The vast expanse of Greenland, the world's largest island, has captivated explorers for millennia. From Erik the Red, who established the first European settlement over a thousand years ago, to the Allied Forces during World War II, its isolated shores have drawn adventurers from across the globe.
Now, Greenland is once again attracting global attention, this time for its potential mineral wealth. Extensive mapping and exploration over the past century have revealed evidence of significant mineral resources, including rare earth elements and minerals crucial for green energy technologies, as well as suspected reserves of fossil fuels.
Scientists estimate Greenland holds vast reserves of oil and natural gas. Since the 1970s, oil and gas companies have sought ancient reservoirs off Greenland's coast, but their efforts have yielded no significant discoveries. However, the geology of Greenland's continental shelf shares similarities with other Arctic fossil fuel sites.
In 1850, the mineral cryolite, known as “ice that never melts” due to its extremely high melting point, was discovered in southwest Greenland. Colonists began mining cryolite after learning of its use in baking soda production. During World War II, the Ivittuut mine supplied the Allied forces with cryolite, a crucial mineral in the production of aluminum used in aircraft.
While Greenland likely holds essential minerals, it remains unclear whether mining is economically viable. This is where exploration comes in, as noted by the BBC.
“Mineral exploration is one of the most difficult and risky endeavors in mining,” says Simon Jowitt, director of the Ralph J. Roberts Center for Research and Economic Geology at the University of Nevada.
He points out that for every 100 mineral exploration projects, only one might turn into a mine.
If exploration efforts reveal the potential for a mine, it can take an average of 10 years to go from discovery to production, Jowitt says.
“It depends on where you are, the infrastructure, permits, and other things you need to do to make sure you are mining responsibly,” he explains.
It's worth noting that Greenland has a notable lack of infrastructure—once you leave the city, there are no roads or railways in the countryside.
“Getting around is not easy—you can’t drive an all-terrain vehicle on Greenland’s terrain. Travel is by boat or plane, not by car. The lack of well-established infrastructure could prove challenging for mining operations,” Jowitt says.
Mineral processing can also be a difficult undertaking. These deposits are very, very difficult to process and sometimes are closely associated with uranium or other elements that teams may not want to exploit.