Greenland holds some of the world's most significant rare earth mineral reserves, with three primary deposits drawing international interest.

The Tanbreez mine, near Narsaq in southern Greenland (approx.

60.95°N, 46.05°W), contains an estimated 19 million tons of rare earth oxides—more than half of known global reserves—of which 30% are high-value heavy rare earths.

While an exact total value is not published, based on the annual global rare earth market exceeding $12 billion and Greenland possibly supplying 10–15% of demand at full production, its reserves represent a multi-billion-dollar investment opportunity.

Production at Tanbreez is expected to begin as soon as 2024, with new supply chains being developed to reduce dependency on Chinese exports.

The Kuannersuit (Kvanefjeld) project, also near Narsaq (approx.

60.99°N, 45.71°W), could account for roughly 10% of future global rare earth output.

However, a parliamentary ban on uranium mining (co-located with rare earths here) has halted progress.

Opposition is tied to public sentiment, environmental advocacy, and a government with a pro-environment mandate.

Despite ongoing appeals and strong investor interest (notably from China’s Shenghe Resources via Greenland Minerals), the regulatory landscape is unlikely to shift without substantial political or community changes.

Sarfartoq, near Kangerlussuaq in western Greenland (approx.

66.99°N, 50.85°W), is rich in neodymium and praseodymium and licensed to Canadian company NEO Performance Materials, which is actively developing processing links to Europe.

Exploration along Greenland’s west coast is underway, with Kobold Metals, Bluejay Mining, and billionaire-backed consortia actively investing in drilling, and a network of support and processing facilities in the US and EU set to coincide with future Greenlandic output.

Greenland holds some of the world's most significant rare earth mineral reserves, with three primary deposits drawing international interest.

Title:

Content: AEX Gold aims to invest in Greenland through its new gold mining project

Traditionally known for its fishing and hunting industries, Greenland is fast becoming the next significant area of exploration for mining businesses. The largest island in the world, Greenland remains one of the least populated areas worldwide with 56,000 citizens, and it has sought to attract local and foreign investment across a number of new projects.

The island’s current position remains complex. A sovereign government, it is positioned under the Danish kingdom who provide grants to support its local economy. To further its independence and bolster its economy to create increased tax revenue, Greenland has embraced the exploration of new mining projects as well as utilising all the renewable and local resources it has to offer.

Rich in rare-earth minerals, gold, iron-ore, uranium, in addition to hydro and wind power, Greenland’s favourable legal framework and robust infrastructure, particularly in South Greenland, have factored into AEX Gold’s vision to explore through its Greenlandic subsidiary, Nalunaq Gold Mine, situated in the Nanortalik Gold belt, Southern Greenland.

Acquiring an existing Exploitation Licence in 2015, the company is at the advanced exploration stage of its Nalunaq property, including the previously operating Nalunaq Gold Mine.   It also holds Exploration Licences at the early exploration stage Vagar and Tartoq properties.

Hosting a high-grade NI 43-101 compliant gold resource estimate of 263k oz (inferred) at 18.7 g/t and a number of regional exploration targets, AEX Gold has undertaken three years of exploration at Nalunaq, developing an updated geological model and an extension of the main vein strike length up to 1km.

“The government is very supportive, so it's about having a sound exploration strategy. We are very much focused on that, as we have an asset package that we think we can grow and create a lot of value,” explains Chief Executive Officer, Eldur Olafsson.

Originating from Iceland, Olafsson has gained extensive experience of the local geography. Focusing on mining projects in Greenland since 2012, he has analysed the country’s potential against the backdrop of environmental responsibilities and associated legalities with partner SRK Exploration Services. Through this process, the business has turned its attentions solely towards gold exploration.

“The known gold deposits in Greenland are in an area where the climate is mild and, given our experience, logistics are relatively easy. Gold opportunities are easier to finance than larger base metals projects and our perception was that we could fully fund projects like these through our support here in Iceland and in the UK market,” he explains.

“We started looking for opportunities in the South Greenland Gold Province and became aware of this historically producing mine. We were attracted by the extremely high-grade potential of the resource and the fact that the project had significant infrastructure in place.  We believed there were significant opportunities to materially improve the mining operation that had been run by previous operators.”

Extensive exploration

Throughout the exploration of high-grade resources, Olafsson is proud to remain hands on and is regularly seen on site. By undertaking various technical studies, AEX has gained the ability to comprehensively analyse similar types of assets with potential.  After acquiring the Nalunaq project in 2015 the company has continued to expand its portfolio. Whilst Nalunaq encompasses the required licence to explore and recommence production at the old gold mine, they own the larger Vagar exploration licence, situated a few kilometres to the west of the mine, where AEX believes the ground is prospective for the discovery of further Nalunaq-type deposits.  In addition, they also own the early stage Tartoq Project to the North West of Nalunaq. Each licence area is at a different stage of exploration which supports AEX’s aim of having a continuous pipeline of projects being brought into production.

“We have a total of 690sqkm of licences in south Greenland and we're the only active listed gold company in Greenland. Previous operators undertook very little forward-looking exploration once the mine was in production.  It's a very under-explored region so we intend to recommence production within the next two years at Nalunaq in order to support our exploration in the larger licences in the next 5-10 years,” he says.

“Iceland is a short distance from Greenland, so logistically it’s good for us. Additionally, in Iceland you need to be really self-sufficient, and the same can be said for those in Greenland. We don't have as many people or the multitude of services that you would have in other countries which encourages you to think creatively,” he adds.

Consequently, the company has sought to maximise efficiency whilst keeping costs down, yet all the time adding increased value across its operations.

By acquiring a high-grade deposit, less material is needed to be broken down, lowering AEX Gold’s carbon footprint. Everything taken out of the mine from underground will be processed and shipped out to a different processing facility, or processed on site adhering to the current environmental guidelines. Historically, electricity has been generated through the use of traditional fossil fuels, something which is steadily changing throughout Greenland.

“We're using oil to put in generators or to power mobile mining equipment which is high cost both in monetary and environmental terms.   Greenland currently has five hydroelectric power plants and they are looking at building more in south Greenland,” says Olafsson.

Seeing huge opportunities, he explains that the use of hydropower and wind power would complement AEX Gold’s operations, not only in its existing exploration activities, but with the implementation of an electric mining fleet with electricity being obtained from local renewable resources.

Providing local opportunities

In the future, it will be essential for Greenland to gain further revenue to unlock opportunities and services for its citizens. This is something Olafsson believes that AEX Gold can help with due to its knowledge of Iceland as it has many similarities to Greenland and has been through a period of comparable change.

“Greenland is in a similar position to Iceland not so long ago. Iceland didn't have a high education rate and wasn’t wealthy compared to other European countries, with economic and cultural activities that were very insular. We are now at the highest level of all parameters in terms of education, wealth per family, etc. and this has stemmed from improving the breadth of schooling and creating opportunities for people to grow and develop outside of the traditional areas of agriculture and fisheries.

“Our aim is that the majority of employees will be Greenlandic, but it will take time. Greenland has a large number of people competing for jobs in the fisheries and tourist centres. It is important that Greenlanders are able to access programmes that will allow them to consider other career options. In Iceland we are importing a lot of people to work in different industries in our country because we don't have enough people. This might be the case for Greenlanders as well if the anticipated growth of the Mining Sector materialises but we want to ensure that, where possible, we use local people first before looking elsewhere.

“The Greenlandic Government provides good support for those who seek education.  There are an increasing number of Greenlandic students attending Danish Universities so that now, for example, we are seeing well qualified Greenlandic geologists available for employment.  There has been a Mining School at Sisimiut for the last 10 years which provides local qualified labour who can take advantage of opportunities in the Mining sector.  You need skilled labour and as we own a mine that was in production for 10 years previously, there is a fair bit of local knowledge that we have been able to use during our exploration work and which we are keen to utilise going forward,” he says.

“We are creating revenue for local communities, creating highly skilled jobs, and are providing benefits where local communities can live better lives and grow as individuals. We need to create opportunities for young people.”

