Magmatic nickel potential in Greenland. Reporting the mineral ressource assessement workshop 27- 29 November 2012

Within the framework of the Global Mineral Resource Assessment Project, Greenlandic magmatic nickel resources were estimated down to a depth of 1 km (1.5 km for conduit-type). Three magmatic nickel deposit types, and respective grade/tonnage models, were considered. Seventeen permissive tracts were assessed for the komatiite-hosted deposits, three for contact-type deposits and twelve for deposits related to picritic and/or tholeiitic basalt dyke/sill complexes (classified as conduit-type deposits).

The statistical mean estimate number of undiscovered komatiite-hosted and conduit-type deposits are 4 for each type, with 0 expected undiscovered deposits of the contact-type. At a 50% probability, these are estimated to contain 1.9 million tons of Ni. The best potential for high grade / low tonnage deposits of the komatiite-hosted is located at Ikertoq, part of the Niaqornarssuit complex in West Greenland. The best potential for conduit-type deposits is related to the Norite Belt, East of Maniitsoq, in southern West Greenland, and to the flood basalts in the Disko Bay area.

While the assessment process is formalised into models and methodology in order to reduce bias, and make these results comparable with those obtained elsewhere, the estimated total should be used with caution and should be regarded as a statistical estimate that reflects the present level of knowledge and investigations that have been undertaken in the assessed tracts. New information, new discoveries, new investigations etc. within a tract should thus, whenever possible, be taken into account while evaluating an area, as this could either decrease or increase its estimated potential.