The Nalunaq gold prospect, South Greenland: test mining for feasibility studies

The Nalunaq narrow-vein gold prospect is situated 40 km north-east of Nanortalik, the southernmost town in Greenland, 6 km inland from the fjord Saqqaa (Fig. 1). The exploration licence is held by Nalunaq I/S, a company jointly owned by Crew Development Corporation, Canada (67%) and NunaMinerals A/S, Greenland (33%). A pre-feasibility study of March 1999 by an independent mining consulting company commented positively on the Nalunaq prospect (Nalunaq I/S, personal communication 1999). However, assessment of the sample database demonstrated considerable variation in grade estimates depending on the use of drillcores, chip or saw-cut samples as well as the capping levels (reducing the highest assay values to a fixed value). To advance this project to the feasibility level, the pre-feasibility study stressed the need for improved grade verification and demonstration of grade continuity. In preparation for a feasibility study, a Can$ 9 million underground test mining and bulk sampling programme was executed during the summer 2000 field season. Strathcona Mineral Services Limited (Canada) designed the programme in conjunction with Nalunaq personnel. This report focuses on the field aspects of the programme; processing of field and laboratory data is still in progress (January 2001).