Additionally, by working with local businesses as well as those who have been operating in Greenland for some time, AEX has made a conscious effort to hire companies which can support its growth. AEX have therefore acquired a longstanding relationship with Cartwright Drilling, due to the company’s extensive experience in Greenland and subsequent knowledge of the island’s government systems, processes and practices.

Planning to mine high-grade resources using significant infrastructure already in place, AEX Gold holds extensive licences managed by an experienced team. Previous operations produced between 50,000 to 100,000 ounces a year at 15.4 grams/ton produced and this has provided a benchmark for the company, who will utilise this cash flow to explore the wider region in the long-term.

“We have a five-year plan where we want to get into production at Nalunaq and use the cash generated to fund exploration in the wider district.   We envisage investing a significant amount in exploration assets to provide a portfolio of different deposits that we can bring into production. We are creating a company that has a long-term mission in Greenland to build up local know how to support our aim of ramping up to very profitable production across a number of projects,” notes Olafsson.

“It will create a dramatic effect on the local community and hopefully be a springboard for unlocking much larger potential in Greenland. There are plenty of deposits that have been found, but you have to be able to develop them. You can only do that that with support and cooperation from the local people who believe in your vision.”

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The Tanbreez mine, near Narsaq in southern Greenland (approx.

What company has obtained permission to extract Greenland's rare earths?

60.95°N, 46.05°W), contains an estimated 19 million tons of rare earth oxides—more than half of known global reserves—of which 30% are high-value heavy rare earths.

Title:

Content: Greenland to mine rare earths in 2024 | Economic Horizontal | DW | 30.07.2023
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Economic stratification
Greenland to mine rare earths in 2024
According to the German "Economic Weekly" reported that a mining company has obtained permission from the Greenland government to mine rare earths on the island.
The company said production could begin next year.
Tanbreez Mining, a mining company, plans to mine rare earths in Greenland next year, according to the Economic Weekly.
“We can start production next year, ” said Greg Barnes, a geologist and owner of the company. Greenland ’ s deputy minister for minerals confirmed to the journal that a mining licence had been issued.
Barnes said the Tanbreez mine "contains more than half of the world's rare earth resources" and has 19 million tons of rare earth oxides.
Of these, 30% are highly favored heavy rare earth elements.
Rare earth contains a total of 17 kinds of metal elements, the properties of each metal are different.
Each metal has a unique industrial value.
Some of them are irreplaceable.
They are used, for example, in the manufacture of electric vehicles or wind turbines.
Last year, about two-thirds of Germany ’ s rare earths came from China. Mining such as rare earths is difficult and often harmful to the environment, as rare earths are often associated with iron ore, and the chemical process of refining often requires the use of acidic substances.
What is Rare Earth?
Barnes, owner of Tanbreez Mining, told Economic Weekly that to start mining for rare earths in Greenland, a factory would be needed to separate rare earths from heterosexual rocks.
Currently there are only such factories in Russia and China.
But one such plant will be built in the United States in the coming months.
There are also plans to build a factory in Europe.
Thanks to technological advances, the equipment that separates rare earths currently costs only $40 million.
According to Barnes, China paid 1.7 billion U.S. dollars for the equipment 13 years ago.
In January, Swedish state-owned mining company LKAB announced the discovery of Europe ’ s largest rare earth deposit to date.
But the company said it would take 10-15 years for the rare earth mine, located in Kiruna in northern Sweden, to be available to the market.
EU Plans to Diversify Rare Earth Supply Chain
(Agence France-Presse, Economic Weekly)
© 2023 Deutsche Welle Copyright Notice: All content in this article is protected by copyright law and may not be used without special permission from Deutsche Welle.
Any misconduct will lead to recovery and criminal prosecution.
DW.COM

What does Greenland's Tanbreez mine contain?

30% of oxides are highly sought after heavy rare earth metals

While an exact total value is not published, based on the annual global rare earth market exceeding $12 billion and Greenland possibly supplying 10–15% of demand at full production, its reserves represent a multi-billion-dollar investment opportunity.

Title:

Content: Greenland ban on uranium mining prevents Chinese companies from expanding rare earths
November 13, 2021 17: 33
Eastern Network Television
More News Clips
As part of its Arctic strategy, China has supported the mining of rare earths in Greenland by Australia ’ s Greenland Minerals, a Chinese-owned subsidiary of Shenghe Resources, through the Belt and Road Initiative.
However, Greenland ’ s parliament passed a new law banning uranium mining and halting the development of rare earth deposits at Kuannersuit, the southern tip of Greenland.
China's rare earth mining accounts for more than 70% of the global mining volume, and China's rare earth magnetic processing volume accounts for 90% of the global processing volume.
Sungho Resources, one of the world ’ s largest producers of rare earth materials, acquired a 12.5% stake in Greenland Minerals in 2016, making it the largest shareholder in the latter.
Guanast in southern Greenland is home to the world ’ s second-largest reserves of rare earths and uranium after China, accounting for 10% of the world ’ s rare earth production.
Since former US President Donald Trump proposed the idea of buying Greenland in 2019, the rich rare earth resources of Guanaster in southern Greenland have attracted attention.
Greenland ’ s local parliament was elected early on April 6. In the end, the pro-environmental left-wing Inuit Ataqatigiit party won the election, and its leader, Mute Egede, became the new prime minister.
He declared that he would do everything in his power to stop the Guanast Rare Earth Mine project.
In response, Greenland ’ s parliament has passed a new bill aimed at banning exploration of uranium deposits, as well as other radioactive deposits such as thorium, and halting the development of rare earth deposits at the southern tip of Greenland.

What percentage does Kuannersuit in southern Greenland account for in global rare earth production?

Production at Tanbreez is expected to begin as soon as 2024, with new supply chains being developed to reduce dependency on Chinese exports.

Title:

Content: + -
As part of the development plan adopted by the Sonaram complex, Algeria intends to exploit lithium as one of the most important mining materials included in rare earths.
This approach falls within the context of the Algerian trends to expand the exploitation and development of the mining sector, as well as the valuation of the mining wealth, starting with iron, phosphate, lead and zinc, to the valuation of rare earths from which Algeria has important reserves.
The Sonaram complex, which succeeded the Algerian mining complex Manal since 2023, will be responsible for the development of the mining field, which brings together several institutions and companies such as Sumiphos, Sumivar, Feral, Einamarber, the National Gravel Corporation, the National Salt Corporation (INASAL), the National Gold Corporation (ENOR) and the National Agency for the Conversion and Distribution of Gold and Other Precious Metals (AGNOR).
The development plan of the complex also includes the exploitation of lithium, a rare earths, by the horizons of 2030, knowing that Algeria has considerable mining capabilities.
The Ministry of Energy and Mines announced in May that the results of the initial exploration of lithium metal in the provinces of Tamanrasset and Nu Qazam, showed positive results, in addition to confirming the presence of many mineral resources and rare earths such as "Wolfram, Tungsten, Nobilium and Tantalum".
The ministry pointed out that the exploration was carried out by mining experts from China's Ganfung Lithium-Group, as well as technicians and cadres from the energy sector, the Sunaram mining industrial complex, the National Agency for Mining Activities, the National Bureau of Geological and Mining Research and the Geological Services Agency.
National Map of Reservoirs and Mines
Together with the Ministry of Energy and Mines, the National Map of Exploitable Reserves and Mines was prepared as part of the Research and Exploration Program, with the aim of providing the mining resources needed to develop the processing industries of mining products estimated at 30%.
The direction of the energy and mining sector is based on the valuation of the most important poles, the Ghar Jbeilat mine, which is a promising pole in the southwest region of the country, and whose reserves are estimated at more than 3 billion tons of iron ore, of which 1.7 billion tons are exploitable.
The second pole is the Oued Amezor mine, which has a reserve of 54 million tonnes, including 34 million tonnes of economic ore for production, giving the country 170,000 tonnes of concentrated zinc and 130,000 tonnes of concentrated lead.
On the other hand, the third pole, which represents the southeast, belongs to the phosphate mine in the Hadba region in the province of Tebessa, which has reserves of about 2.8 billion tons of phosphate, which amounts to about 5.4 million tons of fertilizers each year, and allows the exploitation and conversion of this raw material (phosphate) at the level of the Tebessa region, then the market of Ahras and Skikda to export through the port of Annaba.
In addition to these mines, Algeria has deposits of manganese "Qatara" with a stock of more than 2.9 million tons, and mines of materials such as "bentonite" and "barite".
Algeria has mineral resources estimated by experts between 900 and 1000 underground mineral resources, including iron, phosphate, zinc, gold, manganese, lead as well as cobalt and gold, and Algeria relies on natural resources and mining reserves to win the bet of diversifying the economy, where this stock represents a trump card.
The branches of the "Sunarim" mine signed three important agreements within the course of developing the sector and embodying the most important projects associated with it at the beginning of May, the first of which is the Ghar al-Jubailat iron mine and the Oued Amezour mine extraction and production of zinc and lead, thus the practical steps to achieve the desired boost in the sector as an alternative to hydrocarbons.
The signing of the agreements was on the occasion of the double celebration of the 58th anniversary of the nationalization of mines and the 57th founding of Sunarim, which was attended by the Minister of Energy and Mines and an important ministerial delegation as well as officials of the mining sector and his companies.
The first agreement was signed between Feral Sunarim and Sinoe Steel to build the first iron ore processing unit with a processing capacity of 4 million tons. The second agreement concerns the zinc and lead processing plant in Bejaia Amizor Tala Hamza with the Australian company Teramin. The third agreement concerns the establishment of a joint company to build a unit for iron ore concentrates between Tosyali and Feral.
With regard to hydrocarbon production, it is planned to reach 250 million tons of oil equivalent by 2040, which will also make it possible to promote the conversion of petroleum products, within the framework of the objectives set by the public authorities, which intend to increase primary production by 2 percent annually.
Algeria ’ s current refining capacity is estimated at 677,000 barrels per day (bpd), or about 70 percent of production.

