Exchange of geoscience and know-how in the Arctic

Published 17-09-2014

An intense week-long workshop was held in Nuuk this September to exchange knowledge of geology, mineral resources and geoscience in Greenland and Northern Canada.. In collaboration with the Canada-Nunavut Geoscience Office (CNGO), GEUS arranged a workshop that took place 8 - 12th of September at the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources with interesting presentations from both sides of the Davis Strait.

The purpose of the workshop was to exchange information between Nunavut, Greenland, Canada and Denmark about geology, mineral resources and geoscience. The workshop forms a natural part of the pursuits to build up geoscientific competences in both Nunavut and Greenland profiting from common traits of culture and climate.

Days were loaded with interesting presentations from both sides of the Davis Strait and included an excursion to Godthåbsfjord. Many of the scientific discussions built on material from the presentations. Afterwards the options and possibilities for scientific cooperation were discussed, as well as exchange of experiences with administration and competence building in Nunavut and Greenland.

The workshop was arranged by chief consultant Kisser Thorsøe, GEUS Nuuk, kit@geus.dk and chief geologist David Mate, Canada-Nunavut Geoscience Office, Iqaluit, David.Mate@NRCan-RNCan.gc.ca.

For further information, please contact head of department Karen Hanghøj, kha@geus.dk, +45 2018 3366, Kisser Thorsøe, kit@geus.dk or David Mate, David.Mate@NRCan-RNCan.gc.ca.

Participants of the workshop at the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources where GEUS Nuuk resides. Below from the left: David Mate (Canada-Nunavut Geoscience Office), Mary Sanborn-Barrie (Geological Survey of Canada, Ottowa), Majken Djurhuus Poulsen (GEUS Nuuk), Linda Ham (Government of Nunavut), Sally Pehrsson (Geological Survey of Canada, Ottowa). Middle from the left: Karen Costello (Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada), Holly Steenkamp (Canada-Nunavut Geoscience Office), Kisser Thorsøe (GEUS Nuuk), Anette Juul-Nielsen (Government of Greenland), Karen Hanghøj (GEUS), Tommy Tremblay (Canada-Nunavut Geoscience Office), Jonas Petersen (Government of Greenland). Back from the left: Ronnie Suluk (Government of Nunavut), Mike Beauregaard (Government of Nunavut), Shunxin Zhang (Canada - Nunavut Geoscience Office), Alexander Bartels (GEUS), Christian Knudsen (GEUS) and Thomas Find Kokfeldt (GEUS).

The field excursion to Godthåbsfjord included three exciting localities of soapstone.. Mike Beauregaard from the Government of Nunavut offered interesting insights to these localities on the background of his work with soapstone occurrences in Nunavut.

Old rock formations in the Nuuk area were studied from boat during a field excursion in the Godthåbsfjord.