Qaanaaq 2001: mineral exploration reconnaissance in North-West Greenland

2002 ◽  
pp. 133-143
Author(s):  
Bjørn Thomassen ◽  
Peter R. Dawes ◽  
Agnete Steenfelt ◽  
Johan Ditlev Krebs
Keyword(s):  
Mineral Exploration ◽  
Mining Industry ◽  
Field Work ◽  
Original Series ◽  
West Greenland ◽  
North West ◽  
Ice Caps ◽  
High Plateau ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Inland Ice

NOTE: This article was published in a former series of GEUS Bulletin. Please use the original series name when citing this article, for example: Thomassen, B., Dawes, P. R., Steenfelt, A., & Krebs, J. D. (2002). Qaanaaq 2001: mineral exploration reconnaissance in North-West Greenland. Geology of Greenland Survey Bulletin, 191, 133-143. https://doi.org/10.34194/ggub.v191.5141 _______________ Project Qaanaaq 2001, involving one season’s field work, was set up to investigate the mineral occurrences and potential of North-West Greenland between Olrik Fjord and Kap Alexander (77°10´N – 78°10´N; Fig. 1). Organised by the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) and the Bureau of Minerals and Petroleum (BMP), Government of Greenland, the project is mainly funded by the latter and has the overall goal of attracting the interest of the mining industry to the region. The investigated region – herein referred to as the Qaanaaq region – comprises 4300 km2 of ice-free land centred on Qaanaaq, the administrative capital of Qaanaap (Thule) municipality. Much of the region is characterised by a 500–800 m high plateau capped by local ice caps and intersected by fjords and glaciers. High dissected terrain occurs in Northumberland Ø and in the hinterland of Prudhoe Land where nunataks are common along the margin of the Inland Ice.

Upernavik 98: reconnaissance mineral exploration in North-West Greenland

1999 ◽  
pp. 39-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bjørn Thomassen ◽  
Johannes Kyed ◽  
Agnete Steenfelt ◽  
Tapani Tukiainen
Keyword(s):  
Mineral Exploration ◽  
Mining Industry ◽  
Field Work ◽  
Geological Survey ◽  
Original Series ◽  
West Greenland ◽  
North West ◽  
One Year

NOTE: This article was published in a former series of GEUS Bulletin. Please use the original series name when citing this article, for example: Thomassen, B., Kyed, J., Steenfelt, A., & Tukiainen, T. (1999). Upernavik 98: reconnaissance mineral exploration in North-West Greenland. Geology of Greenland Survey Bulletin, 183, 39-45. https://doi.org/10.34194/ggub.v183.5203 _______________ The Upernavik 98 project is a one-year project aimed at the acquisition of information on mineral occurrences and potential in North-West Greenland between Upernavik and Kap Seddon, i.e. from 72°30′ to 75°30′N (Fig. 1A). A similar project, Karrat 97, was carried out in 1997 in the Uummannaq region 70°30′–72°30′N (Steenfelt et al. 1998a). Both are joint projects between the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) and the Bureau of Minerals and Petroleum (BMP), Government of Greenland, and wholly funded by the latter. The main purpose of the projects is to attract the interest of the mining industry. The field work comprised systematic drainage sampling, reconnaissance mineral exploration and spectroradiometric measurements of rock surfaces.

scholarly journals An advancing glacier in a recessive ice regime: Berlingske Bræ, North-West Greenland

1969 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 79-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter R. Dawes ◽  
Dirk Van As
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Mass Balance ◽  
Ice Sheet ◽  
West Greenland ◽  
North West ◽  
Ice Caps ◽  
The World ◽  
International Attention ◽  
Ice Regime ◽  
Inland Ice

Greenland is receiving unprecedented international attention, both in scientific and political circles. Characterised by a central ice sheet up to 3.4 km thick (Inland Ice), numerous ice caps and hundreds of outlet glaciers debouching into the surrounding oceans, Greenland supports the second largest ice mass in the world. Analysis of glacier movements, melt rates and ice loss to the sea, provide data with which to assess mass balance changes and thereby predict global sealevel rise. Thus Greenland plays a central role in the current worldwide debate on climate change.

