A newsletter to the international mining industry with up-to-date geoscientific and legislatory information about Greenland. MINEX is an acronym for Greenland Mineral Exploration Newsletter. The newsletter is published by GEUS in co-operation with Bureau of Minerals and Petroleum, Greenland Government. MINEX is available free of charge. To subscribe to MINEX, please fill out the form |
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Headlines
Nalunaq Gold Mine continues production New mineral showings in southern West Greenland found during GEUS field work Hudson drill results confirm high grade REE zones on the Sarfartoq carbonatite project Skaergaard Gold-PGM project moves to next stage following positive scoping study review Advanced field programme completed byTrue North Gems at Fiskenæsset Ruby Project 2009 Citronen field season drilling results Pink sapphire takes the prize in the annual Mineral Hunt competition NunaMinerals positive for new REE-prospect and the Storø gold-deposit 21st North - a new Danish-Greenlandic junior on the exploration Greenland welcomes visitors to the Mineral Exploration Roundup 2010 in Vancouver MINEX only available on the web from 2010 New issues of the series 'Geology and Ore' and 'Fact Sheets' with themes on Greenland exploration and mining Download MINEX No. 35, December 2009 - suitable for printing minex35.pdf (~1 mB, requires a pdf-reader). Nalunaq Gold Mine continues production
View westwards along the Nalunaq Gold Mine valley.The mine town and harbour road are situated in the valley floor. Mine roads on the mountain slope are connecting the three underground working levels (right).
Nicholas Hall, Chief Executive Officer, commented: "The completion of the acquisition of the Nalunaq mine is a major step in the transformation of the company.We believe the Nalunaq mine can be operated profitably by adopting a mining method that will enable us to employ local labour and by producing concentrate on site.We look forward to progressing with this opportunity." 
New mineral showings in southern West Greenland found during GEUS field work
Map showing part of the Fiskenæsset Anorthosite complex (blue, grey and purple). Black stars show the positions of the chip/channel profiles with the highest PGE values. Insert the operation during saw cutting for channel profile sampling.
Recent field work comprising detailed mapping, chip and channel sampling of a more than 5 km long, and several tens of metres thick, layer of ultrabasic rocks comprising peridotites, bronzitites, pyroxenites and hornblendites has revealed significant PGE concentrations. Several chip and channel profiles have been sampled across the ultramafic layers.The peak value is 1.9 ppm Pt + Pd over 1 metre (marked with black stars on map). In the same profile, values of 614 ppb Pt + Pd over 5 metres have been found. Furthermore, 5 km along the strike towards the east, a profile with grab samples yielded a peak value of 1.1 ppm Pt + Pd and 27 ppb Rh. Chip and channel profiles on other sites in the same suite of ultramafics have also yielded elevated PGE contents. Mineralogical investigations of heavy minerals in the PGE reef proved that the PGE occurs as discrete minerals such as: Froodite PdBi2; Sobolovskite (Pd,Pt)Bi; Insizwaite Pt,Bi2; Maslowite PtTeBi; Michenerite (Pd,Pt)TeBi and Keithconnite Pd3-X(Te,Bi). The area investigated is situated next to the sea with excellent access for larger vessels.The discovery of these PGE occurrences indicates that further PGE mineralisations may be present in the large Fiskenæsset complex. Furher information: Peter Appel (pa@geus.dk). 
Sheared rusty amphibolite outcrop containing
569 ppb Au gold in the Bjørnesund
area.The structure can be followed for
several hundred meters along the strike.
