Diamond occurrences in Greenland

Greenland has by no means been exhaustively explored and both theory and precedent support potential future economic diamond discoveries in much of the country. Diamonds have been known in Greenland since at least the 1970s. Exploration and discoveries up to 1990 are well-documented and since this time Greenland has seen considerable exploration activity from a range of large and small international companies as well as work by GEUS. The Greenland diamond exploration package documents the activities of various explorers but most notable in recent years have been Hudson Resources Ltd., Avannaa Diamonds Ltd., Icefire Diamonds A/S, Intex Resources ASA, Metalex Ventures Ltd., and NunaMinerals A/S.

The data package aims to collate as much publicly available sampling data, reflecting as much of Greenland’s diamond exploration history, as possible. Aside from basic information such as sample locations and diamond and indicator mineral recovery data, a large number of additional data fields have been populated. A detailed breakdown of the mineral phase subtype is included, using mineral chemistry in conjunction with contemporary kimberlite and mantle mineral classification schemes. Locations of drill holes, samples taken for bulk chemical analysis, petrology, geochronology, and full diamond descriptions complement the primary indicator mineral data. In total, the database comprises 338 fields for unique types of data.

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Diamond Exploration Data Package

The diamond exploration package collates information on Greenland’s diamond exploration history and sampling data from all across Greenland. It features new discoveries made over the last fifteen years, and includes >10.000 locations positive for diamond indicators, >121.000 mineral chemical analyses and detailed descriptions of over 1000 diamonds.

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Terminologies

Mineral phases used in the course of diamond exploration are interchangeably called ‘diamond indicators’, ‘kimberlite indicators’, and sometimes ‘mantle indicators’. Hence, databases incorporating corresponding data are consequently often referred to by similar names. The enviable position which Greenland finds itself in by hosting near-pristine diamond-bearing rocks, free from the effects of significant weathering, means that much diamond exploration has proceeded by field identification of in-situ and transported kimberlites and related rocks. Even when partially weathered, diamond-prospective rocks show a distinct surface texture and colour which readily distinguishes them from country rocks. Aside from diamond-prospective rocks, much of Greenland’s diamond exploration has focused on indicator minerals.

Primary magmatic sources of diamonds were for some time thought to be restricted to true kimberlites. However, diamonds exist as xenocrysts, sometimes in economic concentrations, in ultramafic lamprophyres such as aillikites and genetically distinct lamproites and are also known to be closely associated temporally and spatially with carbonatites. Greenland provides examples of all of kimberlite, aillikite, lamproite and carbonatite (associated with kimberlites), many shown to be diamondiferous, and hence all these rock types are considered diamond-prospective and included in the data package.

Furthermore, regarding terminology, diamond itself is one in the range of minerals indicative of the diamond potential of a prospect. Hence, diamond is often implied where the term ‘indicator mineral’ is used. However, in some cases it is useful to distinguish between diamond and non-diamond indicator minerals.

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Diamond occurrences in Greenland

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Diamond Exploration Data Package

Terminologies

Ultramafic xenoliths

Lamprophyre

Garnet lherzolite xenolith

Kimberlite indicator minerals

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