Karrat 97: reconnaissance mineral exploration in central West Greenland

1998 ◽  
pp. 73-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnete Steenfelt ◽  
Bjørn Thomassen ◽  
Mogens Lind ◽  
Johannes Kyed
Keyword(s):  
Stream Water ◽  
Mineral Exploration ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Mining Industry ◽  
Mineral Resources ◽  
Field Work ◽  
Geochemical Data ◽  
Joint Project ◽  
Project Area ◽  
West Greenland

NOTE: This article was published in a former series of GEUS Bulletin. Please use the original series name when citing this article, for example: Steenfelt, A., Thomassen, B., Lind, M., & Kyed, J. (1998). Karrat 97: reconnaissance mineral exploration in central West Greenland. Geology of Greenland Survey Bulletin, 180, 73-80. https://doi.org/10.34194/ggub.v180.5089 _______________ The Karrat 97 project aims at the acquisition of geochemical data from drainage samples and information on mineralisation within a 10 000 km2 area, which stretches from Uummannaq northwards to Prøven (i.e. from 70°30′ to 72°30′ N; Fig. 1). The project area comprises a major Palaeoproterozoic supracrustal unit, the Karrat Group, from which the project takes its name, and which hosts the abandoned Black Angel lead-zinc mine. It is a joint project between the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) and the Bureau of Minerals and Petroleum (BMP), Government of Greenland, and wholly funded by the latter. The goal of the project is to win back the interest of the mining industry to the area. The eastern part of the project area is difficult of access due to alpine topography with peaks up to 2300 m, abundant glaciers, and steep-sided, often ice-filled fjords. A somewhat more gentle topography prevails in the western parts of the area. The whole area is underlain by permafrost. Field work was carried out during seven weeks in July–August 1997 by a team of four geologists and four local prospectors. Job-training of the prospectors was an integral purpose of the project, and the manning of the teams was periodically changed so that all four prospectors were introduced to the different topographical and geological terrains in the area as well as to the methods of operation. A chartered 68 foot, 77 tons vessel – M/S Nukik – served as mobile base with accommodation and meals on board; a MD 500 E helicopter with crew chartered through Grønlandsfly A/S participated for one month. The work was carried out from five anchorages, with the helicopter stationed on the adjacent coast. The weather was relatively unstable in the field period, but only five days of work were lost due to bad weather. The field work comprised regional-scale systematic drainage sampling, and detailed mineral exploration at selected sites. The sampling of stream sediment and stream water supplements the geochemical mapping programme of Greenland undertaken jointly by GEUS and BMP (Steenfelt 1993, 1994), the aim of which is to provide systematic, quality controlled geochemical data. The data are used together with geological and geophysical information in the evaluation of the potential for economic mineral resources. Samples were collected by two teams, transported by helicopter or small boats. All ice-free, near-coastal localities were sampled by the boat team, whereas all other localities were sampled by the helicopter team. The results of this work have been reported on by Steenfelt et al. (1998). The detailed mineral exploration was follow-up work on previously outlined indications and anomalies. It was carried out by two teams on daily trips by rubber dinghy or helicopter, or by foot traverses from field camps. This part of the project has been reported on by Thomassen & Lind (1998).

scholarly journals Proterozoic basaltic magmatic periods in North-West Greenland: evidence from K/Ar ages

1986 ◽  
Vol 130 ◽  
pp. 24-31
Author(s):  
P.R Dawes ◽  
D.C Rex
Keyword(s):  
Present Report ◽  
Field Work ◽  
West Greenland ◽  
North West ◽  
Basaltic Rocks ◽  
The Third ◽  
Intrusive Rocks ◽  
Set Up ◽  
The University ◽  
Host Rocks