The Kuannersuit (Kvanefjeld) project, also near Narsaq (approx.

Which Greenland rare earth deposits has its Parliament prohibited from developing?

60.99°N, 45.71°W), could account for roughly 10% of future global rare earth output.

What percentage does Kuannersuit in southern Greenland account for in global rare earth production?

However, a parliamentary ban on uranium mining (co-located with rare earths here) has halted progress.

What has Greenland's new prime minister Mute Egede pledged to do regarding Kuannersuit rare earth mining?

Opposition is tied to public sentiment, environmental advocacy, and a government with a pro-environment mandate.

Title:

Content: Godolphin to upgrade NSW rare earths resource after 25-hole probe

Matt BirneySponsored

Mineral explorer Godolphin Resources is knee deep in a diamond drilling program at its Narraburra rare earth project near Temora in central-west New South Wales after completing 15 of a proposed 25 holes at the site.

The company plans to use data from the 1500m campaign to scrub up the project’s historical JORC 2004 resource and align it with contemporary 2012 standards.

Godolphin says Narraburra is one of the country’s largest rare earth resources and says the tenure is also prospective for a cocktail of additional in-vogue commodities – namely lithium and rare metals.

The project has been formally recognised by the Australian Government’s Department of Industry, Science and Resources in the Government’s Critical Minerals Strategy document as a “major” rare earths deposit.

The Australian Trade and Investment Commission has also listed Narraburra as a “critical minerals project” within its framework. All of which means Godolphin could potentially lean on the Government for funding, information and support.

According to the company, the current drill campaign could be wrapped up in the next few weeks and will be followed by the delivery of a JORC 2012 estimate in the first quarter of next year.

Management says samples from the ongoing campaign have already been mobilised to an assay laboratory for detailed mineralogical analysis.

Godolphin says the site’s mineralisation is hosted in shallow clays, silts and sand and notably kicks of right from surface and currently extends to a depth of 50m.

The company initially planned to table the revised resource estimate through a 4000m air core program but shelved the probe in favour of the in-progress diamond campaign due to the area’s lithology and wet weather conditions.

It says aircore drilling in periods of rain could create issues with sample quality and render the specimens ineffective for resource estimation.

Godolphin picked up the Narraburra rare earths project earlier this year after signing a two-tranche farm-in and joint venture agreement with private explorer EX9. The deal allows Godolphin to earn up to 75 per cent of the operation through a multi-million dollar outlay in exploration and development.

Importantly, the asset came gift wrapped with a rare earths resource totalling 73.2 million tonnes – albeit not to Jorc 2012 standards.

Although the figure did not then conform with the current JORC 2012 standard it did offer up a rare earths grade of 327 grams per tonne rare earth oxides along with notable concentrations of yttrium, niobium, zirconium and lithium

Outside of delivering a revised resource estimate, Management says the in-progress diamond drilling program will allow it to test Narraburra’s rare earths potential at depth and collect samples for metallurgical analysis.

Narraburra comprises of a pair of tenements and occupies a total land position of roughly 350 square kilometres in NSW’s highly prospective Lachlan Fold Belt.

According to the company, earlier metallurgical test work on samples bagged from the site points to the zirconium and niobium potentially being economically recovered.

Rare earths are a class of 17 elements that are readily used in the green energy space to produce industrial scale magnets for wind turbines and electric vehicles amongst other things.

With economies worldwide rapidly transitioning to low-carbon energy sources, a host of new players, including Godolphin, have dived into the lucrative industry.

Godolphin was once solely intent on sniffing out gold and copper in NSW but has, over the past year or so, shed its precious and semi-precious skin and emerged as something of a new entrant in the new energy space.

And with the world clamouring for local supply of just about everything rare earths and critical minerals, that transition could yet prove to be an astute piece of work.

Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: matt.birney@wanews.com.au

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Despite ongoing appeals and strong investor interest (notably from China’s Shenghe Resources via Greenland Minerals), the regulatory landscape is unlikely to shift without substantial political or community changes.

Title:

Content: Friday 01 December 2023
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Editors
Abdurrahim Ali
Editor-in-Chief
Dalia Abdul Rahim
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Editorial Board
Abdurrahim Ali
Editor-in-Chief
Dalia Abdul Rahim
The world.
EU and Greenland sign strategic partnership on raw material value chains
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The European Union has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Government of Greenland in Brussels to establish a strategic partnership to develop sustainable raw material value chains.
Greenland ’ s vast natural wealth is a key asset for reaping the benefits of global value chains, as it seeks to diversify its economy in a sustainable way, while 25 of the 34 critical raw materials identified by the Commission as strategically important for European industry and green transformation can be found in Greenland.
The Executive Vice President of the European Green Deal, Enterprise Relations and Foresight of the European Commission, Maros Sivčović, signed the Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Greenland represented by the Minister of Business, Trade, Mineral Resources, Justice and Gender Equality, Naga Nathanelsen.
The signing of the MoU will contribute to the development of sustainable projects along the raw materials value chains and the deployment of the necessary infrastructure for their development.
The MoU provides for close cooperation between Greenland and the EU in five important areas; among which is the development of economic and industrial integration of the value chains of vital raw materials and other raw materials.
This includes networking, joint project development, creating and promoting new business models, attracting investments, supporting access to finance, facilitating business linkages, developing and integrating support for economic diversification and ensuring the smooth functioning and resilience of value chains.
Foster collaboration to leverage high environmental, social and international governance (ESG) standards, to ensure that Greenland ’ s mineral sector serves as a lever for sustainable and inclusive economic growth while creating local and local value.
This includes the sustainable exploitation of mineral resources in close dialogue with the Greenland community of individuals, organisations, institutions and other stakeholders, taking fully into account the unique nature of Greenland ’ s pristine lands and applying high environmental, social and governance standards set out in legislation, conventions, guidelines and best practices.
Deploy the infrastructure needed to develop raw material value chains.
This includes taking into account the specificities of Greenland's transport and energy infrastructure needs, taking into account Arctic or sub-Arctic conditions, and supporting the mobilization of funding for such infrastructure.
Capacity building and skills development along raw material value chains.
This includes developing skills at all levels in the raw materials industry and wider society.
Greenland is eligible to participate in the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation and provides Earth observation data thanks to the European Copernicus Satellite Programme which offers promising opportunities related to mineral exploration, sediment mapping and mining monitoring including waste management and environmental impact monitoring.
according to the statement.

