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Theme Magazines and Fact Sheets
EXPLORATION AND MINING IN GREENLANDGreenland Mineral Resources
Fact Sheet No. 19
Download pdf-file go_fs19.pdf (~2.4 mb). Requires pdf-reader, Acrobat GSview or similar
Map of geological environments
and selected mineral occurrences
and selected mineral occurrences
500 km
Nalunaq
Au
Niaqornaarsuk
Au
Amitsoq
Graphite
Ilímaussaq
Zr, Be, REE, Nb, U, Th
Ivittuut
Cryolite
Taartoq
Au
Kobberminebugt (`Josva')
Cu
Grønnedal-Ika
Fe
Motzfeldt Sø
Ta, Nb
Sinarsuk
V, Ti
Kangerluluk
Au
Illorsuit
U
Stendalen
Cu, Ni, Ti
Fiskenæsset
Cr, Pt, Ruby
Cr, Pt, Ruby
Isukasia
Fe
Isua
Au
Ivisaartoq
W
Majuagaa
Diamond
Diamond
Seqi
Olivine
Qaqqaarsuk
REE, Nb, P
Sillisissanguit
Ni, Pt
Attu
Au
Sarfartoq
Nb, Ta
Storø
Au
Qussuk
Au
Eqi
Au
Au
Hammer Dal
Fe, Pt
Maarmorilik (`Black Angel')
Zn, Pb, Ag
Karrat
Au, Cu, Zn
Moriusaq
Ti
Washington Land
Zn, Pb, Ag
Inglefield Land
Fe, Au
Ymer Ø
Sb, W, Au
Clavering Ø
Pb, Zn, "Au"
Brogetdal
Cu
Citronen Fjord
Zn, Pb
Qullissat
Coal
Nuussuaq
Coal
Arveprinsen Ejland
Cu, Zn
Ilukunnguaq
Ni, Pt
Saqqaq
Au
Itilliarsuk, Itilli
Fe, Au, Cu, Co, Ni
Eqalussuit
Graphite
Melville Bugt
Fe
Langø
Graphite
Navarana Fjord
Zn, Barite
Naternaq
Cu, Zn
Kangerlussuaq
Diamond
Mestersvig (`Blyklippen')
Pb, Zn
Malmbjerg
Mo, W
Bredehorn
Barite
Milne Land
Zr, REE, Ti
Devon Dal
Cu
Flammefjeld
Mo, Au, Ag
Kap Edvard Holm
Au, Pt
Tasiilaq
Ni, Cu, Pt
Skærgaard
Au, Pd, Ti, V
Karstryggen
Celestite
I N L AND I C E
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s s s s s s
s s
s
s s
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n
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s s
s
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s s
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n
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n
Ice caps / Lakes
Quaternary rock
Phanerozoic basins ( <400ma)
Phanerozoic basins ( <400ma)
Lower Palaeozoic and Neoproterozoic basins
Mesoproterozoic basin
Palaeoproterozoic supracrustal rock
Archaean supracrustal rock
Palaeogene magmatic province
Proterozoic magmatic province
Caledonian magmatic province
Proterozoic basement
Reworked Archaean basement
Archaean basement
Fault, thrust
s
s
s
s
GOFactsheet 19:GOFactsheet 1 1/9/09 12:38 PM Page 1
Greenland is geologically and geographically
very much related to northern Canada and
Scandinavia although recent political history
is mostly coupled with Europe. Greenland,
the largest island in the world, covers
2,175,600 km
very much related to northern Canada and
Scandinavia although recent political history
is mostly coupled with Europe. Greenland,
the largest island in the world, covers
2,175,600 km
2
. It is 1,250 km wide from east
to west and 2,675 km from north to south.
The up to three kilometre thick Inland Ice cov-
ers some 80% of Greenland; the ice-free zone
around the Inland Ice is up to 300 km wide
and covers an area of ca. 410,000 km
The up to three kilometre thick Inland Ice cov-
ers some 80% of Greenland; the ice-free zone
around the Inland Ice is up to 300 km wide
and covers an area of ca. 410,000 km
2
, which,
by comparison, is more than Germany
(357,000 km
(357,000 km
2
).
The mineral occurrences in a region are
determined by the geological environment
and the geological processes forming the
mineral accumulations. The environments are
a reflection of the geotectonic evolution and
thus linked to global plate tectonic scenarios
through time.
and the geological processes forming the
mineral accumulations. The environments are
a reflection of the geotectonic evolution and
thus linked to global plate tectonic scenarios
through time.
Geological environments
The geological environments are categorised and
named according to their dynamic rock class as
being infracrustal, supracrustal, magmatic or sedi-
mentary.
named according to their dynamic rock class as
being infracrustal, supracrustal, magmatic or sedi-
mentary.
