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Theme Magazines and Fact Sheets
EXPLORATION AND MINING IN GREENLANDGreenland Mineral Resources
Fact Sheet No. 9
Download pdf-file go_fs09.pdf (~250 kbyte). Requires pdf-reader, Acrobat GSview or similar
The potential for nickel resources in Greenland is
conspicuous and encompasses mineralisation from
Precambrian to Palaeogene environments.
Nickeliferous sulphides were noted already in the
inter-war period and have appeared in Survey re-
porting since the 1950s. The discovery of the
Voisey's Bay deposit in Labrador in 1994 revived
the nickel exploration world-wide, not least in
Greenland. For decades the detection of Ni has
been an accepted aid in the PGE exploration.
Likewise, to day Ni-exploration can benefit from
the increased search for PGEs in Greenland.
conspicuous and encompasses mineralisation from
Precambrian to Palaeogene environments.
Nickeliferous sulphides were noted already in the
inter-war period and have appeared in Survey re-
porting since the 1950s. The discovery of the
Voisey's Bay deposit in Labrador in 1994 revived
the nickel exploration world-wide, not least in
Greenland. For decades the detection of Ni has
been an accepted aid in the PGE exploration.
Likewise, to day Ni-exploration can benefit from
the increased search for PGEs in Greenland.
Geological environments
Traces of nickel accumulations are numerous, in the
Precambrian terrain located within the Archaean craton
as well as in the Palaeoproterozoic orogenic belts.
Precambrian terrain located within the Archaean craton
as well as in the Palaeoproterozoic orogenic belts.
The Archaean in South-West Greenland hosts anor-
thositic suites like the Fiskenæsset Complex south of
Nuuk, which represents a metamorphic mafic complex,
with accumulation of chromite and to a lesser degree of
Ni-rich sulphide segregations. Additionally, the Archaean
shield north of Nuuk is the host of the Maniitsoq norite
belt carrying occurrences of Ni-Cu-sulphides. South of
the norite belt a number of large ultramafic bodies and
layered mafic complexes locally show signs of Ni-enrich-
ment.
thositic suites like the Fiskenæsset Complex south of
Nuuk, which represents a metamorphic mafic complex,
with accumulation of chromite and to a lesser degree of
Ni-rich sulphide segregations. Additionally, the Archaean
shield north of Nuuk is the host of the Maniitsoq norite
belt carrying occurrences of Ni-Cu-sulphides. South of
the norite belt a number of large ultramafic bodies and
layered mafic complexes locally show signs of Ni-enrich-
ment.
After the discovery of the Voisey's Bay world-class depo-
sit of Ni-Co sulphides in Canadian northern Labrador in
1994 much effort has been performed in order to look
for similar deposits in Greenland. A correlation across
the Davis Strait with specific emphasis on settings re-
sembling the Palaeoproterozoic Voisey's Bay deposit is
considered. Although the correlation is generally accep-
ted, there has so far been no break in locating similar
sulphide bodies on the Greenland side. However, the
exploration carried out by several companies since the
mid-1990s is not yet completed and a number of pro-
spects have turned up. Previous knowledge about Ni-
sulphides on the Greenland side has also been reconsid-
ered in the light of this correlation view.
sit of Ni-Co sulphides in Canadian northern Labrador in
1994 much effort has been performed in order to look
for similar deposits in Greenland. A correlation across
the Davis Strait with specific emphasis on settings re-
sembling the Palaeoproterozoic Voisey's Bay deposit is
considered. Although the correlation is generally accep-
ted, there has so far been no break in locating similar
sulphide bodies on the Greenland side. However, the
exploration carried out by several companies since the
mid-1990s is not yet completed and a number of pro-
spects have turned up. Previous knowledge about Ni-
sulphides on the Greenland side has also been reconsid-
ered in the light of this correlation view.
Palaeogene Ni-sulphide accumulations are confined to
the West Greenland Basalt Province, where exploration
has been carried out in many years. Known occurrences
are mainly hosted in presumably sediment-contaminat-
ed lava and dykes at the base of the basalt sequence in
the West Greenland Basalt Province, where exploration
has been carried out in many years. Known occurrences
are mainly hosted in presumably sediment-contaminat-
ed lava and dykes at the base of the basalt sequence in
the Disko region. Moreover, the basalt region is general-
ly looked upon as having a large potential for Ni-occur-
rences. Similar environments in East Greenland are in-
vestigated briefly for potential Ni-resources.
ly looked upon as having a large potential for Ni-occur-
rences. Similar environments in East Greenland are in-
vestigated briefly for potential Ni-resources.