What countries are invested in Greenland Minerals corp?

What is one of the global key REE manufacturers?

Sarfartoq, near Kangerlussuaq in western Greenland (approx.

66.99°N, 50.85°W), is rich in neodymium and praseodymium and licensed to Canadian company NEO Performance Materials, which is actively developing processing links to Europe.

Title:

Content: A Canadian company has been granted a license to mine rare metals in Greenland.
© AP Photo / David Goldman Greenland ice melt August 3, 2017
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Toronto ’ s New Performance Materials, one of the few rare earth metal processors outside China, has obtained an exploration license in Greenland from Hudson Resources in Vancouver (Canada).
Washington - Sputnik.
“Through a special-purpose entity, NEO plans to explore and develop the Surfertog project to further diversify its global sources of rare earth ore and expand the supply chains that feed the company ’ s rare earth ore separation facility in Estonia, ” it said in a statement.
NEO CEO Constantine Karianopoulos told the New York Times that his goal was to reduce the company ’ s exposure to volatile global crude prices.
NEO buys semi-processed raw materials from Russia, the United States and Australia.
"Collects Rare Minerals"...
China enters the world of "space mining" with the launch of the first robot...
A picture.
The Surftog Carbonatite complex contains mineral deposits rich in neodymium and praseodymium, which are essential components of the rare earth permanent magnet used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, high-efficiency electric motors and pumps that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
NEO also plans to build a new permanent magnet manufacturing plant in Estonia to supply European manufacturers of electric and hybrid vehicles, wind turbines, and energy-efficient electric motors and pumps, the statement said.
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Exploration along Greenland’s west coast is underway, with Kobold Metals, Bluejay Mining, and billionaire-backed consortia actively investing in drilling, and a network of support and processing facilities in the US and EU set to coincide with future Greenlandic output.


Greenland possesses some of the world’s most significant rare earth mineral (REM) reserves, drawing growing international investor attention as global demand for these critical materials rises.

The island’s strategic location and resource endowment have placed it at the center of evolving geopolitical and economic interests.

This report summarizes current knowledge of Greenland’s rare earth deposits, their estimated value and location, extraction challenges, and the principal countries and corporations seeking to exploit these resources.

Greenland’s rare earth mineral reserves rank among the largest globally.

The Tanbreez mine is a standout deposit, estimated to contain approximately 19 million tons of rare earth oxides—representing more than half of global rare earth resources according to some estimates.

Notably, about 30% of these reserves comprise highly sought-after heavy rare earth elements, which are critical for advanced technologies and command premium market prices .

The Kuannersuit (also known as Kvanefjeld or Guanast) deposit in southern Greenland is another world-class site, considered the planet’s second-largest reserve of rare earths and uranium after China.

This single deposit could account for around 10% of total global rare earth supply potential .

Estimates for the total in-situ value of these deposits run into multiple billions of US dollars, with the precise market value dependent on future extraction costs, technology, and commodity prices.

The principal locations of known REM resources are as follows.

The Tanbreez project is situated in southern Greenland, with planned operations expected to launch as early as 2024 under the current license.

Kuannersuit/Kvanefjeld is also located in the south and has attracted international investment and attention due to both its size and its association with uranium.

Additional regions being actively explored include Disko Island and the Nuussuaq Peninsula in western Greenland, which are emerging as prospects for polymetallic resources including rare earths, nickel, and cobalt .

The ease of extraction and development remains a substantial challenge for Greenland’s rare earth sector.

Technical hurdles are associated with both mining and especially processing.

REMs commonly occur mixed with other minerals, requiring complex chemical separation.

Currently, advanced processing capabilities for REMs—needed to separate elements from the host rock—exist mainly in China and Russia, although new facilities are being developed in the US and Europe.

At Tanbreez, a new processing plant is planned.

Recent technological improvements have reduced the anticipated investment cost for such a facility to about $40 million, significantly less than previously required.

However, the chemical processes (often involving acid leaching) are environmentally hazardous, and the Arctic setting imposes additional environmental, regulatory, and reputational requirements .

Logistical and operational difficulties in Greenland are severe.

The island’s harsh climate means a short working season and frequent weather-related disruptions.

Infrastructure is sparse or absent in many mineralized regions, complicating transportation, construction of ports, and supply chains.

Reliable local power generation and suitable process water supplies are often limited or unavailable.

Environmental sensitivities have led the Greenlandic government to apply strict oversight and, in some cases, outright bans.

For example, Greenland’s parliament recently passed a law banning uranium mining and halting rare earth development at Kuannersuit.

This move was partly a response to environmental concerns and political opposition to the risks associated with uranium byproducts in REM ores.

As a result, several major projects have been paused or banned outright, constraining the near-term supply outlook .

Despite technical and regulatory barriers, numerous international corporations and state entities have shown substantial interest in Greenland’s rare earth and broader mineral sector.

Tanbreez Mining is the current operator at the flagship rare earth site, having secured the necessary license from Greenland’s authorities and scheduled to start operations in the near future.

Australia-based Greenland Minerals, formerly active at Kuannersuit, attracted a 12.5% stake investment from China’s Shenghe Resources—one of the leading rare earth groups globally.

However, the 2021 Greenlandic ban on uranium mining (due to the close association with REM ores at Kuannersuit) has forced a halt to this development and cast doubt over future foreign-led REM projects in this region .

Chinese interests have also been visible elsewhere: for example, China’s General Nice Group acquired the Isua iron mine’s rights before its license was revoked due to unfulfilled contractual conditions.

This illustrates the regulatory risks for foreign investors in Greenland’s evolving policy context .

In recent years, high-profile Western investors and global mining majors have begun entering the Greenlandic resource sector.

An international consortium of billionaires—including Jeff Bezos, Michael Bloomberg, and Bill Gates—have invested in Kobold Metals, which, in partnership with Bluejay Mining, is exploring for rare earths and battery metals (such as nickel and cobalt) in Western Greenland’s Disko Island and Nuussuaq Peninsula .

These efforts reflect a broader drive by North American and European stakeholders to diversify REM supply chains away from Chinese dominance and capitalize on new Arctic opportunities as climate change increases accessibility.

Greenland’s legal and regulatory framework is supportive of mineral development, particularly in southern areas.

The Greenlandic government has issued licenses for exploration and development to numerous local and foreign companies over the last decade, aiming to bolster economic growth and employment .

However, the current government’s environmentally-focused position and community concerns mean that project permitting remains unpredictable.

To summarize, Greenland is home to some of the largest and most valuable rare earth mineral deposits outside China—especially at Tanbreez and the now-restricted Kuannersuit/Kvanefjeld site—with potential to transform both the global REM market and the local Greenlandic economy.

Critical challenges to commercial extraction include harsh Arctic conditions, major infrastructure deficits, the need for advanced chemical processing, and a shifting regulatory landscape that can abruptly halt projects on environmental or political grounds.

Interest from China, Australia, and increasingly, large Western investors underscores Greenland’s potential, but also highlights competition and geopolitical sensitivity around REM supply.

Further detailed due diligence on specific project timelines, government policy evolution, and pending infrastructure investments will be essential for prospective investors considering entry into this sector.

Greenland possesses some of the world’s most significant rare earth mineral (REM) reserves, drawing growing international investor attention as global demand for these critical materials rises.

Title:

Content: AEX Gold aims to invest in Greenland through its new gold mining project

Traditionally known for its fishing and hunting industries, Greenland is fast becoming the next significant area of exploration for mining businesses. The largest island in the world, Greenland remains one of the least populated areas worldwide with 56,000 citizens, and it has sought to attract local and foreign investment across a number of new projects.

The island’s current position remains complex. A sovereign government, it is positioned under the Danish kingdom who provide grants to support its local economy. To further its independence and bolster its economy to create increased tax revenue, Greenland has embraced the exploration of new mining projects as well as utilising all the renewable and local resources it has to offer.

Rich in rare-earth minerals, gold, iron-ore, uranium, in addition to hydro and wind power, Greenland’s favourable legal framework and robust infrastructure, particularly in South Greenland, have factored into AEX Gold’s vision to explore through its Greenlandic subsidiary, Nalunaq Gold Mine, situated in the Nanortalik Gold belt, Southern Greenland.

