Geochemical analyses of Heavy Mineral Concentrates
The Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland has previously conducted sampling campaigns of heavy
mineral concentrate in Greenland. The sampling methods are described according to their sampling years
below. Unfortunately, not all the samples have reported as the campaigns in have not been undertaken on
regional scale and therefore fallen under smaller projects or sampled under projects that have had other
objects, and not all elements were considered relevant in the reports, translating to that metadata
concerning the analyses are missing. All together there are geochemical analyses of 725 heavy mineral
concentrate samples. The samples that are mentioned in reports below, are 319 in number, and do not
comprise all heavy minerals samples collected the specified years. Samples collected in un-mentioned
campaigns do occur in the full list. Use of data that is not mentioned here, needs caution and the quality
should be weighed against other data.
Years 1982-1986
A regional sampling campaign was conducted between 1982 and 1986, these samples are described in
Appel 1989. These samples comprise the analysis batch numbers 10, 36 and 55. Numbers 10, 36 are
analysed at Activation Laboratories and 55 analysed at Bondar-Clegg and Co. Ltd., both in Canada. In this
campaign 210 samples were collected and are all sampled in the area around Nuuk.
Sampling procedure: In the field: The coastal areas were accessed by boat while inland areas were accessed
by helicopter. Four litres of coarse gravel and sand were collected and sieved through a 6 mesh of brass.
The fines (c. 10 %) was panned and inspected in ultraviolet light and the scheelite grains counted. In the
laboratory: The samples were dried and separated by bromoform, the heavy material was weighed and the
scheelite grains counted again. A small splitter separated c. 0.5 gram of each sample for analysis of W, Mo,
Pb, Cu, Cr, Co, V, Mn, Zr, Ni and Fe. During the years the sampling programme as well as the analysis
methods changed. In 1983 the four litres were added up to five. In 1985 the material increased to 5-6 litres
(or 10 kg). In 1986 a plastic sieve with 1 mm holes used and filled three times (5-8 kg) for each sample, the
volume of fines was measured. C. 10 gram of each sample was analysed by Bondar-Clegg for (Sc, Cr, Fe, Co,
Ni, As, Se, Rb, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sb, CS, BA, La, Eu, Tb, Yb, Hf, Ta, W, Ir, Au, Th and U) analyses. The reader should
note that the analyses below detection limit is given as “0” (zero) and not analysed as “-1” for the samples
collected in this campaign (year 1982-1986, i.e. batch numbers 10, 35 and 55).
Year 1991
In 1991, 106 streams were sampled for heavy mineral concentrate, in the southern part of the Nuuk area,
between 62°30’N and 64°N. Sample procedure was as follows: 5-10 litres of detrital material, < 5 cm, were
collected, from 2-5 sub-localities in the stream bed. Wet sieving split the sample in less-than and biggerthan 0.5 mm, and the coarser fraction inspected for economic minerals. The fine fraction was heavy
minerals concentrate was produced using a rotary panning device “goldhound” (see Erfurt et al., 1992 for
reference). The heavy mineral concentrate was shipped to Denmark and dried and further spilt for
analytical purposes. Activation Laboratories, Canada, analysed the samples for 35 elements including gold,
with INAA and ICP-ES. Analyses batches are numbered 10 and 36. Unique samples number 103 for these
two batches. In additional batch 41, has analysed Pb, Cu, Ni and Zn.
Year 2004
The analyses batch no. 193 and 194 have been described in GEUS report 2004/42, and were sampled in
2003 in the Qaanaaq region in North-West Greenland. Six samples were collected in this campaign and
sieving of 1.0 mm material on site and a pre-concentrate by panning of the fine fraction. In Copenhagen
minerals with > 2.8 g/cm3 density was produced by heavy liquid separation.
The rest
The remaining 406 samples (analyses batch numbers: 10, 15, 21, 35, 36, 41, 55, 165, 166, 193, 194, 374,
375, 376, 1014, 1015, 1016, 1017, 1029, 1030, 1051, 1052, 1077 and 1078) have been analysed in addition
to the laboratories mentioned above, at Risø National Laboratory in Denmark. As reports have not been
available for writing up these analyses, the description is limited to the analyses. Chances are, however,
that sampling procedures are similar to the descriptions above. The analyses below detection limits of the
remaining 406 unique samples have not been consistent, but are presented as “0” or as negative values
and elements that have not been measured as “0” or empty cells.
References:
Appel, P.W.U., 1989. Investigations of heavy mineral concentrates from stream sediment samples collected
during the period 1982 to 1986 in the Nuuk area, West Greenland. GGU Open File Report 89/1. 17 pp., 10
tables, 35 plates. 370 DKK (GRF no. 20324)
Erfurt, P., Appel, P.W.U. & Lind, M., 1992. Geochemical investigation of heavy mineral concentrates from
stream sediments in southern West Greenland, 62°30´N to 64°00´N – 1991 results. GGU Open File Report
92/1. 39 pp., 13 figs, 3 tables. 50 DKK
Thomassen, B. & Krebs, J.D., 2004. Mineral exploration of selected targets in the Qaanaaq region, NorthWest Greenland: follow-up on Qaanaaq 2001. Danmarks og Grønlands Geologiske Undersøgelse Rapport
2004/42. 38 pp. + tables. 238 DKK