For the first time, high-grade rare earth elements (REEs) have been discovered in the Gardar region of Southern Greenland. This groundbreaking finding could place Southern Greenland among the key global sources of these valuable minerals, which are essential in modern technology.
The European Union’s Joint Research Center reports that approximately 20% of the world’s rare earth elements may be present in the Nunarsuit licence area. Rare earth elements are critical for many high-tech applications, including smartphones, electric vehicles, wind turbines, and advanced defense systems.
What the Discovery Reveals in Southern Greenland
Chemical analysis conducted by Amaroq, the company behind the exploration, shows that the material in Southern Greenland contains about 27% heavy rare earth elements and 73% light rare earth elements. Among these, around 21% are critical magnetic elements such as neodymium (Nd), praseodymium (Pr), dysprosium (Dy), and terbium (Tb). These elements play a particularly important role because manufacturers use them to make strong magnets for electronics, electric motors, and renewable energy technologies.
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Early fieldwork teams in Southern Greenland uncovered a broad pegmatite system. Pegmatites are types of rocks that often host rare minerals. The system stretches for around five kilometers and spans several meters in width. This discovery stands out because miners can extract the minerals from monazite more easily than from the more complicated mineral types found elsewhere in Greenland. This could make extraction simpler and potentially less costly.
Exploration teams have already begun mapping the area and identifying multiple parallel fractures within the pegmatite system. These fractures could contain significant concentrations of rare earth minerals, and the company plans to conduct drilling in 2026 to better understand the extent and quality of the deposit.
Importance of Rare Earth Elements in Southern Greenland
Rare earth elements are a group of 17 chemical elements that are critical for many modern technologies. They are used in the production of electronics, renewable energy systems, and various high-tech industrial applications. Without these elements, manufacturing products such as electric cars, wind turbines, smartphones, and advanced medical devices would become much more difficult.
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Heavy rare earth elements are particularly valuable because they are rarer and harder to extract than light rare earth elements. The presence of both heavy and light rare earths in Southern Greenland makes this discovery especially significant. The magnetic elements identified in the region, like neodymium and dysprosium, are vital for creating strong magnets that power everything from electric vehicle engines to wind turbines.
The Scale of the Discovery
The broad pegmatite system uncovered during early fieldwork indicates a potentially massive mineral deposit in Southern Greenland. Stretching five kilometers in length and several meters in width, the system suggests that the area could host an extensive quantity of rare earth elements. This aligns with the EU’s assessment that roughly 20% of the world’s rare earth resources may exist in the region.
The minerals are primarily contained in monazite, which is easier to process than the types of minerals found in other parts of Greenland. Monazite’s simpler composition could make extraction and processing more straightforward, providing an important advantage for future operations.
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The discovery represents a clear confirmation of rich rare earth mineralization in Southern Greenland. With a mix of both light and heavy rare earth elements, including essential magnetic minerals, the find highlights the region’s potential as a major source of these vital materials.
This remarkable discovery in Southern Greenland marks a significant milestone in the search for rare earth elements. The combination of high-grade materials, the presence of critical magnetic elements, and the relatively easier processing of monazite makes this find a notable development in global mineral exploration.
