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<p>Greenland is dominated by cratonic nuclei that provide conditions for diamond formation. Pre-1.6&#xa0;Ga rocks are exposed over 43% of ice-free land and many basins in younger areas evidence underlying Archean basement. Studies of mantle xenoliths reveal thick mantle lithosphere up to 220&#xa0;km. Kimberlites, ultramafic lamprophyres, lamproites and carbonatites are exposed abundantly in almost all regions, and span 1632&#xa0;Ma of geological time. A total of 3029 discrete diamond-prospective bedrock occurrences are known, mostly occurring as sheets but with diatremes and evidence for volcaniclastic rocks in the south. Known diamondiferous bodies are well represented over 930&#xa0;km of Greenland’s west coast. Recovered multi-carat diamonds and favourable mineral chemical data demonstrate the potential for diamondiferous bodies with large, good quality diamonds in potentially economic concentrations. Areas where pipes and diatremes are rare evidence extensive glacial erosion but retain the potential for better-preserved bodies to be discovered at high elevation and diamonds to be present offshore. Records of 120 334 good quality mineral chemical analyses, allow a regional diamond prospectivity analysis of Greenland to be conducted. Garnet, ilmenite, spinel, Cr-diopside and orthopyroxene all reveal mineral chemistries consistent with diamond-stable mantle sources. All geographic subdivisions overlap chemistries of indicators from diamond-producing areas of Canada. Quantitative prospectivity modelling incorporating geophysical data shows that further opportunities exist for diamond exploration in Greenland particularly in the North Atlantic and Rae Cratons of western Greenland, the Ketilidian Orogen of southern Greenland, as well as within less-explored areas such as the east and north, and off-shore.</p>

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Diamond exploration and regional prospectivity of Greenland

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年4月17日

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  • Mark T. Hutchison

摘要

Greenland is dominated by cratonic nuclei that provide conditions for diamond formation. Pre-1.6 Ga rocks are exposed over 43% of ice-free land and many basins in younger areas evidence underlying Archean basement. Studies of mantle xenoliths reveal thick mantle lithosphere up to 220 km. Kimberlites, ultramafic lamprophyres, lamproites and carbonatites are exposed abundantly in almost all regions, and span 1632 Ma of geological time. A total of 3029 discrete diamond-prospective bedrock occurrences are known, mostly occurring as sheets but with diatremes and evidence for volcaniclastic rocks in the south. Known diamondiferous bodies are well represented over 930 km of Greenland’s west coast. Recovered multi-carat diamonds and favourable mineral chemical data demonstrate the potential for diamondiferous bodies with large, good quality diamonds in potentially economic concentrations. Areas where pipes and diatremes are rare evidence extensive glacial erosion but retain the potential for better-preserved bodies to be discovered at high elevation and diamonds to be present offshore. Records of 120 334 good quality mineral chemical analyses, allow a regional diamond prospectivity analysis of Greenland to be conducted. Garnet, ilmenite, spinel, Cr-diopside and orthopyroxene all reveal mineral chemistries consistent with diamond-stable mantle sources. All geographic subdivisions overlap chemistries of indicators from diamond-producing areas of Canada. Quantitative prospectivity modelling incorporating geophysical data shows that further opportunities exist for diamond exploration in Greenland particularly in the North Atlantic and Rae Cratons of western Greenland, the Ketilidian Orogen of southern Greenland, as well as within less-explored areas such as the east and north, and off-shore.