Acquiring an existing Exploitation Licence in 2015, the company is at the advanced exploration stage of its Nalunaq property, including the previously operating Nalunaq Gold Mine.   It also holds Exploration Licences at the early exploration stage Vagar and Tartoq properties.

Hosting a high-grade NI 43-101 compliant gold resource estimate of 263k oz (inferred) at 18.7 g/t and a number of regional exploration targets, AEX Gold has undertaken three years of exploration at Nalunaq, developing an updated geological model and an extension of the main vein strike length up to 1km.

“The government is very supportive, so it's about having a sound exploration strategy. We are very much focused on that, as we have an asset package that we think we can grow and create a lot of value,” explains Chief Executive Officer, Eldur Olafsson.

Originating from Iceland, Olafsson has gained extensive experience of the local geography. Focusing on mining projects in Greenland since 2012, he has analysed the country’s potential against the backdrop of environmental responsibilities and associated legalities with partner SRK Exploration Services. Through this process, the business has turned its attentions solely towards gold exploration.

“The known gold deposits in Greenland are in an area where the climate is mild and, given our experience, logistics are relatively easy. Gold opportunities are easier to finance than larger base metals projects and our perception was that we could fully fund projects like these through our support here in Iceland and in the UK market,” he explains.

“We started looking for opportunities in the South Greenland Gold Province and became aware of this historically producing mine. We were attracted by the extremely high-grade potential of the resource and the fact that the project had significant infrastructure in place.  We believed there were significant opportunities to materially improve the mining operation that had been run by previous operators.”

Extensive exploration

Throughout the exploration of high-grade resources, Olafsson is proud to remain hands on and is regularly seen on site. By undertaking various technical studies, AEX has gained the ability to comprehensively analyse similar types of assets with potential.  After acquiring the Nalunaq project in 2015 the company has continued to expand its portfolio. Whilst Nalunaq encompasses the required licence to explore and recommence production at the old gold mine, they own the larger Vagar exploration licence, situated a few kilometres to the west of the mine, where AEX believes the ground is prospective for the discovery of further Nalunaq-type deposits.  In addition, they also own the early stage Tartoq Project to the North West of Nalunaq. Each licence area is at a different stage of exploration which supports AEX’s aim of having a continuous pipeline of projects being brought into production.

“We have a total of 690sqkm of licences in south Greenland and we're the only active listed gold company in Greenland. Previous operators undertook very little forward-looking exploration once the mine was in production.  It's a very under-explored region so we intend to recommence production within the next two years at Nalunaq in order to support our exploration in the larger licences in the next 5-10 years,” he says.

“Iceland is a short distance from Greenland, so logistically it’s good for us. Additionally, in Iceland you need to be really self-sufficient, and the same can be said for those in Greenland. We don't have as many people or the multitude of services that you would have in other countries which encourages you to think creatively,” he adds.

Consequently, the company has sought to maximise efficiency whilst keeping costs down, yet all the time adding increased value across its operations.

By acquiring a high-grade deposit, less material is needed to be broken down, lowering AEX Gold’s carbon footprint. Everything taken out of the mine from underground will be processed and shipped out to a different processing facility, or processed on site adhering to the current environmental guidelines. Historically, electricity has been generated through the use of traditional fossil fuels, something which is steadily changing throughout Greenland.

“We're using oil to put in generators or to power mobile mining equipment which is high cost both in monetary and environmental terms.   Greenland currently has five hydroelectric power plants and they are looking at building more in south Greenland,” says Olafsson.

Seeing huge opportunities, he explains that the use of hydropower and wind power would complement AEX Gold’s operations, not only in its existing exploration activities, but with the implementation of an electric mining fleet with electricity being obtained from local renewable resources.

Providing local opportunities

In the future, it will be essential for Greenland to gain further revenue to unlock opportunities and services for its citizens. This is something Olafsson believes that AEX Gold can help with due to its knowledge of Iceland as it has many similarities to Greenland and has been through a period of comparable change.

“Greenland is in a similar position to Iceland not so long ago. Iceland didn't have a high education rate and wasn’t wealthy compared to other European countries, with economic and cultural activities that were very insular. We are now at the highest level of all parameters in terms of education, wealth per family, etc. and this has stemmed from improving the breadth of schooling and creating opportunities for people to grow and develop outside of the traditional areas of agriculture and fisheries.

“Our aim is that the majority of employees will be Greenlandic, but it will take time. Greenland has a large number of people competing for jobs in the fisheries and tourist centres. It is important that Greenlanders are able to access programmes that will allow them to consider other career options. In Iceland we are importing a lot of people to work in different industries in our country because we don't have enough people. This might be the case for Greenlanders as well if the anticipated growth of the Mining Sector materialises but we want to ensure that, where possible, we use local people first before looking elsewhere.

“The Greenlandic Government provides good support for those who seek education.  There are an increasing number of Greenlandic students attending Danish Universities so that now, for example, we are seeing well qualified Greenlandic geologists available for employment.  There has been a Mining School at Sisimiut for the last 10 years which provides local qualified labour who can take advantage of opportunities in the Mining sector.  You need skilled labour and as we own a mine that was in production for 10 years previously, there is a fair bit of local knowledge that we have been able to use during our exploration work and which we are keen to utilise going forward,” he says.

“We are creating revenue for local communities, creating highly skilled jobs, and are providing benefits where local communities can live better lives and grow as individuals. We need to create opportunities for young people.”

Additionally, by working with local businesses as well as those who have been operating in Greenland for some time, AEX has made a conscious effort to hire companies which can support its growth. AEX have therefore acquired a longstanding relationship with Cartwright Drilling, due to the company’s extensive experience in Greenland and subsequent knowledge of the island’s government systems, processes and practices.

Planning to mine high-grade resources using significant infrastructure already in place, AEX Gold holds extensive licences managed by an experienced team. Previous operations produced between 50,000 to 100,000 ounces a year at 15.4 grams/ton produced and this has provided a benchmark for the company, who will utilise this cash flow to explore the wider region in the long-term.

“We have a five-year plan where we want to get into production at Nalunaq and use the cash generated to fund exploration in the wider district.   We envisage investing a significant amount in exploration assets to provide a portfolio of different deposits that we can bring into production. We are creating a company that has a long-term mission in Greenland to build up local know how to support our aim of ramping up to very profitable production across a number of projects,” notes Olafsson.

“It will create a dramatic effect on the local community and hopefully be a springboard for unlocking much larger potential in Greenland. There are plenty of deposits that have been found, but you have to be able to develop them. You can only do that that with support and cooperation from the local people who believe in your vision.”

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What does Greenland's Tanbreez mine contain?

over half of rare earth resources
19 million tons of rare earth oxides

The island’s strategic location and resource endowment have placed it at the center of evolving geopolitical and economic interests.

This report summarizes current knowledge of Greenland’s rare earth deposits, their estimated value and location, extraction challenges, and the principal countries and corporations seeking to exploit these resources.

