Mining companies have been interested in a niobium deposit in the Kangerlussuaq area in West Greenland close to the preserved area Sarfartoq since the 1980ies. The deposit is probably small but with a high grade. Several ways of exploitation and transportation of ore have been proposed. Most of them operate with extraction on the site and transportation of ore on a road. It has also been proposed to fly the ore out. None of the proposals have resulted in a project yet.

The Paradise Valley in West Greenland.

Present knowledge of the environmental situation in the area is quite comprehensive. Environmental studies were undertaken in 1987-1988 in relation to a drilling programme. The studies covered the muskox population in the area and background levels of Radon, Polonium-210 and Lead-210. Furthermore, NERI has collected samples of plants, wildlife and sediments for documentation of baseline levels of possible pollutants. Because of renewed interest in the deposit NERI collected further terrestrial and marine samples in 2000. Chemical analysis of the samples will be carried out in case it is decided to initiate the mining project. Analyses of samples for Po-210 have shown a general elevation of levels close to the niobium deposit.

Sitemap of the area.