GEOLOGY AND ORE

Exploration and Mining in Greenland of GREENLAND of GREENLAND GEMSTONES No. 7-January 2007 Gemstones of greenland

Renewed focus on Greenland gem- occurrences in 53°W 52°W 51°W 50°W stones has been experienced since southern West Greenland . the turn of the century. Kangerlussuaq 67°N Two companies have Sisimiut demonstrated solid and continued interest in the potential of classical gemstones in Greenland in this peri- od. and are defi- nitely now in focus with the size of diamonds growing almost with every Kimberlitic occurrence Sarfartoq new exploration event. The largest Diamond occurrence

GEOLOGY AND ORE 7 / 2007 diamond to date has just been report- Southern boundary of Palaeoproterozoic ed at 0.122 carats. deformation 66°N Rubies and pink are now at hand with large, high-quality stones in faceting as well as in carving types. 50 km Exploration activity targeted at both commodities may be approaching the Tupertalik Qaqqaarsuk next stage, with pre-feasibility studies Maniitsoq Greenland and production considerations. A number of other species of coloured gemstones and generally lower- Majuagaa 65°N priced semi-precious gem material have also been found, and these are often very much in demand locally as Diamonds well as internationally. Well-known examples are kornerupine, tugtupite, exploration data gathered to date. This lazurite and . Several multi- Exploration compilation is the common knowledge base coloured rock types have been pro- Diamonds are well-known from the 600 Ma for diamond exploration in West Green- duced on a small scale locally for many old North Atlantic province of carbonatites land. The compilation (on DVD) contains: years and have gained high popularity and ultramafic alkaline magmatism in • 164 scanned reports in Adobe PDF among tourists and collectors, with southern West Greenland, which has been documents from company reports sub- the famous nuummite, greenlandite a target for commercial exploration since mitted to the Bureau of Minerals and and ‘ice blue’ chalcedony being the the mid-1990s. So far this has resulted in Petroleum. There are approximately 96 most favoured. numerous finds of ultramafic lamprophyre 150 mineral analyses from 15 295 and kimberlite dykes and micro/macro dia- samples of till or stream sediment cov- A number of additional classical coloured monds have been recovered from many of ering 4563 localities. gemstones such as , cordierite, peri- these rocks. All work by active companies • 2780 mineral analyses representing 31 dote, , , and is still at the exploration stage. kimberlitic rock samples. are known from scattered occurrences, On 24 October 2006 Hudson Resources • 560 classification diagrams on which but their potential has never been tested. Inc. announced the diamond results of the analysed kimberlite indicator mineral The variety in the Greenland geological 2006 exploration drill core program. The grains have been classified and plotted. environment, not least the pegmatite highlight was the recovery of 35 diamonds, All mineral chemistry data have been occurrence, is definite justification for more including the largest diamond ever found examined. systematic exploration for such stones. in Greenland. A sample of a 14.6 kg core • All available geophysical maps. These sample taken from a 4.5 m kimberlite have been scanned in large format, and intercept in the Garnet Lake dyke in the are presented in Adobe PDF documents. Sarfartoq area yielded the largest stone • Approx. 2700 observations of kimber- weighing 0.122 carats. litic rocks. The Geological Survey of Denmark and • Topographic data at 1:100 000 scale Colourless and pinkish diamonds from Greenland (GEUS) recently published a for the regions of diamond exploration Garnet Lake. new digital compilation of all the diamond as at 2004.

2 GEMSTONES OF GREENLAND GEOLOGY AND ORE 7 / 2007

The Majuagaa kimberlite dyke in the Maniitsoq area.