This paper is the third of a series reporting on K/Ar whole rock ages of Proterozoic basaltic rocks of the Thule district, North-West Greenland. The dating programme is a co-operative venture between the Geological Survey of Greenland and The University, Leeds, V.K., and was set up in connection with a 1:500 000 mapping project of the region between 75°N and 78° 45'N (Melville Bugt - Inglefield Land, fig. 1). Field work by one of us (PRD) has shown that several episodes of unmetamorphosed Proterozoic basic igneous rocks can be distinguished stratigraphically in the region (see below). The routine K/Ar isotopic work, carried out concurrently with the field work, has aimed at dating these episodes, thereby providing minimum ages for deposition or consolidation of the host rocks. The two earlier reports (Dawes et al., 1973, 1982a) dealt with sills and dykes from the northern part of the region (Inglefield Land - Prudhoe Land); intrusions that have known or inferred stratigraphic relationships with the Proterozoic Thule Group. The present report gathers together all hitherto unpublished K/Ar dates - 18 in total on both extrusive and intrusive rocks - mainly from the central and southern parts of the region (Inglefield Bredning and Melville Bugt). Six of the samples represent cross-cutting intrusions in the Precambrian Shield that have uncertain age relationships with the overlying Thule Group.

Mantle xenoliths from Tertiary lavas and dykes on Ubekendt Ejland, West Greenland

1998 ◽  
pp. 152-154
Author(s):  
Stefan Bernstein ◽  
C. Kent Brooks
Keyword(s):  
Field Work ◽  
Mantle Xenoliths ◽  
Alkaline Basalt ◽  
Basalt Flow ◽  
Volcanic Province ◽  
East Greenland ◽  
Original Series ◽  
West Greenland ◽  
Ultramafic Xenoliths ◽  
Extensive Collection

NOTE: This article was published in a former series of GEUS Bulletin. Please use the original series name when citing this article, for example: Bernstein, S., & Brooks, C. K. (1998). Mantle xenoliths from Tertiary lavas and dykes on Ubekendt Ejland, West Greenland. Geology of Greenland Survey Bulletin, 180, 152-154. https://doi.org/10.34194/ggub.v180.5099 _______________ Mantle xenoliths were found in Tertiary alkaline (basanitic) lavas on Ubekendt Ejland in West Greenland in the mid 1970s by J.G. Larsen. Microprobe analyses of olivine, pyroxene and spinel in two mantle xenoliths, suggested that the xenoliths on Ubekendt Ejland are highly depleted and have high modal olivine contents, and low modal orthopyroxene and clinopyroxene (Larsen 1982). In this respect the mantle xenoliths from Ubekendt Ejland are very similar to the spinel harzburgites from Wiedemann Fjord, in the Tertiary volcanic province of East Greenland (Brooks & Rucklidge 1973; Bernstein et al. 1998). Larsen (1981) also reported dykes containing mantle nodules and a varied suite of cumulates and megacrysts, one of which has subsequently been dated to 34.1 ± 0.2 Ma (Storey et al. 1998) The basalt flow that carries the xenoliths is from what is defined as the Erqua Formation which occurs at the top of the lava succession in western Ubekendt Ejland (Fig. 1; Drever & Game 1948; Larsen 1977a, b). The basalts have not been dated, but are younger than 52.5 Ma, which is the date obtained for the underlying formation (Storey et al. 1998). During July 1997, we spent three weeks collecting xenoliths and prospecting for xenolith-bearing dykes in the Uummannaq district of central West Greenland. The field work resulted in an extensive collection of xenoliths from an alkaline basalt flow described by Larsen (1977a, b), as well as the discovery of a dyke carrying a large number of ultramafic xenoliths of various origins. 

Mafic igneous rocks and mineralisation in the Palaeoproterozoic Ketilidian orogen, South-East Greenland: project SUPRASYD 1996

1997 ◽  
pp. 66-74
Author(s):  
Henrik Stendal ◽  
Wulf Mueller ◽  
Nicolai Birkedal ◽  
Esben I. Hansen ◽  
Claus Østergaard
Keyword(s):  
Mineral Exploration ◽  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
Shear Zones ◽  
Field Work ◽  
Igneous Rocks ◽  
Border Zone ◽  
The South ◽  
East Greenland ◽  
North West ◽  
Arc Setting