During the GEUS field season in 2009, a research team visited the area north of the Sermilik Fjord in order to study the potential for hydrothermal gold mineralisation.A narrow quartz vein system was studied at 51°0.1'W and 63°31.9'N.The veins are 10–20 cm wide and locally, several parallel veins form a laminated texture.An in situ rock sample yielded 6370 ppb Au whereas another vein recorded only 5 ppb Au. Gold is associated with iron oxides and hydroxides, suggesting remobilisation during weathering of primary sulphides.Although only one of the veins shows high gold values, the area is regarded as promising for further gold exploration. Furher information: Jochen Kolb (jkol@geus.dk). Stockwork silver-copper mineralisation realised A showing that can be followed over several km south of Ameralik Fjord was revisited after the discovery of elevated gold and copper reported in 2005 from a float sample(50°81.4'W and 64°04.0'N). Stockwork-type, mm-scale quartz veinlets cross cut the Archaean gneiss at the site. Geochemical analysis (n = 13) yields high metal contents of 0.1–2 wt.% Cu and 1–25 ppm Ag, with enriched values for Au, Mo, Zn and Bi.The veins show moderate to steep dips and NW–SE major strike direction.The hydrothermally mineralised stockwork zone is situated between two regional N–S trending, Proterozoic faults that display a right lateral step.The structural position of the stockwork zone represents a dilational jog linking the two faults. Focusing of fluids, and stockwork-type veining and mineralisation, are controlled by regional anisotropies represented by the dilational jog. Furher information: Jochen Kolb (jkol@geus.dk). New anomalous gold values located in the BjørnesundWest area Prior to field work, the greenstone belt occurring in the Bjørnesund area, southernWest Greenland, had shown promise of hosting gold.The purpose of the field work was to verify this potential and to follow up on alteration anomalies derived from Aster remote sensing data.A several tens-of-metres-wide shear zone was studied at 50°16.2'W and 62°54.4'N at 555 m elevation above sea level in the BjørnesundWest area.The zone can be followed over several hundreds of metres along the strike. In detail, this shear zone contains a 50 cm yellow-brownish, rusty stained amphibolite, which hosts parallel quartz-carbontate veinlets. Chip samples over 50 cm yielded 569 ppb Au, whereas a similar amphibolite 1.5 km towards the southwest yielded 31 ppb over about 10 m. This new occurrence at Bjørnesund West can be put into the regional context because several rocks with elevated gold content of several hundred ppb have been reported from earlier work by NunaOil A/S in the 1990s in the region east of Bjørnesund.These zones with elevated gold content are located in a thrust-shear zone located between meta-quartz-diorite and gneiss and this structure can be followed for at least 10 km along the strike.The new gold occurrence from BjørnesundWest represents the western continuation of the same thrust-shear zone and consequently adds to the overall potential of the Bjørnesund greenstone belt, which could host zones with higher gold contents than recognised so far. Furher information: Denis Schlatter (dms@geus.dk).
Hudson drill results confirm high grade REE zones on the Sarfartoq carbonatite project
Shearzone from the fenitised alteration rim of the Sarfartoq
Carbonatite complex – a part of the REE Project in the area.
Nine drill holes totalling 1,331 metres of reconnaissance drilling were completed in three target areas on the company's 100% owned Sarfartoq license.Three holes (355 m) were completed on the ST40 target, four holes (573 m) on the ST1 target and two holes (402 m) on the ST19 target. All three target areas underwent surface exploration earlier in the year and yielded significant REE results. Highlights are as follows: ST1 0.25m of 2.19% TREO including 9.55m of 3.98% TREO in Hole SAR09-04 29.90m of 1.38% TREO including 12.45m of 2.18% TREO in Hole SAR09-05 63.10m of 1.02% TREO including 11.95m of 1.50% TREO in HoleSAR09-06 Neodymium oxide and praseodymium oxide average over 25% of the TREO ST40 10.22m of 1.36% TREO in Hole SAR09-03. Neodymium oxide and praseodymium oxide average over 54% of the TREO Europium oxide averages 1.3% of the TREO ST19 16.00m of 1.02%TREO with several smaller intersections of more than 1% TREO
Note:
All elements reported by ALS Chemex in parts per million (ppm).Total Rare Earth Oxides (TREO) are converted using atomic weights based on the formula REE2O3. 2. Neodymium and praseodymium and europium oxide expressed as a percentage of total rare earth oxides. " These initial drill results confirm that the Sarfartoq Project has the potential to host several rare earth deposits stated James Tuer, Hudson's President. "We are very pleased with the grade and thickness of the intercepts, particularly at ST1, which suggests the potential for a high-grade, large tonnage, near surface body.The results of ST40 also confirm the high proportion of neodymium encountered on surface.The fact that these two zones may be joined over a distance of 2.5 km is extremely encouraging.While the two holes (8 and 9) drilled into ST19 did not reach the targeted high-grade zone consistent with some of our highest REE surface sample assays, strong mineralization of 1.0%TREO over 16m demonstrates the presence of widely spread mineralization in the project area.We are planning to move ahead aggressively in 2010 with an expanded drill program, geophysical surveying and metallurgical test work to allow us to rapidly advance this exciting project. "
Skaergaard Gold-PGM project moves to next stage following positive scoping study review
Gold zone map of the Skaergaard intrusion. Insert is
the legend to the map. After:
Platina Resources Ltd.