(+0.85mm) totalling 0.31 carats or a nomi- exposures known in Greenland was found Potential nal 0.87 carats/tonne. Similarly, the drilling in a steep gully above a stream with The Greenland diamond potential is con- results confirm the Garnet Lake dyke as numerous large boulders of kimberlite. centrated in swarms of ultramafic dykes in being a significantly diamondiferous body, Most of the dyke systems in the Maniitsoq the Sisimiut–Sarfartoq–Maniitsoq region in which can be followed over a strike length area are expected to be archetypical kim- southern West Greenland. Fieldwork in of 900 m, with 450 m down-dip. berlites. 2006 resulted in the recognition of much Many of the kimberlite localities in the larger kimberlite dyke systems in the Maniitsoq area contain abundant dia- Maniitsoq area than had previously been mond-favourable peridotitic and eclogitic Quality reported. The Majuagaa dyke in this area , along with diamond-favourable Quality evaluation of the huge amount is a diamond-bearing and phlogopite-poor chromites and clinopyroxenes. Mineral (more than 1000) of micro and macro dia- ultramafic dyke, which is considered an chemistry data for these occurrences, monds recovered to date from Greenland archetypical kimberlite. The number and along with several occurrences in the is scarce. However, the quality of the dia- size of finds combined with the knowl- Sarfartoq area, became available only monds recovered from the Garnet Lake edge of existence of true kimberlites sup- recently, and it is now possible to address area at Sarfartoq has undergone prelimi- ports expectations of a reasonable poten- the provenance of the indicator minerals nary evaluation by the Hudson Resources tial for diamonds in the province. from till and stream sediment. company. The recovered stones typically In the Sarfartoq area the 2006 results In the field area just east of Maniitsoq, have good colour (colourless to pink) and illustrate the highly diamondiferous nature around the mountain Sillissannguit, new shape (octahedron). The pink diamonds and coarse diamond distribution of the dykes with a combined length of more are always of interest to the gem industry, kimberlite dyke at Garnet Lake in the than 10 km were found in 2006, and in as noted by the company at the presenta- Sarfartoq area. To date, a total of 357kg another area, Timitta Tasersua East near tion. of kimberlite from the Garnet Lake dyke the coast, a system of what is believed to has yielded nine commercial-sized stones be one of the largest kimberlite dyke

3 GEMSTONES OF GREENLAND 520000 mE 540000 mE 560000 mE

GREENLAND

Greenland

Qaqat Aqulerit Qaqqatsiaq Tuk Pikiniq Ivnaarssuunguaq GEOLOGY AND ORE 7 / 2007 Bjornesund Sungasa Nuat Lichtenfels Island (Tasiusarsuaq) Kaadaaq Northwest Annertusoq Upper Annertusoq East Extension Tasiusarsuaq Waterline Tassiusa Gate Upper Annertusoq Mikisoq Lower Annertusoq Ridgetop Sarfaq Rejane's Occurrence True North Gems Kigutilik Aappaluttoq Kangarssuk Fiskenaesset Project Siggartartulik Date:28/11/2006 Surface Plan Pupiq Puilassut Qavat Author: B. Weston RUBY OCCURRENCES Altiplano 001 Laks Elv Qororssuaq Office: Vancouver Nugussup Qavat Drawing: Scale: 1:200000 Projection: UTM Zone 22, Northern Hemisphere (WGS 84)

024 8

kilometres

Map of ruby occurrences in the Fiskenæsset area. Courtesy: True North.

Rubies and pink sapphires

discovered. However, only limited further collected from each of the two sites. Much Exploration work was done within the concession and of the sampling was carried out by dia- The first rubies were discovered in the West the activity ceased after a couple of years. mond-tipped chain saws and samples Greenland region of Fiskenæsset/Qeqer- In 2004 True North Gems Inc. obtained were flown to Fiskenæsset, where a small tarsuatsiaat in 1966 on a small island, sub- an exclusive exploration licence of a 3600 processing plant was established. The rocks sequently named Ruby Island. In the late km2 area and commenced prospecting in were gently crushed and the heavy miner- 1970s and early 1980s Greenland rubies the area. In 2005 True North collected 3 als were separated. The ruby concentrates caught commercial interest. Prospecting of tonnes of mini bulk samples at five differ- were hand-picked for the largest, best ruby-bearing zones, mapping and bulk ent localities. The ruby ore was processed quality rubies. sampling was carried out by the Canadian at various laboratories in Canada, the UK Prospecting of the area surrounding exploration company Platinomino A/S. and Germany. The rubies were sorted into Aappaluttoq led to the discovery of a band Shortly after the turn of the century the three quality classes: gem (transparent and of multiple ruby-bearing horizons, extend- Greenland rubies captured renewed com- semitransparent), near-gem (translucent and ing for 2 km from the historic locality of mercial interest from Brereton Engineering semi-translucent) and non-gem (opaque). Ruby Island to Aappaluttoq. This region & Developments Ltd. with True North Another ruby showing at Aappaluttoq will be the focus of planned diamond Gems Inc. as operator. yielded 533 grams of gem including a 20- drilling in the future. Detailed exploration for rubies was gram single stone, all derived from a 100- conducted by Platinomino A/S in the 1980s. kilo outcrop sample. Detailed mapping of the Siggartartulik In 2006 True North concentrated their Geological environment zone was made and prospective zones in efforts on the two most promising ruby The Fiskenæsset region is dominated by that area were scrutinised. As a result of localities discovered to date: Aappaluttoq extensive gneiss tracts with enclaves of this, several new ruby-bearing zones were and Kigutilik. A 30-tonne bulk sample was greenstone belts. A large, layered anortho-

