The Rare Earth Element Potential in Greenland - 2018

Rare Earth Deposits & Mining

Sørensen, and two co-authors, reported in 2018 that the supply of rare earth elements (REE) is complex. REE deposits are geographically unevenly distributed and the content of individual REEs varies from deposit to deposit; some deposits only containing a few of the REEs in demand. Greenland is endowed with several large REE deposits, related to various geological settings. Several projects have reached advanced stages of exploration. Additionally,
Greenland also holds geological terrains favorable for hosting undiscovered REE deposits, as concluded in a 2010 REE workshop. 

Based on the conclusions of the workshop and some follow up work, South Greenland is believed to have the largest potential for hosting new REE deposits, aside from of the known deposits at Kvanefjeld (Kuannersuit) and Kringlerne (Killavaat Alannguat). More promising areas are found around the
Grønnedal-Ika carbonatite. West Greenland is highly prospective for carbonatite-related REE deposits. Some of the known deposits are Sarfartoq, Qaqarssuk and Tikiusaaq, where the last was only discovered in 2006.

In the more remote and less investigated areas of Greenland, the Kap Simpson alkaline intrusion in central East Greenland and the Skjoldungen Alkaline Province in South East Greenland are believed to have a good potential for hosting new REE deposits. Several of the known deposits are already covered by exploration licences,where extensive exploration and drilling has been carried out to move the projects towards development and production. Greenland has thus responded to the increased global demand and has a possibility to become a major exporter of REE.