mima-rapport 2014_1_omslag

Authors:

Nynke Keulen, Kristine Thrane, Bo Møller Stensgaard and Per Kalvig

MiMa_Rapport_2014-1 (ca. 0.5 mb)

 

 

 

 

 

The exploration for uranium in Greenland has been dormant for approximately 30 years, but in 2013 new Greenlandic legislation opened up the country for uranium exploration and mining. This report outlines the potential for uranium deposits in Greenland. The selection of areas of interest for uranium exploration is based on available geological information and the classification of uranium deposits proposed by the International Atomic Energy Authority. The most prospective types of uranium deposits in Green- land are sandstone deposits, unconformity-related deposits, quartz pebble conglomerate deposits, vein deposits, intrusive deposits, volcanic deposits, and metasomatite deposits.

Based on current geological information, the geographic area with the highest potential for uranium deposits is South Greenland. In this region the strongest candidate deposits are hosted in the Gardar intrusive complex and the sandstones of the psammite zone. West Greenland hosts several carbonatite intrusions; the available data suggests that the Sarfartoq and Qaqarssuk intrusions have an especially high potential for uranium.

In North-West Greenland sediments of the Thule Supergroup provide an interesting target for exploration as sandstone or basal unconformity-type deposits. Central East Greenland hosts Mesozoic sandstones and a variety of intrusive complexes, volcanic rocks and veins that also make strong targets for uranium exploration.

This report gives a detailed overview of all areas that host potential uranium deposits and includes a description of all known uranium occurrences in Greenland.

 

Contents

Executive Summary 6

1. Introduction 8

1.1 Background  8
1.2 Available uranium data for Greenland 9
1.2.1 Company reports and Survey literature (DODEX) 9
1.2.2 Greenland Mineral Occurrence Map (GMOM) 10
1.2.3 Rock samples 10
1.2.4 Stream sediment samples 12
1.2.5 Ground and airborne scintillometric surveys 14
1.3 Uranium deposit types 14
1.3.1. Classification of uranium types 15
1.4 Known uranium occurrences in Greenland 17