NOTE: This article was published in a former series of GEUS Bulletin. Please use the original series name when citing this article, for example: Stendal, H., Mueller, W., Birkedal, N., Hansen, E. I., & Østergaard, C. (1997). Mafic igneous rocks and mineralisation in the Palaeoproterozoic Ketilidian orogen, South-East Greenland: project SUPRASYD 1996. Geology of Greenland Survey Bulletin, 176, 66-74. https://doi.org/10.34194/ggub.v176.5064 _______________ The multidisciplinary SUPRASYD project (1992–96) focused on a regional investigation of the Palaeoproterozoic Ketilidian orogenic belt which crosses the southern tip of Greenland. Apart from a broad range of geological and structural studies (Nielsen et al., 1993; Garde & Schønwandt, 1994, 1995; Garde et al., 1997), the project included a mineral resource evaluation of the supracrustal sequences associated with the Ketilidian orogen (e.g. Mosher, 1995). The Ketilidian orogen of southern Greenland can be divided from north-west to south-east into: (1) a border zone in which the crystalline rocks of the Archaean craton are unconformably overlain by Ketilidian supracrustal rocks; (2) a major polyphase pluton, referred to as the Julianehåb batholith; and (3) extensive areas of Ketilidian supracrustal rocks, divided into psammitic and pelitic rocks with subordinate interstratified mafic volcanic rocks (Fig. 1). The Julianehåb batholith is viewed as emplaced in a magmatic arc setting; the supracrustal sequences south of the batholith have been interpreted as either (1) deposited in an intra-arc and fore-arc basin (Chadwick & Garde, 1996), or (2) deposited in a back-arc or intra-arc setting (Stendal & Swager, 1995; Swager, 1995). Both possibilities are plausible and infer subduction-related processes. Regional compilations of geological, geochemical and geophysical data for southern Greenland have been presented by Thorning et al. (1994). Mosher (1995) has recently reviewed the mineral exploration potential of the region. The commercial company Nunaoil A/S has been engaged in gold prospecting in South Greenland since 1990 (e.g. Gowen et al., 1993). A principal goal of the SUPRASYD project was to test the mineral potential of the Ketilidian supracrustal sequences and define the gold potential in the shear zones in the Julianehåb batholith. Previous work has substantiated a gold potential in amphibolitic rocks in the south-west coastal areas (Gowen et al., 1993.), and in the amphibolitic rocks of the Kutseq area (Swager et al., 1995). Field work in 1996 was focused on prospective gold-bearing sites in mafic rocks in South-East Greenland. Three M.Sc. students mapped showings under the supervision of the H. S., while an area on the south side of Kangerluluk fjord was mapped by H. S. and W. M. (Fig. 4).

scholarly journals Field work in the north of the Ivisârtoq region, inner Godthåbsfjord, southern West Greenland

1983 ◽  
Vol 115 ◽  
pp. 49-56
Author(s):  
B Chadwick ◽  
M.A Crewe ◽  
J.F.W Park
Keyword(s):  
Field Work ◽  
Geological Survey ◽  
West Greenland ◽  
North West ◽  
The North ◽  
Field Investigations ◽  
New Findings ◽  
Host Rocks

The programme of field investigations in the north of the Ivisartoq region begun in 1981 by Chadwick & Crewe (1982) was continued in 1982. Julia Park began mapping the Taserssuaq granodiorite, its host rocks and the Ataneq fault in the north-west. Dur team was joined by D. Bellur, Geological Survey of India, nominally as an assistant. In this report we present only summary notes of new findings relevant to the interpretation of the geometry and chronology of this segment of the Archaean crust in southern West Greenland. We use the established terminology for the Archaean rocks of the Godthåbsfjord region.

scholarly journals Field investigations in the Precambrian terrain of the Thule district, North-West Greenland

1979 ◽  
Vol 95 ◽  
pp. 14-22
Author(s):  
P.R Dawes
Keyword(s):  
Field Work ◽  
Crystalline Basement ◽  
Field Mapping ◽  
West Greenland ◽  
North West ◽  
Field Investigations ◽  
Precambrian Terrain ◽  
Outer Coast ◽  
Three Phases

