"Greenland is believed to hold significant deposits of critical raw materials, including valuable rare-earth elements. Mining them, however, is another story. Harsh Arctic conditions, limited infrastructure, and strict environmental regulations are among the many factors that make mining in Greenland so difficult and costly. In fact, Greenland has more than 1,200 identified mineral sites, but only one fully operational mine - Lumina Sustainable Materials in Western Greenland."
"Lumina extracts anorthosite, which is not a rare-earth metal, but the mine's ability to function year-round serves as a blueprint for advancing Greenland's mining operations. For now, China produces most of the world's rare earths, a group of 17 metals essential for building electronics and military equipment such as fighter jets and missiles. While President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire to acquire Greenland for its strategic Arctic location to bolster national and international security,"
Greenland holds significant deposits of critical raw materials, including rare-earth elements, but extraction faces high hurdles. Harsh Arctic weather, sparse infrastructure, and strict environmental regulations make mining expensive and technically difficult. More than 1,200 mineral sites have been identified, yet only Lumina Sustainable Materials operates a fully functional mine, extracting anorthosite year-round. Lumina's continuous operations provide an operational model for expanding mining in Greenland. China presently produces most rare earths, while Greenland's untapped resources could serve strategic US and international interests. Presence of resources does not guarantee they are readily extractable in Greenland's conditions.
Read at Business Insider
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