Trump Eyes Greenland, Attracted by Its Rich Mineral Resources
Recently, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed his interest in taking control of Greenland. Republican members of the U.S. Congress are even formulating a bill to authorize Trump to negotiate with Denmark for the purchase of the island. As a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, Greenland holds significant strategic importance to the United States due to its location and abundant mineral resources.
Greenland boasts an impressive array of mineral wealth, including, but not limited to, iron, copper, zinc, lead, tungsten, rare earth elements, nickel, diamonds, gold, and silver. A 2023 survey revealed that 25 of the 34 critical raw materials identified by the European Commission were found in Greenland. However, oil and gas extraction is banned on the island due to environmental concerns, and the development of its mining sector has been hindered by red tape and opposition from indigenous communities.
Based on data from Greenland’s Mineral Resources Authority, here are the details of Greenland’s key mineral deposits:
Rare Earths
- Greenland holds about 10% of the world’s rare earth reserves, ranking second globally. Its three largest rare earth deposits are located in the southern Gardar province. Companies engaged in rare earth exploration and development on the island include Critical Metals (which acquired the Tanbreez deposit), Energy Transition Minerals (whose Kuannersuit project is stalled due to legal disputes), and Neo Performance Materials.
- Rare earth elements are essential for permanent magnets used in electric vehicles (EVs) and wind turbines. As most rare earths are currently supplied by China, some believe that controlling Greenland would help diversify supply chains and strengthen resource security.
Graphite
- Significant graphite and graphite schist occurrences have been found across the island, particularly along its central-eastern coast. GreenRoc has applied for a license to develop the Amitsoq graphite project, which has proven capable of producing graphite with purity levels of up to 99.97%, offering substantial future mining potential.
- Natural graphite is mainly used in EV batteries and steel manufacturing.
Copper
- Greenland has ample but underexplored copper resources. Most copper deposits have only undergone limited exploration, especially in the northeastern and central-eastern regions. London-listed company 80 Mile is working on developing the Disko-Nuussuaq deposit, which contains copper, nickel, platinum, and cobalt.
Nickel
- Greenland’s western region has large nickel deposits, notably in the Disko-Nuussuaq area. In 2021, KoBold Metals, backed by billionaires Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, signed an agreement with Bluejay Mining to acquire a 51% stake in the project. Additionally, Anglo American, a major mining company, received a five-year exploration license in western Greenland in 2019 to search for nickel and other resources.
Zinc
- Zinc reserves are concentrated in the northern part of Greenland, spanning a geological formation over 2,500 kilometers in length. Projects like Isortoq and Citronen have revealed considerable zinc mining potential. The Citronen Fjord zinc-lead project, in particular, has been regarded as one of the world’s largest undeveloped zinc resources. Its location also supports year-round mining operations.
Gold
- The most promising gold deposits are around the Sermiligaarsuk fjord in the island’s south. Amaroq Minerals began producing gold at the Nalunaq mine in Kujalleq Municipality last year. From 2004 to 2013, this mine produced about 350,000 ounces of gold at an average grade of 15 grams per ton.
Diamonds
- While most of Greenland’s small diamonds and its largest stones are found in the western regions, other areas may also hold significant diamond deposits.
Iron Ore
- Greenland’s iron ore deposits include Isua in southern West Greenland, Itilliarsuk in central West Greenland, and Lauge Koch Kyst in North West Greenland.
Titanium-Vanadium
- Known titanium and vanadium deposits are located in the southwest, east, and south. Titanium has commercial, medical, and industrial applications, while vanadium is primarily used in specialty steel alloys and as a catalyst for producing sulfuric acid.
Tungsten
- Tungsten deposits are mainly found in the central-eastern and northeastern parts of the island. There are also assessed deposits in the south and west.
Uranium
- In 2021, the left-wing Inuit Ataqatigiit political party banned uranium mining in Greenland, effectively halting the development of the Kuannersuit rare earth project, where uranium is a byproduct.
Greenland’s immense mineral wealth has captured significant attention. However, the combination of environmental restrictions, political challenges, and indigenous community resistance has largely stalled the island’s mining industry.
Copper
Gold
Graphite
Rare Earth
Uranium