mima_report_cover_lys_condensed copy.pdf 1 21/03/14 13.35 ISBN 978-87-7871-376-6 MiMa report 2014/1 An evaluation of the potential for DENMA R K uranium deposits in Greenland Geocenter Denmark is a formalised cooperation between Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS), Department of Geoscience at Aarhus University and the Geological Museum and Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management at the University of Copenhagen. Nynke Keulen, Kristine Thrane, Bo Møller Stensgaard and Per Kalvig An evaluation of the potential for uranium deposits in Greenland MiMa report / MiMa report 2014/1 An evaluation of the potential for uranium deposits in Greenland The exploration for uranium in Greenland has been dormant for approxi- mately 30 years, but in 2013 new Greenlandic legislation opened up the country for uranium exploration and mining. This report outlines the poten- tial for uranium deposits in Greenland. The selection of areas of interest for uranium exploration is based on available geological information and the classification of uranium deposits proposed by the International Atomic Energy Authority. The most prospective types of uranium deposits in Green- land are sandstone deposits, unconformity-related deposits, quartz pebble conglomerate deposits, vein deposits, intrusive deposits, volcanic deposits, and metasomatite deposits. Based on current geological information, the geographic area with the highest potential for uranium deposits is South Greenland. In this region the strongest candidate deposits are hosted in the Gardar intrusive complex MINING and the sandstones of the psammite zone. West Greenland hosts several carbonatite intrusions; the available data suggests that the Sarfartoq and CONSUMPTION Qaqarssuk intrusions have an especially high potential for uranium. TRANSPORT In North-West Greenland sediments of the Thule Supergroup provide an RECYCLING interesting target for exploration as sandstone or basal unconformity-type PROCESSING deposits. Central East Greenland hosts Mesozoic sandstones and a variety EXPLORATION of intrusive complexes, volcanic rocks and veins that also make strong targets for uranium exploration. MANUFACTURE This report gives a detailed overview of all areas that host potential uranium deposits and includes a description of all known uranium occurrences in Greenland. Center for Minerals and Materials (MiMa) is an advisory centre under the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland. MiMa provides knowledge on mineral resources and supply chains, from production to recycling. GEUS Mi Ma De Nationale Geologiske Undersøgelser Øster Voldgade 10 GEUS is a research and advisory CENTER FOR CENTER FOR MINERALS AND MATERIALS for Danmark og Grønland (GEUS) DK-1350 Copenhagen K institution in the Danish Ministry MINERALS Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland Denmark of Climate, Energy and Building & MATERIALS GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF DENMARK AND GREENLAND GEUS An evaluation of the potential for uranium deposits in Greenland Nynke Keulen, Kristine Thrane, Bo Møller Stensgaard and Per Kalvig MiMa report / Mi Ma CENTER FOR CENTER FOR MINERALS AND MATERIALS MINERALS & MATERIALS GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF DENMARK AND GREENLAND GEUS Contents Executive Summary 6 1. Introduction 8 1.1 Background ............................................................................................................ 8 1.2 Available uranium data for Greenland ........................................................................ 9 1.2.1 Company reports and Survey literature (DODEX) .............................................. 9 1.2.2 Greenland Mineral Occurrence Map (GMOM) .................................................. 10 1.2.3 Rock samples ................................................................................................... 10 1.2.4 Stream sediment samples ................................................................................ 12 1.2.5 Ground and airborne scintillometric surveys .................................................... 14 1.3 Uranium deposit types ............................................................................................. 14 1.3.1. Classification of uranium types ........................................................................ 15 1.4 Known uranium occurrences in Greenland .............................................................. 17 2. Areas with known uranium occurrences and with a potential to host a uranium deposit 19 2.1 Sandstone deposits (D1) .......................................................................................... 19 2.1.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 19 2.1.2 Psammite zone (metasandstone), South Greenland (D1-A) ............................ 21 2.1.2.1 Illorsuit (D1-A1) ......................................................................................... 21 2.1.3 Eriksfjord Formation sandstones, Gardar province (D1-B) ............................... 22 2.1.4 Nuussuaq Group sandstones (D1-C) ............................................................... 22 2.1.5 Thule Supergroup sandstones (D1-D) .............................................................. 23 2.1.6 Independence Fjord Group sandstones including the Trekant Series and the sandstones and conglomerates in Kronprins Christian Land (D1-E) ......................... 24 2.1.7 Hagen Fjord Group sandstones (D1-F) ............................................................ 26 2.1.8 Wandel Sea Basin sandstones (D1-G) ............................................................. 26 2.1.9 Eleonore Bay Supergroup and Tillite Group sandstones (D1-H) ...................... 27 2.1.10 Central East Greenland basins sandstones (D1-I) ......................................... 27 2.1.10.1 Milne Land (D1-I1) .................................................................................. 28 2.1.11 Kangerlussuaq Basin sandstones (D1-J) ....................................................... 29 2.2 Unconformity-related deposits (D2) .......................................................................... 30 2.2.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 30 2.2.2 Base of the Eriksfjord Formation, Gardar province (D2-A) ............................... 32 2.2.3 Grænseland (Borderzone) and Midternæs unconformity (D2-B) ...................... 32 2.2.4 Kome Formation in the Nuussuaq Group (D2-C) ............................................. 33 2.2.5 Base of the Thule Supergroup (D2-D) .............................................................. 33 2.2.6 Dallas Bugt Formation, Franklinian Basin (D2-E) ............................................. 33 2.2.7 Devonian to Permian clastic sediments in central East Greenland (D2-F) ....... 34 2.2.8 Base of the pelite and psammite zone, South Greenland (D2-G)..................... 35 2.3 Quartz-pebble conglomerate deposits (D4) ............................................................. 36 2.3.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 36 2.3.2 Conglomerates associated with the Ketilidian sediments in South-East Greenland (D4-A) ...................................................................................................... 38 G E U S 3 2.3.3 Grænseland and Midternæs conglomerates (D4-B) ........................................ 38 2.3.4 Metasediments on southern Nuussuaq and in the Ataa domain (D4-C) .......... 38 2.3.5 Kome Formation conglomerates (D4-D) .......................................................... 39 2.3.6 Karrat Group sediments (D4-E) ....................................................................... 39 2.3.7 Conglomerates of the Thule Supergroup (D4-F) .............................................. 40 2.3.8 Independence Fjord Group sandstones including the Trekant Series and the sandstones and conglomerates in Kronprins Christian Land (D4-G) ........................ 40 2.3.9 Central East Greenland basins conglomerates (D4-H) .................................... 41 2.3.9.1 Wegener Halvø (D4-H1) .......................................................................... 41 2.4 Vein deposits (D5) ................................................................................................... 42 2.4.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 42 2.4.2 Veins related to the formation of the Gardar province (D5-A) .......................... 44 2.4.2.1 Nordre Sermilik (Qingua and Ulungarssuaq) (D5-A1) .............................. 44 2.4.2.2 North of Bredefjord (D5-A2) ..................................................................... 46 2.4.2.3 Puissattaq (D5-A3) ................................................................................... 46 2.4.2.4 Vatnaverfi (including Eqaluit) (D5-A4) ...................................................... 46 2.4.3 Veins in the psammite zone, South Greenland (D5-B) .................................... 47 2.4.4 Veins in the Julianehåb batholith (D5-C) .......................................................... 47 2.4.5 Veins associated with the Qaqarssuk carbonatite complex (Qeqertaasaq) (D5- D) .............................................................................................................................. 47 2.4.6 East Greenland (D5-E) .................................................................................... 48 2.4.6.1 Moskusokseland