4 GEMSTONES OF GREENLAND

village of Fiskenæsset in order to teach the local residents how to cut and polish cabochons of ruby. In the early spring 2006 a team of teachers and machinery were introduced for courses in faceting Rubies from Aappaluttoq. From left to right, stones weigh 0.43, 0.42, 0.77, 0.43, and 0.22 rubies. The courses were successful and carats. Courtesy: True North. some of the residents proved to have the potential for faceting gem stones. site complex with a total length of more euhedral barrel-shaped crystals have been A piece of ruby rough discovered in than 200 km intruded into pillow-struc- found in a biotite matrix. These rubies are 2005, approximately 4 cm x 5.5 cm with a tured amphibolites in the greenstone belts. red but neither transparent nor translu- maximum thickness of 3 cm, has been The Fiskenæsset complex comprises cent. In areas close to the Inland Ice rubies graded as near-gem with gem segments. anorthosites, gabbros and utrabasic rocks. have been found in similar environments. The material is a polycrystaline form, dis- GEOLOGY AND ORE 7 / 2007 Minor components are banded chromitites Near Maniitsoq north of Nuuk, red playing good natural red colouration which are up to a few tens of metres in corundum crystals have been found. They throughout, with mostly translucent to thickness and can be traced at intervals have developed as barrel-shaped crystals, near-transparent sections. This gem piece for many kilometres. The region has been often very large (up to 1 kg) and embedded has been carved yielding a stone of 302 repeatedly deformed and metamorphosed in biotite and thus easy to release. The carat which is estimated to have a value under amphibolite facies, locally up to colour is, however, not quite as intense the of around 1.5 million CAD. granulite facies conditions. other material described above. True North has carried out a number of The ruby-bearing rocks are very distinct Considering the close geological resem- beneficiation tests on the rubies, some and often revealed by the abundance of blance between the Fiskenæsset region and using automated optical sorting devices bright green tschermakite amphibole. The the area further north, it seems appropri- originally constructed to separate reusable mineral assemblage comprises red corun- ate to assume that the ruby-potential near glass. Tests have also been made to heat- dum, red spinel, sapphirine, kyanite, korne- Nuuk and further north is promising. treat fractured and very pale rubies in rupine and tourmaline in a groundmass of order to obtain better colour and less frac- tschermakite, phlogopite, anorthite and tures. The results are promising and the dolomite. These minerals occur in different Gem types and processing activity in the Fiskenæsset region is proba- proportions. The ruby-bearing zones always The coloured gems so far recovered have bly approaching the exploitation stage. occur either at or close to the contact been classified as rubies and pink sap- between anorthosite and amphibolite/ultra- phires. In 2005 True North established a basite. Since the anorthosites stand out small cutting and polishing centre in the Canadian gem cutting expert Brad Wilson demonstrates the faceting equipment in with no vegetation due to rapid weather- Fiskenæsset. Courtesy: True North. ing, it is fairly easy to prospect the region for ruby occurrences. Ruby showings vary considerably in size from a few square metres in outcrop to about ten metres in width and traceable for more than a hundred metres. The largest ruby showing is the so-called Siggartartulik showing and several tonnes of ruby-bear- ing material have been extracted from this locality. Ruby occurrences have also been record- ed elsewhere in West Greenland, although only very limited prospecting for ruby- bearing rocks has been carried out. In the inland area east of Nuuk extensive anortho- site bodies have been found including sev- eral ruby showings. Most of these occur near the contact between anorthosite and amphibolite/ultrabasite. One of the show- ings is on Storø, where up to 10 cm large

