Kvanefjeld
Encyclopedia
Kvanefjeld, in Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...

, is the site of a mineral deposit, which is claimed to be the world's second-largest deposit of rare earth oxides
Rare earth element
As defined by IUPAC, rare earth elements or rare earth metals are a set of seventeen chemical elements in the periodic table, specifically the fifteen lanthanides plus scandium and yttrium...

, and the sixth-largest deposit of uranium
Uranium
Uranium is a silvery-white metallic chemical element in the actinide series of the periodic table, with atomic number 92. It is assigned the chemical symbol U. A uranium atom has 92 protons and 92 electrons, of which 6 are valence electrons...

. There are also substantial sodium fluoride
Sodium fluoride
Sodium fluoride is an inorganic chemical compound with the formula NaF. A colorless solid, it is a source of the fluoride ion in diverse applications. Sodium fluoride is less expensive and less hygroscopic than the related salt potassium fluoride....

 deposits, and Kvanefjeld is thought to be one of the largest multi-element deposits of its kind in the world
A recent relaxation of regulations by the government of Greenland has opened up the possibility of large-scale mining by Greenland Minerals and Energy
Greenland minerals and energy
Greenland Minerals and Energy Limited , is an exploration company focusing on acquisition, exploration, and development of its license area over the northern ilimaussaq intrusive complex in Greenland...

.
The Kvanefjeld site is part of the Ilimaussaq intrusive complex
Ilimaussaq intrusive complex
The Ilimaussaq intrusive complex is a large alkalic layered intrusion located on the southwest coast of Greenland. It is Mesoproterozoic in age. It is the type locality of agpaitic nepheline syenite and hosts a variety of unusual rock types....

. Rare earths and uranium are typically concentrated in lujavrite. Lujavrite occurs as an internal layer in the north Ilimaussaq complex. The uppermost sections generally have the highest REE, U and Zn grades.

The Kvanefjeld deposit is 100% owned by ASX-listed Greenland Minerals and Energy Limited.

Kvanefjeld is already known among mineral collectors as a source of fluorescent minerals such as tugtupite
Tugtupite
Tugtupite is a rare beryllium aluminium tectosilicate. It also contains sodium and chlorine and has the formula Na4AlBeSi4O12Cl. Tugtupite is a member of the silica deficient feldspathoid mineral group...

 and chkalovite.
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