grønlands
Geologiske Undersøgelse Rapport 2001/58, 46 pp. (CD-
ROM included).
Steenfelt, A. 2001: Geochemical atlas of Greenland West
and South Greenland, Danmarks og Grønlands Geologiske
Undersøgelse Rapport 2001/46, 40 pp. (CD-ROM
included).
Steenfelt, A., Thorning, L. & Tukiainen, T. 1990: Regional
compilations of geoscience data from the Nuuk-Maniitsoq
area, southern West Greenland. Thematic Map Series
Grønlands Geologiske Undersøgesle, 90/1, 9. 57 maps with
legends.