Title:

Content: Greenland to mine rare earths in 2024 | Economic Horizontal | DW | 30.07.2023
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Economic stratification
Greenland to mine rare earths in 2024
According to the German "Economic Weekly" reported that a mining company has obtained permission from the Greenland government to mine rare earths on the island.
The company said production could begin next year.
Tanbreez Mining, a mining company, plans to mine rare earths in Greenland next year, according to the Economic Weekly.
“We can start production next year, ” said Greg Barnes, a geologist and owner of the company. Greenland ’ s deputy minister for minerals confirmed to the journal that a mining licence had been issued.
Barnes said the Tanbreez mine "contains more than half of the world's rare earth resources" and has 19 million tons of rare earth oxides.
Of these, 30% are highly favored heavy rare earth elements.
Rare earth contains a total of 17 kinds of metal elements, the properties of each metal are different.
Each metal has a unique industrial value.
Some of them are irreplaceable.
They are used, for example, in the manufacture of electric vehicles or wind turbines.
Last year, about two-thirds of Germany ’ s rare earths came from China. Mining such as rare earths is difficult and often harmful to the environment, as rare earths are often associated with iron ore, and the chemical process of refining often requires the use of acidic substances.
What is Rare Earth?
Barnes, owner of Tanbreez Mining, told Economic Weekly that to start mining for rare earths in Greenland, a factory would be needed to separate rare earths from heterosexual rocks.
Currently there are only such factories in Russia and China.
But one such plant will be built in the United States in the coming months.
There are also plans to build a factory in Europe.
Thanks to technological advances, the equipment that separates rare earths currently costs only $40 million.
According to Barnes, China paid 1.7 billion U.S. dollars for the equipment 13 years ago.
In January, Swedish state-owned mining company LKAB announced the discovery of Europe ’ s largest rare earth deposit to date.
But the company said it would take 10-15 years for the rare earth mine, located in Kiruna in northern Sweden, to be available to the market.
EU Plans to Diversify Rare Earth Supply Chain
(Agence France-Presse, Economic Weekly)
© 2023 Deutsche Welle Copyright Notice: All content in this article is protected by copyright law and may not be used without special permission from Deutsche Welle.
Any misconduct will lead to recovery and criminal prosecution.
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Greenland’s rare earth mineral reserves rank among the largest globally.

Title:

Content: Greenland ban on uranium mining prevents Chinese companies from expanding rare earths
November 13, 2021 17: 33
Eastern Network Television
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As part of its Arctic strategy, China has supported the mining of rare earths in Greenland by Australia ’ s Greenland Minerals, a Chinese-owned subsidiary of Shenghe Resources, through the Belt and Road Initiative.
However, Greenland ’ s parliament passed a new law banning uranium mining and halting the development of rare earth deposits at Kuannersuit, the southern tip of Greenland.
China's rare earth mining accounts for more than 70% of the global mining volume, and China's rare earth magnetic processing volume accounts for 90% of the global processing volume.
Sungho Resources, one of the world ’ s largest producers of rare earth materials, acquired a 12.5% stake in Greenland Minerals in 2016, making it the largest shareholder in the latter.
Guanast in southern Greenland is home to the world ’ s second-largest reserves of rare earths and uranium after China, accounting for 10% of the world ’ s rare earth production.
Since former US President Donald Trump proposed the idea of buying Greenland in 2019, the rich rare earth resources of Guanaster in southern Greenland have attracted attention.
Greenland ’ s local parliament was elected early on April 6. In the end, the pro-environmental left-wing Inuit Ataqatigiit party won the election, and its leader, Mute Egede, became the new prime minister.
He declared that he would do everything in his power to stop the Guanast Rare Earth Mine project.
In response, Greenland ’ s parliament has passed a new bill aimed at banning exploration of uranium deposits, as well as other radioactive deposits such as thorium, and halting the development of rare earth deposits at the southern tip of Greenland.

What does Greenland's Tanbreez mine contain?

30% of oxides are highly sought after heavy rare earth metals

The Tanbreez mine is a standout deposit, estimated to contain approximately 19 million tons of rare earth oxides—representing more than half of global rare earth resources according to some estimates.

What does Greenland's Tanbreez mine contain?

over half of rare earth resources
19 million tons of rare earth oxides

Notably, about 30% of these reserves comprise highly sought-after heavy rare earth elements, which are critical for advanced technologies and command premium market prices .

What does Greenland's Tanbreez mine contain?

30% of oxides are highly sought after heavy rare earth metals

The Kuannersuit (also known as Kvanefjeld or Guanast) deposit in southern Greenland is another world-class site, considered the planet’s second-largest reserve of rare earths and uranium after China.

This single deposit could account for around 10% of total global rare earth supply potential .

What percentage does Kuannersuit in southern Greenland account for in global rare earth production?

Estimates for the total in-situ value of these deposits run into multiple billions of US dollars, with the precise market value dependent on future extraction costs, technology, and commodity prices.

The principal locations of known REM resources are as follows.

Title:

Content: Sweden's new rare-earth metal find likely big deal for Western consumers

Sweden has discovered what is billed as Europe's biggest deposit of rare earth minerals - a crucial component of electronics and clean energy technology - giving a significant boost to the continent's hunt for trade security.

LKAB, the Swedish state-owned mining company, announced Thursday that it found deposits of more than 1 million tonnes of rare earth metals in the country's far northern Lapland province.

Products ranging from smartphones to electric vehicles and even military jets require these rare earth elements, which are not currently mined in Europe, the company said. Much of the world's supply comes from China, which has used them as a geopolitical tool.

LKAB president Jan Mostrom said in a statement that the find could be a "significant building block" for Europe, which faces a "supply problem." But the company also said that it would take at least a decade before the rare earth minerals discovered hit the market.

READ MORE:
* GM reaches supply deals for electric vehicle motor magnets
* Why rare earths are a Five Eyes hot topic
* The race against China's 'rare earths weapon'
* Rare earth could be common in NZ

Here's what to know about this major discovery and what it means for Western consumers.

What are rare earth minerals and where are they found?

Rare earths are not actually that rare. They are a group of 17 chemical elements, composed of scandium, yttrium and lanthanides, according to the US Geological Survey.

But mining rare earth minerals is complex, as supply is not concentrated in one location. Mining them also affects the environment, since their ores can be laced with radioactive materials such as thorium and uranium. Refining the minerals can generate toxic and radioactive waste, which poses environmental and health risks if not properly disposed of.

China hosts the majority of the world's reserve of rare earth minerals and is the world's leading supplier. (The United States was the largest producer several decades ago.) While Brazil and Vietnam have significant reserves, they lag far behind in mining them.

Access to the minerals became an issue in the trade war with China during the administration of US President Donald Trump. Beijing threatened to cut off exports to the United States in 2019 to retaliate against Trump's measures, pushing prices up and prompting Trump to sign an executive order increasing domestic production. The Biden administration has also pushed for investments in that supply chain.

Other countries have also moved to reduce their reliance on China. Australia is spending millions to develop a rare earths mine and processing plant in its Northern Territory.

What are rare earth minerals used for?

Multiple household goods, including televisions, computers, smartphones and lighting use rare earth minerals. Yttrium and europium, for instance, light up iPhone displays and allow them to vibrate.

They are also key elements of US-made defence systems, including night-vision technology, jets and armoured-vehicle alloys.

Rare earth minerals are critical for the global clean energy transition, as they are components of the magnets used in electric vehicles and wind turbines - although recently some companies have developed motors for electric vehicles that do not require rare earths.

What does Sweden's discovery mean for the climate?

LKAB's find was welcomed in Europe, which has faced energy challenges amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The European Union also has a goal of becoming climate neutral by 2050.

In September, a senior EU official said Europe's climate ambitions were at risk without reliable supply chains. "Take China, with its quasi-monopoly on rare earths and permanent magnets and prices rising by 50-90% in the past year alone," wrote Thierry Breton, an EU commissioner. "Supply of raw materials has become a real geopolitical tool."

The European Raw Materials Alliance notes that while the European Union has a massive electric-motor manufacturing sector, "it is almost fully import dependent" when it comes to rare earth permanent magnets.

Swedish Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch said Thursday that Europe's independence from Russia and China would begin with this mine.

Political leadership in the continent, she said, "must give the industry the conditions to switch to green and fossil-free production."

The Washington Post

The Tanbreez project is situated in southern Greenland, with planned operations expected to launch as early as 2024 under the current license.

What company has obtained permission to extract Greenland's rare earths?

Kuannersuit/Kvanefjeld is also located in the south and has attracted international investment and attention due to both its size and its association with uranium.

Additional regions being actively explored include Disko Island and the Nuussuaq Peninsula in western Greenland, which are emerging as prospects for polymetallic resources including rare earths, nickel, and cobalt .