5 GEMSTONES OF GREENLAND

Cluster of ruby crystals, Fiskenæsset, West Greenland. Size of cluster: 2,8 x 4, 2 cm. Courtesy: Geological Museum. GEOLOGY AND ORE 7 / 2007

6 GEMSTONES OF GREENLAND

Exploitation of other gemstones

Kornerupine Kornerupine has been known since 1884, when the mineral was found and described from a locality near Qeqertarsuatsiaat (Fiskenæsset). The mineral was hosted in a sequence of anorthosite within the folded chromite-anorthosite igneous complex of the area. Kornerupine is associated with a suite of spectacular minerals such as sap- phirine, ruby, cordierite, tschermakite, spinel and tourmaline. The normal shape Above: Faceted kornerupine from the of kornerupine is radiating aggregates but Fiskenæsset area. Stones of 1.72 ct (top) and locally single crystals with a distinctly pris- 0.68 ct (bottom). Courtesy: Geological GEOLOGY AND ORE 7 / 2007 Museum. matic habit have developed. In 1975 a new site in the area delivered giant crystals of Left: Giant kornerupine crystal (23 cm in kornerupine measuring up to 23 cm (9 inch) length) from the Fiskenæsset area. Courtesy: Geological Museum. in length. The usual colour of the mineral from the West Greenland area is greyish-green- ish with a brownish tint and with a non- Below: Rough sample of tugtupite in vein transparent appearance. The giant crystals with white albite and brown spahlerite from display a clear blue-green colour, scattered the Narsaq area. Size of sample: 8 x 10 cm. with smaller areas with sufficient clarity and freedom from flaws to allow faceted gems to be made. Altogether 21 stones were cut from this material, including 14 faceted gems and 7 cabochons. The largest examples of 5.88 and 1.72 carats are displayed at the Geological Museum of Copenhagen. The material has never been traded or otherwise commercially tested. Although none of the faceted exam- ples are completely flawless, the clear colour and the pleochromism from dark green to light blue is convincing and ren- ders the Greenland kornerupine with promising possibilities as an attractive coloured stone. The number of localities is rather limited and until 1975 only the type specimens from 1884 were known. However, the find of the single crystals points to a potential for new finds.

Tugtupite Tugtupite was introduced as a new miner- al from Greenland in 1965. However, it was discovered as early as 1957 at a site along the shore of the Tunulliarfik fjord in South Greenland. Material from the locali- ty was described as white and it was men- tioned that the colour changes to pale

7 GEMSTONES OF GREENLAND

pink after exposure to daylight. In 1965 have been emptied and to day proper this the local municipality has issued the tugtupite with a dark crimson red showings of tugtupite albite veins are administrative regulations concerning colour was found on the Kvanefjeld hard to find. commercial collecting. mountain near the town of Narsaq, and As tugtupite is typically found in mas- Tugtupite has gained a reputation as since then this strong coloured type has sive, polycrystalline pieces, the typical cut the Greenland gemstone par excellence. been the most sought after by collectors of the stone has been as cabochons or as The colour change from red to pink or and tourists. A light blue variety is also shaped pieces, intended for mounting in white and back to red after being exposed known from this locality. Tugtupite is precious metal frames. Tugtupite is mostly to daylight (or ultraviolet radiation) after found within the peralkaline igneous cut and polished by local craftsmen in a being in the dark (in the jewel case), is Ilimaussaq Intrusion and it is confined to kind of lapidary home industry. The cabo- more of a curiosity, not known in other late hydrothermal veins, often associated chons are sold by local dealers and in gemstones, and maybe not really a mar- with albite, analcime, aegirine, sphalerite, tourist shops and in airports. The mineral keting issue. On the other hand tugtupite

GEOLOGY AND ORE 7 / 2007 neptunite and pyrochlore. Most tugtupite is well known outside Greenland and also is renowned for its intense glowing dark is massive, and developed crystals are traded internationally at jewellers and at red fluorescence, when it is exposed to extremely rare. Since the presentation in trade shows. The potential for larger pro- short-wave UV-light. Accurate pricing of 1965, several new showings have been duction is limited. The area with the tugtupite is difficult to obtain because of discovered in the area. Many of these known occurrence is small and on top of the great range of quality from different showings, however, it is one of the high- est priced Greenland stones.

