New geological maps of West Greenland

Published 18-10-2022

The Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) has published three new geological maps of the Karrat Group and Rinkian Orogen in central West Greenland in scale 1:100,000.

The new data was collected during field work in the fiord areas north of Uummannaq in central West Greenland in 2015, 2016 and 2017 as part of a joint mapping project between GEUS and the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Justice (then the Ministry of Mineral Resources) in Greenland. The aim of the project was to update existing geological maps of the region to scale 1:100.000.

The geological mapping, sample collection and direct observations focused on petrography, stratigraphy of meta-sedimentary and meta-volcanic rocks, structural geology and economic geology (i.e. the potential for ore deposits).

Researchers from GEUS have done geochronological analyses of almost 100 samples, geochemical analyses of more than 700 samples and 3D-photogeological analyses of more than 35,000 images.

All together the new map sheets provide a much-improved understanding of the stratigraphy of the meta-sedimentary and meta-volcanic rocks of the Karrat Group and the structural evolution of the Rinkian Orogen. These advances are expected to support and contribute towards both academic research, general geoscience interest and mineral exploration in the region.

The geological maps are available in printed format or as a PDF in scale 1:100,000 as well as in a Web-GIS version for geoscientists, geologists and exploration mining companies.

See the maps

  • Guarnieri P., Baker N., Rosa D., Sørensen E. V. 2022 Geological map of Greenland 1:100 000, Maarmorilik 71 V. 2 Syd. Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, Copenhagen.
    https://doi.org/10.22008/FK2/07OYKX  
  • Guarnieri P., Baker N., Rosa D., Sørensen E. V. 2022 Geological map of Greenland 1:100 000, Nugaatsiaaq 71 V. 2 Nord. Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, Copenhagen.
    https://doi.org/10.22008/FK2/PGSMJH
  • Guarnieri P., Baker N., Rosa D., Sørensen E. V. 2022 Geological map of Greenland 1:100 000, Pannertooq 7 V. 2 Syd. Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, Copenhagen.
    https://doi.org/10.22008/FK2/IBHIZL
Jakob Kløve Keiding
Chief Consultant
Mapping and Mineral Resources
Pierpaolo Guarnieri
Senior Researcher
Mapping and Mineral Resources