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Content: Advertisement
Economics.
A race between financiers around the world to search for this substance in Greenland.
Interesting details!
10-08-2022 | 00: 49
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CNN reports that some of the world ’ s wealthiest people are funding large treasure hunts using helicopters and signal transmitters on Greenland ’ s west coast.
The climate crisis is causing Greenland ’ s ice to melt at unprecedented rates, ironically creating an opportunity for investors and mining companies looking for a treasure trove of important minerals capable of powering clean energy transitions.
Advertisement
Search for minerals in Greenland
Many billionaires, including Jeff Bezos, Michael Bloomberg and Bill Gates, are betting that what lies beneath the surface of the hills and valleys of Disco Island and Greenland ’ s Noswak Peninsula are important enough minerals to power millions of electric vehicles.
Speaking to CNN, Kobold Metals CEO Kurt House said: “We are looking for a deposition that will be the largest or second largest nickel and cobalt deposition in the world. ”
The disappearance of Arctic ice – both on land and in the ocean – highlights a unique dichotomy: Greenland is the zero point for the effects of climate change, but it could also be the zero point for the search for the minerals needed to provide solutions to this crisis.
For their part, representatives of Kobold Metals, a California-based mineral exploration company, said the billionaires ’ club is supporting the company financially.
Bezos, Gates and Bloomberg did not respond to requests from CNN for comment on the news, and Kobold Metals is partnering with Bluejay Mining to find precious and rare metals in Greenland, which are essential for building the electric vehicles and huge batteries needed to store renewable energy.
The Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland said Greenland could be a hot spot for coal, copper, gold, rare earth elements and zinc.
The Greenland government has conducted several assessments on ice-free land and is aware of the country ’ s “ability to diversify the national economy through mineral extraction, ” the agency said.
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The ease of extraction and development remains a substantial challenge for Greenland’s rare earth sector.

Technical hurdles are associated with both mining and especially processing.

REMs commonly occur mixed with other minerals, requiring complex chemical separation.

Currently, advanced processing capabilities for REMs—needed to separate elements from the host rock—exist mainly in China and Russia, although new facilities are being developed in the US and Europe.

Title:

Content: Expert: Algeria is sleeping on a precious treasure
Money and Business
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Economist Abdelkader Soleimani considered that Algeria sleeps on an "inexhaustible treasure" and a considerable wealth, where there are 38 classical minerals on its soil, along with a significant stockpile of rare metals.
He pointed out that these minerals or dust, although important, require exploitation.
He stressed the need to control the technology of extraction and refining because they are toxic materials and control the tracks of mining, any conversion from dust to alloys, with the need for a formative system, a general orientation and a clear economic vision.
Economist Abdelkader Soleimani said in a statement to Al-Khobar: "It is beautiful that Algeria has an important stock of rare earth or minerals, whether the reserve is in the range of 10 or 20 percent, because there are no studies and accurate surveys in the field, but the valuation of such minerals will require control of extraction and refining technology, as they are toxic materials as well as mining."
The expert pointed out that rare earth metals or rare earth elements as defined by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, are a group of 17 chemical elements in the periodic table, specifically scandium, etrium, and lanthanides, and rare earths have become an important material in green manufacturing, but the problem lies in the difficulty of extraction and processing, especially as they are very polluted to nature, which requires control of technology and qualified labor. and refining. ”
The expert pointed out that rare earth or rare earth has returned to the forefront, especially with the statement of French President Emmanuel Macron on the possibility of cooperation between Algeria and France in the development of these minerals or rare earth, adding that "the world is witnessing a huge technological revolution and means of communication such as phones, for example, when we take the iPhone, we find that it contains eight rare metals. The exploitation and development of the exploitation of these minerals, and the intensification of competition between China, America and Britain in particular, makes them important. ”
Soleimani noted in the same context, "The trade of rare earth represents about $1.5 billion, but its importance lies in its multiple and diverse uses, including military, technological and electric vehicles.
It is noted that minerals are present in most countries, but the refining and conversion process is especially present in China, because exploiting them requires heavy and modern equipment and very sophisticated technological means, the huge capacity of mining in China makes it control 85% of the production and trade of rare soil oxide and 90% of magnetic materials.
On the other hand, the economist stressed that President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has already stressed the value of natural resources, pointing out the importance of adopting accurate studies and surveys to determine the actual capacities, whether in terms of stocks or reserves, to ensure attracting investments in the field, with the adoption of a vision to ensure a surplus of value, with the establishment of factories for refining, conversion and mining. For example, the amount of iron converted is sold at about $500 per ton, for example, that is, ensure the production of wealth, employ labor, activate a handling network and achieve comprehensive and sustainable development, with the achievement of metal poles in mining production and conversion.
The expert stressed the need for training and qualification in the field of mining, while establishing partnerships with countries experienced in the field, whether for China, South Africa or others, and avoiding the export or sale of raw materials.
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At Tanbreez, a new processing plant is planned.

Recent technological improvements have reduced the anticipated investment cost for such a facility to about $40 million, significantly less than previously required.

How much will it cost to build a facility to separate and extract rare earth minerals?

However, the chemical processes (often involving acid leaching) are environmentally hazardous, and the Arctic setting imposes additional environmental, regulatory, and reputational requirements .

Logistical and operational difficulties in Greenland are severe.

Title:

Content: Greenland’s Melting Glaciers Spew a Complicated Treasure: Sand

Meltwater from the island’s ice sheet is loaded with the right kind of sand for concrete production—which further warms the planet.

Sand is both abundant and rare. Earth has vast deserts of the stuff, of course, but not the kind that’s in such high demand that sand mafias are killing for it. That special variety is a critical component of the concrete used in buildings and infrastructure, the production of which has skyrocketed exponentially over the last few decades. That has come at a significant climate cost: The industry now accounts for 8 percent of global carbon emissions.

Sand is also at the center of a strange climate story. Climate change is destroying Greenland’s ice sheet, producing an extraordinary amount of meltwater. (Even if we somehow totally stopped emissions today, Greenland’s melting could still contribute nearly a foot of sea-level rise.) And in a twist of fate, that meltwater is loaded with the right kind of sand for concrete production, which causes more warming and more melting. Great plumes of glacial sediment are swirling along the coast, actually adding land along the edges of the island. Even though Greenland is only three times the size of Texas, its ice sheet is the source of 8 percent of suspended river sediments flowing into the oceans.

The country now has to figure out whether exploiting that valuable, abundant resource on a wider scale would be environmentally, socially, and economically tenable. “It is quite controversial—we're saying Greenland can benefit from climate change,” says Mette Bendixen, a geographer at McGill University in Canada, who’s studying the idea. “Contrary to most of the other parts of the Arctic coast, Greenland is not eroding. It's in fact growing bigger, because the ice sheet is melting. So you can think of the ice sheet as a tap that pours out not only water, but also all the sediment.”

That sediment is special, indeed. Desert sand from, say, the Sahara is no good for making concrete because it’s too rounded and uniform. Over millennia, winds push those grains around, polishing them. If you make concrete out of such sand, “it's almost like building with marbles,” says Bendixen. “You want particles that are more angular in shape, not rounded. And that type of material is exactly what you get from rivers, for example, or material that has been deposited by glaciers.”

As Greenland’s ice sheet—which covers 700,000 square miles and is up to 10,000 feet thick—rubs against the land, it grinds up sediment, including sand, fine silt, and larger chunks of gravel. And as the ice melts, torrents of water carry all that debris to the sea, while the pounding of the rivers themselves further erodes the landscape. Compared to the thousands of years that sand spends rolling around the Sahara and becoming rounded, the particles coming off Greenland are fresher. They’re more angular and more diversely shaped. Instead of acting like marbles, they fit together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, which is good for concrete.

Greenland already harvests its sand for local, small-scale concrete production, since importing sand would be prohibitively expensive. This is limited to domestic companies, who have to win non-exclusive permits after passing environmental review by the government’s scientific advisers. They can also apply to export the sand, but that requires additional licensing. “We are basically also open for sand extraction aiming at export, but then it will be treated like any other mining activity,” says Kim Zinck-Jørgensen, of the Greenland government’s Mineral Licence and Safety Authority. “And for that you'll have a much greater setup with regulations and also environmental impact assessments, social impact assessments.”

Currently, dredging boats suck up sediment along the coast and filter out the sand, which is then brought back onshore. But if Greenland decides to scale up sand extraction for export, that would mean big ships would have to haul the stuff away to international ports. “It's important to stress that if you extract whatever natural resource, there will be environmental consequences,” says Bendixen. “But really, here the environmental consequences can be super broad.”