Lapis lazuli Around 60 km east of the town of Maniitsoq at a locality named Tupertalik after the 980 m a.s.l. mountain nearby, (lazurite) has been known since the 1960s. At that time the area was being prospected by Kryolitselskabet Øresund A/S, which did not find it of commercial interest. The locality was sam- pled and mapped in 1979 and 1981 by GEUS. After that time local lapidarians showed some interest in the area. It is located along the margin of a slightly folded and metamorphosed Archaean car- bonatite sheet within the basement. As a result of reaction between the carbonatite and the basement gneisses, new minerals such as skapolite and lazurite have devel- oped. The skapolite is white and the lazu- rite is pale blue, and therefore pieces cut from the material have the characteristic combination of blue ground- mass with irregular white spots. Specks of sulphides are never found in Greenland material. The size of the carbonatite is around 200 x 500 m, which represents the surface exposure of the margins of the slightly folded sheet. Lazurite from

Cabochon cut tugtupite from the Narsaq area. Largest cabochon: 2.5 cm.

8 GEMSTONES OF GREENLAND

Lazurite crystal from the Maniitsoq area. Sample size: 5 x 5.5 cm. Courtesy: Geological Museum. GEOLOGY AND ORE 7 / 2007

Cabochon cut lazurite from the Maniitsoq area. Size of cabochon: 2 x 4 cm.

Greenland is only known from this locality. Lazurite is normally observed cut and polished by local craftsmen in a kind of peninsula. The complex is well-known for ing the pegmatites. Amazonite crystals are lapidary home industry. Chacochons and its pegmatites, often located in sequences up 5 x 15 cm. plane polished slabs are most popular, typ- of microgranite. The amazonite is nicely Granitic pegmatites in the Tasiilaq area ically in various mounts of silver. It is not developed together with coarse of East Greenland have been reported to unusual to see where lazurite is and biotite in dykes of up to 1-2 m width. contain well developed amazonite crystals, combined with other coloured Greenland Graphic is frequently seen border- but the colour of the Tasiilaq material is gemstones such as tugtupite and ama- zonite. The potential for further finds is limited to the size of the carbonatite exposure. Greenland lazurite has never been a target for commercial exploration. One prominent use of the material is as a part of the decoration of the neck chain insignia of the mayor of Maniitsoq.

Amazonite Within the Nunarssuit intrusive complex in South Greenland a number of pegmatite dykes have been found at several localities in the westernmost ‘main granite’. The complex is of Mid Gardar age (1150 Ma), it is composed of suites of and syenites and is located on the Nunarssuit

Amazonite crystal in pegmatite from the Nunarssuit area. Length of crystal: 15 cm.

9 GEMSTONES OF GREENLAND

pale blue-green compared to the covered in 1982 by GEUS. Some might Nuummite is typically treated by local Nunarssuit crystals. claim that nuummite was in fact rediscov- lapidarians and has created a base for a The Nunarssuit amazonite has the ered, since the mineralogist K.L. Giesecke solid home business. It is generally easy to characteristic silvery internal reflections, had collected similar specimens in 1810. polish, even though it can be difficult to which are enhanced by polishing, either as The two minerals are avoid holes and cracks in certain cabochons or as plane slabs. The found at several qualities of stones with Nunarssuit occurrence has been quarried localities in the many parallel crystals. for pilot uses under an exploitation license Nuuk area. The usual shape is held in 1986 by the municipality of cabochon, but other Qaqortoq. The municipality intended to Nuummite is convex finishes also establish work shops in the town. Here thought to produce attractive residents could use the material from the be of volcanic shapes. In larger pieces

