Chapter 1 - The Rare Earth Resources of Europe and Greenland - Mining Potential and Challenges

• Main Authors: Charles, Nicolas, Tuduri, Johann, Lefebvre, Gaëtan, Pourret, Olivier, Gaillard, Fabrice
• Other Authors: Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières (BRGM) (BRGM), UniLaSalle, Agro-écologie, Hydrogéochimie, Milieux et Ressources (AGHYLE), Institut des Sciences de la Terre d'Orléans - UMR7327 (ISTO), Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières (BRGM) (BRGM)-Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers en région Centre (OSUC), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université d'Orléans (UO)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université d'Orléans (UO)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université d'Orléans (UO)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Magma - UMR7327, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université d'Orléans (UO)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université d'Orléans (UO)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières (BRGM) (BRGM)-Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers en région Centre (OSUC)
• Format: Book Part
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2023
• Subjects: [SDU]Sciences of the Universe [physics]; Greenland
• Online Access: https://normandie-univ.hal.science/hal-04394758; https://doi.org/10.1002/9781394264810.ch1

International audience “Rare earths” is a collective name given, for historical and practical reasons, to a set of metal elements in the periodic table. Rare earth elements (REEs) are elements called “trace elements” in most natural environments. The first use of REEs was attested in 1885, when cerium was used in gas sleeves in the city of Vienna. Europe consumes 10% of the REEs produced in the world. REE deposits can be divided into two major categories: primary or endogenous deposits associated with magmatic and hydrothermal processes and secondary exogenous deposits linked to sedimentation and/or climatic processes. Greenland benefits, in particular, from varied geological settings favorable to the presence of REE deposits attractive to exploration companies. The main REE occurrences in Greenland are situated in carbonatites, alkaline intrusions, pegmatites and paleoplacers.