Nearby to Skaergaard the Company will be conducting follow-up exploration activities at the Kangerlussuaq Alkaline Complex (20km west of Skaergaard), where they uncovered mineralisation grading up to 2.5g/t Au, 1,583g/t Ag , 7.7% Cu, 4.3% Mo, 10.1% Pb and 12.2% Zn. It is likely that we will be flying a magnetic survey over this location and then following up with further sampling and mapping said the Exploration Manager. In a location called Sortekap (roughly 40km NNE of Skaergaard) gold grades of 1.0g/t to 2.7g/t were recovered in 2009 sampling. This is a completely new discovery and will be followed up with further sampling and mapping concluded Mr.Abraham-James in the press release. The Inferred Resource estimate for the Skaergaard deposit, which includes the Palladium Zone, the Gold Zone and the Combined Zone, was recently reviewed as outlined in Table:
* Refers to that part of the Combined Zone with vertical thickness of 17.5m or less to a minimum of 2m Calculated under Canadian National Instrument 43-101(and is in accordance with the JORC Code)
Advanced field programme completed by True North Gems at Fiskenæsset Ruby ProjectOn 6 October 2009,True North Gems announced that the field-related components of the 2009 advanced exploration and engineering programme have been completed at the company's 100%-owned Fiskenæsset Ruby Project. The strategic focus of the 2009 programme was the acquisition of data required to support the company's application for an exploitation (mining) licence to facilitate subsequent test mining and test marketing.The field programme began in late July and concluded in the first week of September, successfully achieving the following objectives according to Andrew Lee Smith, CEO:
2009 Citronen field season drilling resultsIronbark announced on 30 September 2009 that the field season at its wholly owned Citronen base metal project(Citronen Fjord) has been successfully completed and all drilling results have been received. Ironbark drilled 23 diamond drill holes for a total of 2,345m, taking the total metres drilled in the project to date to in excess of 46,000m in 204 drill holes. Drilling focused on obtaining samples for metallurgical test work, geotechnical investigations. Focus was also on confirming tenor and continuity of high-grade zinc mineralisation in areas likely to be mined early in the project life.The 2009 campaign builds on Ironbark's 2008 field season drilling programme, which focused on resource expansion and resulted in a 38% increase in zinc metal content.Drilling was completed on nominal 50m centres in the shallow portions of the Beach Level 2 Zone.An area of 450 x 150 m was drilled – which equates to 4% of the global resource.This area was selected as mineralisation is shallow and representative of the global resource. In addition to the increased confidence gained from drilling, over 1,000 kg of mineralised material obtained from drill holes was dispatched from the site.This material is now at the Ammtec Burnie Research Laboratory in Tasmania, where a feasibility level metallurgical test work programme has commenced. Ironbark believes the information obtained from this season's field work represents a significant step forward for the project towards full feasibility and ultimate production, concluded Jonathan Downes, Managing Director. The current JORC compliant resource for Citronen is as follows:
(Using Ordinary Kriging interpolation and reported at a 2% Zn cut-off).
Pink sapphire takes the prize in the annual Mineral Hunt competition
This year nearly 955 rock samples were submitted and 216 of these were analysed. Chemical analysis has revealed several samples with gemstones (sapphire, pink), interesting metals as molybdenum, manganese, and nickel-cobalt. 1st-prize winner of Ujarassiorit 2009 A rock sample collected east of Tasiilaq (Nagtivit) received the 1st prize of DKK 55,000.The sample is an amphibolitic rock from an in-situ exposure with crystals of pink sapphire.The submitted sample was collected by Vittus Sakæussen, who receives DKK 27,500 from the Bureau of Minerals and Petroleum and DKK 27,500 from the Bank of Greenland Industrial Fund.The sample represents an environment for finding coloured corundum minerals, which is a novelty in the area. 2nd-prize winner of Ujarassiorit 2009 The 2nd-prize winner receives DKK 25,000; DKK 12,500 from the Bureau of Minerals and Petroleum and DKK 12,500 from the Bank of Greenland Industrial Fund.The award went to a sample from an outcrop of pegmatite with molybdenite (0.27 %Mo).The sample was collected at Niaqornarsuaq near the village of Kullorsuaq by Jens Martin Jensen. 3rd-prize winners of Ujarassiorit 2009 Two 3rd prizes of DKK 10,000 from the Bureau of Minerals and Petroleum were awarded: 
The rock sample collected east of Tasiilaq (Nagtivit) which received
the 1st prize of The mineral hunt 2009.The sample is an amphibolitic
rock from an in-situ exposure with crystals of pink sapphire.
