Radioactive minerals in Greenland : geological, legal and political fluctuations of nuclearity (1950-2022)

• Main Author: Bailleul, Pia
• Other Authors: Centre d'Études Himalayennes (CEH), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Laboratoire d'ethnologie et de sociologie comparative (LESC), Université Paris Nanterre (UPN)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), ANR-19-CE03-0006,RULNAT,Judiciariser la nature. Animaux et environnement au tribunal(2019)
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2022
• Subjects: Rare Earth Elements; Frontier area; Mining projects; [SHS.ANTHRO-SE]Humanities and Social Sciences/Social Anthropology and ethnology; Greenland
• Online Access: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-03903273; https://shs.hal.science/halshs-03903273/document; https://shs.hal.science/halshs-03903273/file/Radioactive%20minerals%20in%20Greenland%20-%20Pia%20Bailleul.pdf

International audience Greenland is affected by a massive increase in rare earth elements (REE) mining projects. Supported by the government, this movement raises specific political, social and legal questions with regard to the radioactivity of the deposits concerned. Indeed, the last ten years have been characterized by a conflict opposing the exploitation of radioactive materials, and more particularly uranium. In December 2021, the adoption of a law limiting the amount of uranium in exploited resources put an end to the movement and affected REE projects, due to the frequent geological association of these minerals with uranium. This paper uses historian Gabrielle Hecht's concept of nuclearity to understand how industrialists negotiate the radioactive issue to promote their projects. Through a historical analysis of the political stakes of uranium and a study of three REE mining projects, three axes are highlighted. 1: REE are part of the legal framework of uranium, but with a political identity characterized by the energy transition. 2: REE are integrated to the Greenland's "frontier area" policies, and contribute to renewing its ideology. 3: REE are gradually integrated into a national narrative.