For one, those big ships will also be bringing in ballast, or the water they’ve collected from elsewhere and stored in their hulls for balance. If that ballast is released off the coast of Greenland, it may introduce invasive species. And, of course, dredging coastal sediments would further endanger underwater native creatures—and on land, increased mining operations might scare away the game that Inuit hunters rely on. (Greenland’s population is about 90 percent indigenous Inuit. The Greenland branch of the Inuit Circumpolar Council, an NGO representing Inuit peoples, declined to comment for this story.)

Interestingly, though, last month Bendixen and her colleagues published a survey of Greenlanders about their opinions on sand extraction. They found that 84 percent of adult residents are in favor of it, and three-quarters want it to be a national project. “It turns out that the vast majority of Greenlanders think that it should be primarily a Greenlandic enterprise,” says Rasmus Leander Nielsen, a political scientist at the University of Greenland, who did the survey with Bendixen. “Maybe you could have some smaller-scale, Greenlandic-led companies that could start off. And then eventually, when the business case is more favorable, then we could go into a larger export.”

About that business case: While the global demand for sand has gone wild, the economics of exported Greenland sand aren’t yet clear. A company would have to pay to run the local operations and foot the shipping costs to get the resource off the island. Those will be considerable, since sand is heavy and takes up a lot of room in a ship.

The Greenland government recently worked with a consultancy that did an assessment, finding that exporting the sand to Europe isn’t economically feasible at the moment. “Whether it's feasible to export it further on to the Middle East, I don't know,” says Thomas Lauridsen, chief adviser to Greenland’s Ministry of Mineral Resources and Justice. “But we will then be in competition with European companies that will dredge sand in Europe or closer to the customer.”

Lauridsen adds that it’s up to the private sector to determine whether selling Greenland’s sand is cost-effective or not. And that export cost calculus may change in the future. “By 2100, the demand for sand is going to rise 300 percent, and the price 400 percent,” says Bendixen. “So we don't have to look that much farther into the future to start seeing a different calculation here in terms of whether it's worthwhile.”

Yes, a world with more sand harvesting for making more concrete would also mean more carbon emissions, more warming, and more melting of Greenland’s ice sheet. But, Bendixen says, all that glacial sand need not go exclusively toward concrete. Coastal communities are increasingly clamoring for sand to hold back rising seas, a fortification known as beach nourishment. “Just think of the irony in using the sand for beach nourishment to mitigate sea-level rise,” says Bendixen, “which is caused by—to a large extent—the melting of the Greenland ice sheet!”

The island’s harsh climate means a short working season and frequent weather-related disruptions.

Infrastructure is sparse or absent in many mineralized regions, complicating transportation, construction of ports, and supply chains.

Reliable local power generation and suitable process water supplies are often limited or unavailable.

Environmental sensitivities have led the Greenlandic government to apply strict oversight and, in some cases, outright bans.

For example, Greenland’s parliament recently passed a law banning uranium mining and halting rare earth development at Kuannersuit.

What has Greenland's new prime minister Mute Egede pledged to do regarding Kuannersuit rare earth mining?

Which Greenland rare earth deposits has its Parliament prohibited from developing?

This move was partly a response to environmental concerns and political opposition to the risks associated with uranium byproducts in REM ores.

As a result, several major projects have been paused or banned outright, constraining the near-term supply outlook .

What has Greenland's new prime minister Mute Egede pledged to do regarding Kuannersuit rare earth mining?

Despite technical and regulatory barriers, numerous international corporations and state entities have shown substantial interest in Greenland’s rare earth and broader mineral sector.

Tanbreez Mining is the current operator at the flagship rare earth site, having secured the necessary license from Greenland’s authorities and scheduled to start operations in the near future.

What company has obtained permission to extract Greenland's rare earths?

Australia-based Greenland Minerals, formerly active at Kuannersuit, attracted a 12.5% stake investment from China’s Shenghe Resources—one of the leading rare earth groups globally.

What countries are invested in Greenland Minerals corp?

What is one of the global key REE manufacturers?

However, the 2021 Greenlandic ban on uranium mining (due to the close association with REM ores at Kuannersuit) has forced a halt to this development and cast doubt over future foreign-led REM projects in this region .

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Content: The government of Greenland, which is located in the Arctic, said on Monday it had revoked the license of a Chinese mining company to mine an iron ore deposit near the capital, Nuuk.
The move has dealt a blow to efforts by Chinese companies to gain a foothold in the resource-rich Arctic region.
China ’ s General Nice took control of the Isua mine in 2015, replacing bankrupt London Mining.
Junan became the first Chinese company to acquire mining rights in Greenland.
Greenland is an autonomous region of Denmark and is rich in minerals.
As a result of the warming climate, waterways have been opened, allowing the resources of the Arctic Island to be developed and utilized.
The Greenland government pointed out that the mine was idle and Junan did not pay the agreed guarantee and therefore withdrew its license.
Once Junan returns the license, Greenland will re-offer it to interested companies.
At present, the government of Greenland has asked Junan to return all the geological data, pay the remaining 1.5 million Danish kroner (about $226,000) of the deposit, and clean up the mine.
The London mine, which was granted mining rights in 2013, initially planned to employ 2,000 Chinese workers to mine, with a goal of supplying about 15 million tonnes of iron ore to China each year.
Greenland banned uranium mining this year, blocking mining in the Kuannersuit region, one of the world ’ s largest rare earth mines and partly owned by a Chinese company.
Junan tried to buy an abandoned naval base in Greenland from Denmark in 2016, but sources told Reuters at the time that the Danish authorities had rejected the proposal for security reasons.
# Greenland # Junan # Mining # China # Mining

What has Greenland done to undermine Chinese efforts to establish a foothold in the Arctic region?

What has Greenland's new prime minister Mute Egede pledged to do regarding Kuannersuit rare earth mining?

Which Greenland rare earth deposits has its Parliament prohibited from developing?

Chinese interests have also been visible elsewhere: for example, China’s General Nice Group acquired the Isua iron mine’s rights before its license was revoked due to unfulfilled contractual conditions.

What countries are invested in Greenland Minerals corp?

What has Greenland done to undermine Chinese efforts to establish a foothold in the Arctic region?

This illustrates the regulatory risks for foreign investors in Greenland’s evolving policy context .

In recent years, high-profile Western investors and global mining majors have begun entering the Greenlandic resource sector.

An international consortium of billionaires—including Jeff Bezos, Michael Bloomberg, and Bill Gates—have invested in Kobold Metals, which, in partnership with Bluejay Mining, is exploring for rare earths and battery metals (such as nickel and cobalt) in Western Greenland’s Disko Island and Nuussuaq Peninsula .

These efforts reflect a broader drive by North American and European stakeholders to diversify REM supply chains away from Chinese dominance and capitalize on new Arctic opportunities as climate change increases accessibility.

Greenland’s legal and regulatory framework is supportive of mineral development, particularly in southern areas.

Why AEX consider Greenland a favorable mining location?

The Greenlandic government has issued licenses for exploration and development to numerous local and foreign companies over the last decade, aiming to bolster economic growth and employment .

However, the current government’s environmentally-focused position and community concerns mean that project permitting remains unpredictable.

To summarize, Greenland is home to some of the largest and most valuable rare earth mineral deposits outside China—especially at Tanbreez and the now-restricted Kuannersuit/Kvanefjeld site—with potential to transform both the global REM market and the local Greenlandic economy.

Which Greenland rare earth deposits has its Parliament prohibited from developing?

Critical challenges to commercial extraction include harsh Arctic conditions, major infrastructure deficits, the need for advanced chemical processing, and a shifting regulatory landscape that can abruptly halt projects on environmental or political grounds.

Interest from China, Australia, and increasingly, large Western investors underscores Greenland’s potential, but also highlights competition and geopolitical sensitivity around REM supply.

What countries are invested in Greenland Minerals corp?

Further detailed due diligence on specific project timelines, government policy evolution, and pending infrastructure investments will be essential for prospective investors considering entry into this sector.