4th-prize winners of Ujarassiorit 2009 Four 4th prizes of DKK 5,000 from the Bureau of Minerals and Petroleum were awarded to in-situ samples containing exceptional minerals or with special characteristics:
NunaMinerals positive for new REEprospect and the Storø gold-depositPromising REE analyses from the Maniitsoq prospectNunaMinerals has conducted reconnaissance prospecting for Rare Earth Elements (REE) within the company's Mantsoq licence.Two of 11 samples yielded 3.4% and 1.3% REE (measured as oxides) from the locality Qeqertaasaq which covers the well known Qaqqaarsuk carbonatite complex. NunaMinerals president and CEO Ole Christiansen said 2 December 2009: "These first assays from a modest reconnaissance programme are a strong indication that the carbonatite has the potential to host an economic REEdeposit. The company now has the opportunity to look for a partner for the continued exploration of this project." The contents of lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium and neodymium oxides in the two samples are 98% and 94% of the Total REO respectively.The REEs are hosted in barium- and strontium-rich carbonatite rocks. The carbonatite at Qeqertaasaq was discovered by Kryolitselskabet Øresund (KØ) in 1962 and described as the Qaqqaarsuk carbonatite complex. It comprises an inverted cone structure with ring dykes of carbonatite in a 5 x 3 km wide oval pattern.The country rocks are extensively altered (fenitised). During the 1960s and 1970s,KØ conducted exploration for REE and niobium. Other companies and GEUS have also carried out exploration and research in the area focusing on the niobium and phosphate potential. The Storø gold deposits to be drilled in 2010 In May 2008 NunaMinerals announced the results of the first metallurgical studies on bulk samples from Qingaaq on the island of Storø. The metallurgical study showed that between 48% and 79% of the gold can be extracted by gravity alone and that between 85% and 95% of the gold can be extracted by a combination of physical and chemical processes.Additional test work would optimise the recovery. NunaMinerals and its partner, Nuukfjord Gold Mines Ltd, expects to conduct diamond drilling during 2010 with the aim of producing an initial resource estimate for the Main Zone and the BD Zone at the Qingaaq prospect on Storø.The resource estimate could lead to the preparation of a preliminary economic assessment and to the completion of a bulk sampling program in 2011.
21st North – a new Danish-Greenlandic junior on the exploration stage21st NORTH is an independent Danish consulting company providing a range of services for the mineral industry. The company focuses at delivering and executing highquality, innovative and cost effective solutions based on more than three decades of in-house experience with mineral exploration and logistical planning in Greenland and Scandinavia.The company has experts on mineral exploration and logistical planning in remote inaccessible regions of Greenland and Scandinavia.'In under-explored regions of Greenland and Scandinavia, the company is single-handedly and actively generating and developing new grassroot exploration projects focusing on gold, nickel-copper, chromium, vanadium, REE, tungsten, antimony, diamonds and platinum group elements' said Mr.Anders Lie, Executive Partner.
Greenland welcomes visitors to the Mineral Exploration Roundup 2010 in VancouverThe BMP tradition to exhibit at the annual Roundup trade show in Vancouver, Canada, will continue in 2010. You are invited to visit the Greenland booth (C11–C12) on January 18 to January 21 2010.The exhibit will focus on geological environments and the possibilities of finding ´giants´, specific commodities and new areas with a mineral resources potential. Stop by the booth and meet the experts, who will be ready to tell you about geology, licensing and logistics in Greenland.
Attention: MINEX only available on the web from 2010: minex@geus.dk
Screen dump of the MINEX homepage http://www.geus.dk/minex.htm
* Further information on the "Greenland Day" in Perth, Australia, can be obtained from: Head of Geology Department at BMP, Henrik Stendal (HDAL@gh.gl).
New issues of the series Geology & Ore and Fact Sheets with themes on Greenland exploration and miningNew issues have been published in the series 'Geology & Ore' and 'Fact Sheets' (on Greenland mineral resources).2009 Geology & Ore No. 16: Greenland and its geological environments favourable for future mining, 12 pp 2009 Fact Sheet No. 21: The Mineral Hunt, 2 pp 2009 Fact Sheet No. 22: Greenland geological environments favourable for mining, 2 pp 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, Homepage: www.bmp.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: minex@geus.dk, Homepage: www.geus.dk
Last modified: January, 2010
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