Infracrustal rocks consist mainly of gneiss, tonalitic
and granitic rocks of Archaean and Palaeo protero zoic
ages. Regions dominated by infra crustals in Green -
land are southern West, North-West and South-
East Greenland.
ages. Regions dominated by infra crustals in Green -
land are southern West, North-West and South-
East Greenland.
Supracrustal rocks are metamorphosed sedi-
mentary and volcanic rocks formed at the surface of
the earth. Through the geological processes, the
supra crustal rocks have become an integral part of
the basement rocks, making 520% of the rock
volume.
the earth. Through the geological processes, the
supra crustal rocks have become an integral part of
the basement rocks, making 520% of the rock
volume.
Infracrustal and supracrustal rocks are collectively
called the basement. Major supracrustal domains
of Palaeoproterozoic age comprise the Karrat Group
in northern West Greenland and the Psammite and
Pelite zones in South Greenland. Major intrusive
complexes of Paleoproterozoic age comprise the
Prøven Granite and the Arfersiorfik intrusive suite in
central and southern West Green land, the Juliane håb
batholith in South Greenland and the Ammassalik
intrusive complex in South-East Greenland.
of Palaeoproterozoic age comprise the Karrat Group
in northern West Greenland and the Psammite and
Pelite zones in South Greenland. Major intrusive
complexes of Paleoproterozoic age comprise the
Prøven Granite and the Arfersiorfik intrusive suite in
central and southern West Green land, the Juliane håb
batholith in South Greenland and the Ammassalik
intrusive complex in South-East Greenland.
Major intrusive and extrusive environments are
found within the Mesoproterozoic Gardar Province
of South Greenland and younger events as the
province of carbonatites and kimberlites of West
Green land, and the Caledonian granites and alka-
line granitoid intrusions of East Greenland. The
youngest extrusive environments are the Palaeo -
gene basaltic provinces of East and central West
Greenland.
of South Greenland and younger events as the
province of carbonatites and kimberlites of West
Green land, and the Caledonian granites and alka-
line granitoid intrusions of East Greenland. The
youngest extrusive environments are the Palaeo -
gene basaltic provinces of East and central West
Greenland.
Sedimentary environments encompass physical-
ly and chemically derived minerals from sources
related to the formation of basins. The sedimenta-
ry basins are dominating in East and North Green -
land geological history; the major sedimentary
basins are: the Mesoproterozic Thule Group,
Krummedal succession and Independence Fjord
Basin, the Neoproterozic Eleonore Bay Supergroup
and Phanerozoic sedimentary basins. Commodities
within this environment are dominated by base
metals and industrial minerals.
related to the formation of basins. The sedimenta-
ry basins are dominating in East and North Green -
land geological history; the major sedimentary
basins are: the Mesoproterozic Thule Group,
Krummedal succession and Independence Fjord
Basin, the Neoproterozic Eleonore Bay Supergroup
and Phanerozoic sedimentary basins. Commodities
within this environment are dominated by base
metals and industrial minerals.
Concluding remarks
The mineral occurrences are tied to geological
environments and geological processes forming
the mineral accumulations. The combination of
this information in one map makes it apparent
where to look for specific minerals, both as single
commodities, in selected geological environments
or among known mineralisation types.
environments and geological processes forming
the mineral accumulations. The combination of
this information in one map makes it apparent
where to look for specific minerals, both as single
commodities, in selected geological environments
or among known mineralisation types.
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
39 Eqi
21 Storø
45 Saqqaq
43 Itilli
35 Ataneq
24 Qussuk
38 Naternaq
19 Sinarsuk
26 Isuakasia
33 Eqalussuit
16 Sermiligaarsuk
(Taartoq)
(Taartoq)
18 Qeqertarsuatsiaat/
Fiskenæsset
40 Anderson
Showing
Showing
41 Itilliarsuk
42 Itilliarsuk
23 Ivisaartoq
100 km
29-aug-2007
Legend
Locality
all other values
Archaean supracrustal rock
Palaeoproterozoic supracrustal rock
52°W
Supracrustal
environment
West Greenland
environment
West Greenland
KMB
66°N
64°N
62°N
52°N
40°N
64°N
62°N
68°N
70°N
70°N
70°N
Close-up of the geological map with focus on
supracrustal rocks in South-West Greenland.
supracrustal rocks in South-West Greenland.
Authors
K. Secher, GEUS
Editor
K. Secher, GEUS
Layout
Carsten Egestal Thuesen, GEUS
Photographs
GEUS unless otherwise stated
Printed
January 2009 © GEUS
Printers
Schultz Grafisk
ISSN
1602-8171