GEOLOGY AND ORE 7 / 2007 quarry and learn to cut and polish gem- origin and was it is possible to retain most stones of local heritage, so called unique formed about 3 of the colours of the irides- Cabochon cut nuummite (3.5 cm) from ‘town gemstones’. However, the initiative billion years ago. the Nuuk area. cence, so that one end of was closed in 1987 after several attempts Metamorphic the cabochon has a golden to create treated gemstones and the quar- alteration of the rock resulted in the strik- colour while the opposite end has a bluish ried amazonite was dispersed among ing mixture of crystals which gives nuum- hue. town collectors. Eventually the license was mite its unique appearance. Nuummite The marketing of nuummite immedi- relinquished. The potential has been eval- has an overall hardness of 5_–6 and con- ately after its discovery was quite intense, uated as good, as the pegmatites are stitutes a mixture of elongated crystals, with a successful initiative to introduce it found at several places in the area. often in sheaf-like groups. In the transition on the international market. The munici- between the individual crystals (and espe- pality of Nuuk carried out exploitation of cially the thin ones), an optical effect is the material for a short period in the mid Nuummite created which causes them to display a 1980s. The potential for finding more Nuummite is a gemstone formed from a particular ‘inner’ golden glow, almost like showings seems to be good. mixture of two minerals from the amphi- flames in a fire. This effect is known as iri- bole group: anthophyllite and gedrite. The descence, and is very distinctive on pol- name nuummite (meaning ‘from Nuuk’) is ished surfaces. The colours vary somewhat Greenlandite derived from the name of the Greenland between reddish, greenish and bluish The rock greenlandite (‘grønlandite’) was capital, Nuuk, where the stone was dis- nuances. given this grandiose, unofficial name to

Sample of rough greenlandite from the Nuuk area. Size of sample: 7 x 8 cm.

10 GEMSTONES OF GREENLAND

mark Greenland’s new interest in its rocks. The stone was discovered in the 1960s during the survey of the large iron deposit, Isukasia north of Nuuk and it was subsequently discovered at several locali- ties in the Nuuk area. It was later estab- lished that the geological environment in which greenlandite was formed was in the order of 3.8 billion years old. This makes it one of the earth’s oldest formations and accordingly the oldest gemstone in the world. GEOLOGY AND ORE 7 / 2007 GEOLOGY AND ORE 7 / 2007 As a result of the dominant quartz with a hardness of 7, greenlandite is fairly hard and can readily be polished to a smooth surface which is often done as cabochons and plane slabs. Varying green and white Sisimiut streaks in the same piece can produce Garnet Lake many variants of the stone. Thin slices are Maniitsoq (Sarfartoq) partially translucent, and are therefore Majuagaa Storø Isukasia well-suited to uses requiring light to pass Tasiilaq through. Greenlandite is also well-suited Nuuk as a dimension stone for use in decora- Aappaluttoq (Fiskenæsset) tions. Ilímaussaq Greenlandite consists of with Nunarssuit a green chromium-bearing mica, fuchsite, Narsaq Qaqortoq Localities for gemstones in Greenland. evenly distributed throughout, giving the stone a fresh green colour. Quartzite is made of fine-grained quartz, while the fuchsite resembles glitter with fine, small spangles distributed throughout the rock. peridote (olivine), quartz (rocky, smoky, It has a metallic inner glow deriving from ), spinel (red), topaz (microcrys- Concluding remarks its many spangles. This type of stone is talline) and tourmaline (black) have been also known among the jewellers as green found in sporadic showings, some of Greenland gemstones have played a quiet quartz, also reported from them already popular as gem material and but important role as the bearer of a pub- Brazil and southern African localities. others still with an unproven potential as lic understanding of mineral exploitation. Experts will note that the colour of green- gems. Medium-hard minerals like cancri- With new opportunities for including pre- landite is more bluish green than the for- nite, natrolite, prehnite, (blue, yel- cious gems such as diamond and ruby in eign types. The potential of finding more low, green) and thulite are often used by this context, mineral exploitation of gem- raw material in Greenland is good in the local lapidarians in areas where they are stones is moving from local scale to a Nuuk area. There has been no attempt to familiar to the rock hounds. Like nuum- much more widespread and important exploit greenlandite commercially so far. mite and greenlandite, a number of rocks mineral resource business. The potential have been polished and cabochon cut and for such a development is certainly pos- have gained a reputation and trade status sible, at least based on recent exploration as unique Greenland gemstone souvenirs. results. Additionally, Greenland could Other semi-precious Examples are graphic granite, kakortokite encounter more diversity in gemstone gems (eudialyte-rich nepheline syenite), naujaite exploration, if the obvious potential for (pokillitic nepheline syenite), tschermakite gem material in hard rock deposits is fully Small occurrences of other traditional with ruby, and ‘satellitestone’ (a poly- exploited. gemstones are also known in Greenland: chrome mixture of natrolite and sodalite). Beryl (bluegreen), chalcedony (red, brown, Such materials probably have a steady or green, blue and white), cordierite slightly rising potential within a local (dichroite), (‘moonstone’), garnet, home handicraft industry.