Archaean settings
Qeqertarsuatsiaat:
Fiskenæsset Complex.
Chromitite layered anoth-
osite, covering 4000 km
2
. Associated amphibolite has average Ni-
content of 0.04%
Sillisissanguit Nunaat:
Maniitsoq norite belt.
A number of bodies of basic
igneous rock situated in a 15 x 75 km tract. Dominating rocks are
leucogabbro-norite, locally with massive sulphide segregations. Ni-
content of the mineralised rocks is up to 2 %.
Fiskefjord:
Mafic and ultramafic intrusions s.l.
Isolated bodies of ultra-
mafics are scattered in the basement, locally with sulphides and up
to 0.3% Ni. Investigation of layered mafic complexes with unknown
Ni-potential is approaching.
Vestfjord:
Mafic rocks.
Supposed Archaean hosted suite of sulphide-
bearing mafic and ultramafic rocks locally with elevated Ni-content
of 0.32%. Cursory investigation of earlier observations supplied
limited information on type and setting.
Palaeoproterozoic settings The Nagssutoqidian Orogen
Kakilisattooq:
Nickelliferous sulphides in drill cores.
Mineralisation in
stringers with up to 30 vol% of sulphides in amphibolitic sequences
within reactivated basement. Maximum Ni-content of 0.67% from
drill coring in 150 x 300 m geophysical target. No outcropping.
Arfersiorfik:
Company reports of Ni-traces.
Early reports of discrete Ni-
arsenide mineralisation with up to 0.25% Ni. Recent exploration
in areas with supracrustal sequences containing several pods of
ultramafics along the Nordre Strømfjord failed to locate magmatic
nickeliferous sulphides. However, Ni-values of the ultramafics are
in the rage 0.2-0.3%.
Greenland's prospective
nickel resources
Nickel exploration and drilling in the neighbourhood of Illukunnguaq
on the Disko Island, West Greenland.
on the Disko Island, West Greenland.
Tasiilaq:
Ammassalik Igneous Complex.
An igneous diorite com-
plex comprised of three plutonic centres is exposed for more
than 500 km
2
. Recent exploration reports average Ni-values
of around 1% from a couple of sulphide lenses, traceable
for several km along the contacts of the complex.
Palaeoproterozoic settings
The Ketilidian Orogen (and younger deposits)
Amitsoq:
PGE-Ni-sulphides in ultrabasic rocks.
Peridotitic dyke
and sill bodies contain zones up to 1.5 m with a concentra-
tion of various sulphides including pentlandite. The ultra-
mafics are suggested to be a part of an appinite suite found
throughout the Ketilidian. Ni-analyses indicate contents of
up to 0.07%.
Stendalen:
Layered gabbro complex:
Sulphide accumulations in
assumed rafts within a sequence of a sheet-like layered gab-
bro complex, covering at least 24 km
2
. Rusty zones trace-
able for 2 km or more with disseminated sulphides carry up
to 0.5% Ni.
Ilimmaasaq:
Nickeliferous ore minerals in Gardar intrusions.
A
suite of noble Ni-minerals (niccolite a.o.) is known as vein
related mineralisation of suggested hydrothermal replacement
genesis within an agpaitic Gardar intrusion. Ni-content in min-
eralisation in the order of 20-40%.
Palaeogene settings
Illukunnguaq:
Sulphide-rich dyke:
Sulphide occurrence hosted
in a sediment-contaminated dyke at the base of the basalt
sequence on the eastern coast of Disko Island. A 28 t lump
of sulphide ore was dug out in 1931 and several times since
then the occurrence was explored. The Ni-content of the
sulphide ore reaches 8%.
Hammer Dal:
Sulphide-rich volcanics:
Sediment contaminated
dykes and subvolcanic intrusions show signs of sulphide
enrichment (together with metallic iron) with at least 1% Ni
at several localities in the Disko region. At Nuussuaq an esti-
mated amount of 10 million t nickeliferous sulphide ore
should be looked for at the lava base.
