Contents
Preface………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….9
1 Greenland in general……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….11
1.1 Geography and Climate…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..11
1.2 History and politics……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..14
1.2.1 Before the Home Rule………………………………………………………………………………………………………………14
1.2.2 History of politics in Greenland from 1970 to present………………………………………………………………15
1.3 Demography…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….20
1.4 Infrastructure……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………21
1.4.1 Transportation………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..22
1.4.2 Electricity, water and heat…………………………………………………………………………………………………….23
1.4.3 Telecommunication……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….24
1.5 Economy……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..24
1.6 Biodiversity………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..25
1.7 Protected areas……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….26
1.8 Geology and mineral resources………………………………………………………………………………………………………….28
1.8.1 The crystalline basement and orogenic belts in Greenland……………………………………………….29
1.8.2 Sedimentary basins……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….33
1.8.3 Palaeogene volcanism…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..34
1.8.4 The ice age and the Quaternary landscape………………………………………………………………………….36
1.8.5 Soil Conditions……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….37
1.8.6 Mineral resources…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..37
1.8.7 Historic mining activities in Greenland………………………………………………………………………………..42
1.9 Licenses and mining in Greenland…………………………………………………………………………………………………..45
2 Legal framework, challenges and opportunities for mining in Greenland……………………………………………………49
2.1 Regulatory framework………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………49
2.1.1 Impact Benefit Agreement (IBA)………………………………………………………………………………………….54
2.2 Availability of labour…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..55
2.3 Taxes and royalties……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….57
2.4 Actions to attract investors……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………59
2.5 Infrastructure and logistics……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………62
2.6 Mining waste and waste management………………………………………………………………………………………..63
2.7 Social License to Operate (SLO)………………………………………………………………………………………………………….64
3 Case Study 1 – White Mountain Project………………………………………………………………………………..65
3.1 Discovery and description of the deposit…………………………………………………………………………………..65
3.1.1 Mining operation……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………68
3.1.2 Process facilities …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….68
3.1.3 Infrastructure …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………71
3.1.4 Water and waste management …………………………………………………………………………………………….71
3.1.5 Technical applications of GreenSpar …………………………………………………………………………………….71
3.1.6 Challenges Experienced …………………………………………………………………………………………………………72
3.1.7 Land and Conflicts………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….72
4 Case Study 2 – Isua Banded Iron Formation ……………………………………………………………………….73
4.1 Discovery and description of the deposit …………………………………………………………………………………..73
4.2 Project status ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….75
4.2.1 Process facilities …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….76
4.2.2 Infrastructure …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………77
4.2.3 Waste management……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….80
4.2.4 Water management ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….80
4.2.5 Land and Conflicts………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….80
5 Case Study 3 – Nalunaq Gold Mine, Kirkespir Valley ……………………………………………………..82
5.1 Discovery of the deposit and deposit description ……………………………………………………………….82
5.1.1 Deposit description ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..87
5.1.2 Project status ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….91
5.1.3 Production facilities ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………92
5.1.4 Infrastructure …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………94
5.1.5 Water management ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….95
5.1.6 Waste management……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….95
5.1.7 Earlier challenges in the Nalunaq Gold Mine ………………………………………………………………………96
5.1.8 Land and Conflicts………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….97
6 Summary …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 99
Acknowledgement ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..103
References …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 104
Appendix A: Comparison of mineral claims in Greenland,British Colombia and Western Australia………………………………………………. 131