11 Bureau of Minerals and Petroleum (BMP) Key references Government of Greenland P.O. Box 930 Appel, P. W. U. (1995d). "Ruby occurrences in the Myers, J. S. (1985). Stratigraphy and structure of DK-3900 Nuuk Fiskenæsset area, West Greenland." Open File the Fiskenæsset Complex, southern West Greenland Series Grønlands Geologiske Undersøgelse, Greenland. Grønlands Geologiske Undersøgelse 95/11: 24. Bulletin 150, 72 pp. Tel: (+299) 34 68 00 Appel, P. W. U. and A. Jensen (1987). "A new Nielsen, T.F.D., Jebens, M., Jensen, S.M. & Fax.: (+299) 32 43 02 gem material from Greenland: iridescent orthoam- Secher, K. (2006). Archetypal kimberlite from the E-mail: [email protected] phibole [nuummite]." Gems and Gemology, 23: Maniitsoq region, southern West Greenland and Internet: www.bmp.gl 36–42. analogy to South Africa. Geological Survey of Bøggild, O. B. (1953). "The mineralogy of Green- Denmark and Greenland Bulletin 10, 45–48 land." Meddelelser om Grønland 149,3: 1-442. Petersen, O. V., O. Johnsen & Jensen, A. (1980). Dragsted, O.(1970): Tugtupite. Journal of Gem- "Giant crystals of kornerupine." Mineralogical mology 12, 10–11 Record, 11: 93–96. GEOLOGY AND ORE 7 / 2007 GEOLOGY AND ORE 7 / 2007 Gübelin, E. J. (1979). "Fiskenässet.. Rubinvor- Petersen, O. V. and K. Secher (1993). "The kommen auf Grönland." Lapis, 4(3): 19–26. Minerals of Greenland." The Mineralogical Record Herd, R. K., B. F. Windley, et al. (1969). "The 24,2, 1-67. mode of occurrence and petrogenesis of the sap- Petersen, O. V. et al., (2002). Dravite from phirine-bearing and associated rocks of West Qarusulik, Ameralik Fjord in southwestern Green- Geological Survey of Denmark Greenland." Rapport Grønlands Geologiske land. In: A Gemstone Spectrum. ExtraLapis English and Greenland (GEUS) Undersøgelse, 24: 44. No. 3 Tourmaline. 42–46. Øster Voldgade 10 Jensen, A. and O. V. Petersen (1982). "Tugtupite: Sinkankas, J. (1997). Gemstones of North DK-1350 Copenhagen K a gemstone from Greenland." Gems and Gem- America, (Vol III). Tuscon, Arizona: Geoscience Denmark ology, 18: 90–94. Press, 527 pp. Tel: (+45) 38 14 20 00 Jensen, S. M., K. Secher, & Rasmussen, TM.R. Steenfelt, A., Secher, K. & Garde, A.A (in press): Fax.: (+45) 38 14 20 50 An overview of pegmatite occurrences in Green- (2004). "Diamond content of three kimberlitic E-mail: [email protected] occurrences in southern West Greenland. Diamond land and their economic potential. Danmarks og Internet: www.geus.dk identification results, field description and mag- Grønlands Geologiske Undersøgelse Rapport netic profiling." Danmarks og Grønlands Geo- 2007/2. logiske Undersøgelse Rapport 2004/19: 41 pp. Sørensen, H., Danø, M. & Petersen, O.V. (1971): Jensen, S. M., K. Secher, et al. (2004). Diamond On the mineralogy and paragenesis of tugtupite. exploration data from West Greenland: 2004 Meddelelser om Grønland 181(13), 37 pp. update and revision, Danmarks og Grønlands Geologiske Undersøgelse Rapport 2004/117: 90 + DVD. Front cover photograph Exploration for rubies at Mikisoq near Appaluttoq. The field team examines a ruby rich horizon. Courtesy: True North.

Author K. Secher & P. Appel, GEUS

A 302 carat ruby chunk Editor carved into various figurines. Karsten Secher, GEUS Carved by Thomas McPhee. Courtesy: True North. Graphic Production Carsten E. Thuesen, GEUS

Photographs GEUS unless otherwise stated

Printed January 2007 © GEUS

Printers Schultz Grafisk

ISSN 1602-818x 12