The mineral resource potential of the Nordre Strømfjord – Qasigiannguit region, southern and central West Greenland

Abstract

Assessment of the mineral resource potential of the region between Sukkertoppen Iskappe and the southern part of Nuussuaq, West Greenland (66°N to 70°15´N; Fig. 1) is part of a regional resource assessment programme of the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) for 2000–2003. The year 2000 was dedicated to the compilation of existing data and the outlining of target areas for the field work in 2001 and 2002. This report gives a review of the work related to the gold and base metal potential in the Nordre Strømfjord – Qasigiannguit region, mainly based on results from the 2001 field work. Significant geological data have been collected from the region by the Survey, research groups and exploration companies during the past several decades; see Kalsbeek & Nutman (1996), Connelly & Mengel (2000) and van Gool et al. (2002, this volume) for geology, Steenfelt (2001) for geochemistry and Rasmussen & van Gool (2000) and Nielsen & Rasmussen (2002, this volume) for geophysics. Most of the region is easy of access, and exposures are excellent along the shores of the numerous fjords. However, inland areas may locally have extensive Quaternary cover.