Kangerlussuaq:
Mafic intrusions:
Macrodykes and intrusions of
gabbroic rocks show local signs of PGE-Cu-Ni bearing sul-
phide mineralisation related to contaminated contacts.
Depletion of the magmas in the region is debated, and spe-
cific data on Ni-contents is not yet available.
Nickel exploration
The exploration for Ni benefits from traditionally
used methods as well as newly developed geo-
physical techniques. Mineralisation models refer-
ring to Voisey's Bay and Noril'sk style deposits are
in particular focus. Geological and geochemical
mapping and interpretation together with dating
information are useful approaches in the Green-
land environment. Traditional geophysical mapping
has been conducted successfully, and new geo-
physical techniques are now introduced (e.g.`Titan
24'-system) in order to search for sulphides at
depths in flood basalt areas.
used methods as well as newly developed geo-
physical techniques. Mineralisation models refer-
ring to Voisey's Bay and Noril'sk style deposits are
in particular focus. Geological and geochemical
mapping and interpretation together with dating
information are useful approaches in the Green-
land environment. Traditional geophysical mapping
has been conducted successfully, and new geo-
physical techniques are now introduced (e.g.`Titan
24'-system) in order to search for sulphides at
depths in flood basalt areas.
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
Greenland Mineral Resources
Author:
K.Secher
Editor: K.Secher
Layout: GEUS, Grafisk
© GEUS 2004
ISSN: 1602-8171
Key references
Harpøth, O., Pedersen, J. L., Schønwandt, H.K. & Thomassen,
B. 1986: The mineral occurrences of central East Greenland.
Meddelelser om Grønland, Geoscience
17
,139 pp.
Nielsen, T.F.D. & Bernstein, S. 2004: Maturation of areas in the
Tertiary of East Greenland for PGE-Ni-Cu exploration.
Danmarks og Grønlands Geologiske Undersøgelse Rapport
2004/6
, 59 pp. (CD-ROM included).
Nielsen, B. L.1973: A survey of the economic geology of Greenland.
Rapport Grønlands Geologiske Undersøgelse
56
, 45 pp.
Pauly, H. 1958: Igdlukúnguaq nickeliferous pyrrhotite. Texture and
composition. A contribution to the genesis of the ore type.
Meddelelser om Grønlan
157(3)
,167 pp.
Schjøth, F., Garde. A.A., Jørgensen, M.S., Lind, M., Moberg, E.,
Nielsen, T.F.D., Rasmussen, T.M., Secher, K., Steenfelt, A.,
Stendal, H.,Thorning, L. & Tukiainen. T. 2000: Mineral resource
potential of South Greenland, Danmarks og Grønlands
Geologiske Undersøgelse Rapport
2000/57
, 36 pp, CD-Rom
included.
Soen, O. I. and H. Sørensen 1964: The occurrence of nickel-
arsenides and nickel-antimonide at Igdlúnguaq, in the
Ilímaussaq alkaline massif, South Greenland. Meddelelser
om Grønland
172(1)
, 50 pp.
Steenfelt, A. 2001: Geochemical atlas of Greenland West and
South Greenland, Danmarks og Grønlands Geologiske
Undersøgelse Rapport
2001/46
, 40 pp. (CD-ROM included).
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
, B1B66.
Ulff-Møller, F.1991: Magmatic platinum-nickel occurrences in
the Tertiary West Greenland Basalt Province: prospecting by
Greenex A/S in 1985-1988. Open File Series Grønlands
Geologiske Undersøgelse
91/1
: 37pp.
Vestfjord
Vestfjord
Vestfjord
Kangerlussuaq
Tasiilaq
Ilimimaasaq
Ilimimaasaq
Ilimimaasaq
Stendalen
Amitsoq
Qeqertarsuatsiaat
Sillisissanguit
Sillisissanguit
Nunaat
Nunaat
Sillisissanguit
Nunaat
Kakilisattooq
Kakilisattooq
Arfiersiorfik
Arfiersiorfik
Fiskefjord
Fiskefjord
Nuussuaq
Nuussuaq
Kakilisattooq
Arfiersiorfik
Fiskefjord
Nuussuaq
Hammer Dal
Illukunnguaq
Last modified: April 17, 2005
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