The field mapping of the Precambrian crystalline basement and overlying Thule Group of the Thule district aimed at the production of a 1:500000 map sheet between 75°15'N and 78°N was continued in July and August (fig. 5). The field work was split up, due to the varying availability of transport facilities, into three phases. (1) The charter of a Bell 204 helicopter from Thule Air Base enabled mapping in western Inglefield Land, and in the nunatak terrain of Prudhoe Land and Melville Bugt. (2) Investigation of the outer coast of western Melville Bugt was carried out with the aid of GGU cutter K. J. V. Steenstrup. (3) Detailed stratigraphical work in the middle and upper part of the Thule Group was based on foot traverses from Thule Air Base.

scholarly journals 1:500 000 mapping of the Thule district, North-West Greenland

1976 ◽  
Vol 80 ◽  
pp. 23-28
Author(s):  
P.R Dawes
Keyword(s):  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Field Work ◽  
Economic Potential ◽  
West Greenland ◽  
North West ◽  
Field Investigations ◽  
Field Season ◽  
Logistic Support

Field investigations aimed at the produetion of a 1:500 000 map sheet of the Thule distriet were continued during August and early September. The unusuaIly poor weather conditions and the premature arrival of the winter's snowfall, reduced the season to some 20 effective working days. The field work was in two parts. At the beginning of the season a Jet Ranger helicopterwas chartered at Thule Air Base and four days were spent investigating nunatak and inland areas north of Savigsivik and Kap York and at the heads of Wolstenholme Fjord, Olrik Fjord and Inglefield Bredning. The second part was an investigation ofthe Proterozoic Thule Groupon Herbert ø, Northumberland Ø and Hakluyt Ø. Transport for this phase wasa locally hired boat from Avatak Henson of Moriussaq. Certain logistic support was supplied to H. R. Cooke who visited the Thule district at the end of the field season to assess the economic potential of various minerallocalities. Kurt Thomsen ably assisted both in Cooke's and the author's field programmes.

Pingos at Nioghalvfjerdsfjorden, eastern North Greenland

1998 ◽  
pp. 159-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ole Bennike
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Open System ◽  
Closed System ◽  
Field Work ◽  
Frozen Ground ◽  
East Greenland ◽  
Original Series ◽  
West Greenland ◽  
System Type ◽  
North Greenland

NOTE: This article was published in a former series of GEUS Bulletin. Please use the original series name when citing this article, for example: Bennike, O. (1998). Pingos at Nioghalvfjerdsfjorden, eastern North Greenland. Geology of Greenland Survey Bulletin, 180, 159-162. https://doi.org/10.34194/ggub.v180.5101 _______________ Pingos are isolated, conical mounds up to 50 m high with a core of ice covered by silt, sand or gravel. They are formed in regions where the ground is permanently frozen. Two types of pingo are distinguished, a closed-system and an open-system (Washburn 1979; Pissart 1988). The closed-system type is found on flat plains, whereas open-system pingos are found on valley floors. Open-system pingos grow by artesian pressure (Müller 1959; Washburn 1979). Water from higher altitudes migrates within or below the permanently frozen ground and becomes trapped within the permafrost and freezes to form a lens or core of ice. Active pingos have been reported from Svalbard, Russia, Alaska, Canada and Greenland (Washburn 1979), and fossil pingos from Pleistocene periglacial terrains have been reported from Europe and North America (De Gans 1988). In Greenland, most pingos have been reported from both East and West Greenland. In East Greenland pingos have been described from the area between 71°30′ and 74°30′N (Fig. 1). In West Greenland most pingos occur between 70° and 72°N. In addition, a pingo and some pingo-like forms have been described from North Greenland (Bennike 1983). All pingos in Greenland are located in valleys, usually on outwash plains. During field work in 1997 one fairly impressive pingo and several small pingos or pingo-like forms were observed at c. 79°30′N in eastern North Greenland. These are the northernmost pingos recorded from eastern Greenland, and the aim of this note is to document and describe these forms. The observations add to our knowledge about the distribution of pingos in Greenland, and a map showing the distribution of pingos in Greenland is presented as Fig. 1.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document