2. Areas with known uranium occurrences and with a potential to host a uranium deposit 19
2.1 Sandstone deposits (D1) 19
2.1.1 Introduction 19
2.1.2 Psammite zone (metasandstone), South Greenland (D1-A) 21
2.1.2.1 Illorsuit (D1-A1) 21
2.1.3 Eriksfjord Formation sandstones, Gardar province (D1-B) 22
2.1.4 Nuussuaq Group sandstones (D1-C) 22
2.1.5 Thule Supergroup sandstones (D1-D) 23
2.1.6 Independence Fjord Group sandstones including the Trekant Series and the sandstones and conglomerates in Kronprins Christian Land (D1-E) 24
2.1.7 Hagen Fjord Group sandstones (D1-F) 26
2.1.8 Wandel Sea Basin sandstones (D1-G) 26
2.1.9 Eleonore Bay Supergroup and Tillite Group sandstones (D1-H) 27
2.1.10 Central East Greenland basins sandstones (D1-I) 27
2.1.10.1 Milne Land (D1-I1) 28
2.1.11 Kangerlussuaq Basin sandstones (D1-J) 29
2.2 Unconformity-related deposits (D2) 30
2.2.1 Introduction 30
2.2.2 Base of the Eriksfjord Formation, Gardar province (D2-A) 32
2.2.3 Grænseland (Borderzone) and Midternæs unconformity (D2-B) 32
2.2.4 Kome Formation in the Nuussuaq Group (D2-C) 33
2.2.5 Base of the Thule Supergroup (D2-D) 33
2.2.6 Dallas Bugt Formation, Franklinian Basin (D2-E) 33
2.2.7 Devonian to Permian clastic sediments in central East Greenland (D2-F) 34
2.2.8 Base of the pelite and psammite zone, South Greenland (D2-G) 35
2.3 Quartz-pebble conglomerate deposits (D4) 36
2.3.1 Introduction 36
2.3.2 Conglomerates associated with the Ketilidian sediments in South-East Greenland (D4-A) 38
2.3.3 Grænseland and Midternæs conglomerates (D4-B) 38
2.3.4 Metasediments on southern Nuussuaq and in the Ataa domain (D4-C) 38
2.3.5 Kome Formation conglomerates (D4-D) 39
2.3.6 Karrat Group sediments (D4-E) 39
2.3.7 Conglomerates of the Thule Supergroup (D4-F) 40
2.3.8 Independence Fjord Group sandstones including the Trekant Series and the sandstones and conglomerates in Kronprins Christian Land (D4-G) 40
2.3.9 Central East Greenland basins conglomerates (D4-H) 41
2.3.9.1 Wegener Halvø (D4-H1) 41
2.4 Vein deposits (D5) 42
2.4.1 Introduction 42
2.4.2 Veins related to the formation of the Gardar province (D5-A) 44
2.4.2.1 Nordre Sermilik (Qingua and Ulungarssuaq) (D5-A1) 44
2.4.2.2 North of Bredefjord (D5-A2) 46
2.4.2.3 Puissattaq (D5-A3) 46
2.4.2.4 Vatnaverfi (including Eqaluit) (D5-A4) 46
2.4.3 Veins in the psammite zone, South Greenland (D5-B) 47
2.4.4 Veins in the Julianehåb batholith (D5-C) 47
2.4.5 Veins associated with the Qaqarssuk carbonatite complex (Qeqertaasaq) (D5- D) 47
2.4.6 East Greenland (D5-E) 48
2.4.6.1 Moskusokseland (D5-E1) 48
2.4.6.2 Foldaelv, Gauss Halvø (D5-E2) 48
2.4.6.3 Nedre Arkosedal (Stauning Alper) (D5-E3) 49
2.5 Intrusive deposits (D6)  50
2.5.1 Introduction 50
2.5.2 Granites in the Julianehåb batholith (D6-A) 52
2.5.3 Gardar province (D6-B) 52
2.5.3.1 Kvanefjeld (Kuannersuit) (D6-B1) 52
2.5.3.2 Motzfeldt Complex (D6-B2) 52
2.5.3.3 Ivigtût Granite and associated cryolite body (D6-B3) 53
2.5.4 Pyramidefjeld area (D6-C) 53
2.5.5 Granite northeast of Neria (D6-D) 54
2.5.6 Nukaqpiarssuaq granite (Bjørnesund area) (D6-E) 54
2.5.7 Tikiussaq (D6-F) 54
2.5.8 Nuuk region (D6-G) 55
2.5.9 Qugssuk Granite (D6-H) 55
2.5.10 Qaqarssuk carbonatite complex (Qeqertaasaq) (D6-I) 56
2.5.11 Sarfartoq (D6-J) 56
2.5.12 Granites in the Nagssugtoqidian orogen (D6-K) 57
2.5.12.1 Nassuttooq (D6-K1) 57
2.5.13 Granites related to the Prøven Igneous Complex (D6-L)  58
2.5.14 Alkaline intrusions in Inglefield orogenic belt (D6-M) 58
2.5.15 c. 1900 Ma granites in North-East Greenland and Central East Greenland (D6-N) 59
2.5.16 c. 1750 Ma granites in North-East Greenland (D6-O) 59
2.5.16.1 Hinks Land (D6-O1) 59
2.5.17 950-900 Ma granites in central East Greenland (D6-P) 59
2.5.18 Caledonian granites in central East Greenland (D6-Q) 60
2.5.18.1 Frænkel Land (D6-Q1) 60
2.5.19 Undeformed Caledonian Granites (D6-R) 60
2.5.20 Palaeogene alkaline intrusions in central East Greenland (D6-S) 61
2.5.21 Borgtinderne foyalite and nepheline syenite (D6-T) 62
2.5.22 Kangerdlugssuaq Alkaline Intrusion (South-East Greenland) (D6-U) 62
2.5.23 Nualik, Kialineq and Kap Gustav Holm Plutonic Centres (Skrækkensbugt) (D6- V) 62
2.5.24 Granite in Sermilikfjord, South-East Greenland (D6-W) 63
2.5.25 Skjoldungen Alkaline Complex (D6-X) 63
2.5.26 Rapakivi suite, South Greenland (D6-Y) 64
2.5.27 Leucogranites in the psammite zone, South Greenland (D6-Z) 64
2.6 Volcanic and caldera-related deposits (D7) 66
2.6.1 Introduction 66
2.6.2 Volcanism in central East Greenland (D7-A) 68
2.6.2.1 Moskusokseland (D7-A1) 68
2.6.2.1 Randbøldal, Gauss Halvø (D7-A2) 68
2.7 Metasomatite deposits (D8) 69
2.7.1 Introduction 69
2.7.2 Motzfeldt Complex (D8-A) 69
2.7.3 Nunatak north of Nordre Sermilik (D8-B) 69
2.7.4 Grønnedal-Ika (D8-C) 69
2.7.5 Sarfartoq (D8-D) 70
2.8 Metamorphite deposits (D13) 71
2.8.1 Introduction 71
2.8.2 Ammassalik Intrusive Complex (D13-A) 71
2.9 Other areas with known uranium enrichments  72
2.9.1 Lindenow Fjord (N-A) 72
2.9.2 Uninvestigated anomalies in central East Greenland (N-B) 72
2.9.3 Eremitdal, Andre Land (N-C) 72
2.9.4 Flyverfjord (N-D) 72

3. Conclusions 73

Acknowledgments 77

References 78

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