Greenland's Mineral Riches in the Era of Trump Administration
Greenland's Mineral Riches in the Era of Trump Administration
Trump's push for the United States to potentially acquire Greenland from Denmark is gaining traction. What was initially perceived as a nostalgic goal following a tense election, is now appearing more serious as Denmark announced significant increases in security spending over the Christmas holiday. Troublingly, Russia has shown support for Trump's proposition, which could strain relations between the U.S. and its European NATO allies. Moreover, it may also reaffirm Russia's interest in repurchasing Alaska, a contentious topic among nationalists who believe the initial sale price in the nineteenth century was unfair. While Trump is expected to vigorously argue for Alaska's security, the competition for Arctic resources seems set to become more complex, especially with the appointment of the first U.S. Ambassador at large for the Arctic just three months after Senate confirmation.
The main driver behind Trump's interest in Greenland is undoubtedly its mineral wealth, a motivation that isn't new to U.S. security interests on the world's largest island. For the past two years, I've been spearheading a U.S. National Science Foundation project aimed at revamping Greenland's old mineral infrastructure for a warmer climate. My doctoral student, Thomas Hale, conducted research and discussions on the island, focusing on an ancient mining site with historical ties to U.S. security interests. This was during a stage of my research for a book titled "Ground to Show: Aluminum and the Pursuit of Sustainable Industrial Growth."
Aluminum is the most common metal on Earth, yet it was one of the last to be widely utilized industrially. The key factor enabling aluminum's exploitation was cryolite, a rare mineral. The pioneer behind the cryolite process's application was Charles Hall, the founder of the Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa). The only significant cryolite mine in the early 20th century was in Greenland. As demand for aluminum surged due to both military and commercial aviation, so too did the significance of Greenland.
There were growing concerns about the reliance on a single source of cryolite, situated in a remote, inaccessible location. Researchers at Alcoa were tirelessly working on finding alternatives to crystalline, mining cryolite. By 1932, three researchers at Alcoa, led by John Morrow, successfully patented the synthesis of cryolite from more abundant primaries such as fluorspar (fluorite, or calcium fluoride) and sodium aluminate. Although fluorspar was still needed, it was more easily obtained, and sodium aluminate was abundant as well. The availability of synthetic cryolite (sodium aluminum fluoride) began reducing demand for natural cryolite by the late 1930s.
However, during World War II, the urgent need for aluminum led to high demands for both synthetic and natural cryolite. The U.S. government constructed a naval base near the Greenland cryolite mine named Bluie West Seven. During the initial U.S. humanitarian aid period in Greenland (1940), the cryolite mine was identified as a critical military target in need of security, prompting the deployment of 15 U.S. servicemen to work there. Tourists now visit the once-secretive town, Kangilinnguit, which is now a military base, connected to Ivigtut by a five-kilometer road. It was during the peak of mining in 1942 that the mine shipped a record 85,000 tons of cryolite to North American aluminum smelters.
Startlingly, in December 2019, an article published by Smithsonian journalist Katie Lockhart explored her visit to Ivittuut, an attraction for Greenland tourist cruises. Interviews with Rie Oldenburg, a historian and head of education at Campus Kujalleq, a school in nearby Qaqortoq, Greenland, revealed that despite security concerns, no photographs or correspondence from family and friends were allowed during the war for fear of German interception. Her visit transpired during the Trump presidency, when locals were hesitant to discuss their experiences during the war and relationships with Americans for fear of negatively impacting the U.S. image at a time when Trump was contemplating purchasing the island.
The locals did share stories about how American soldiers left lasting material traces behind, shaping modern Greenland's consumer culture. These tales revolved around Sears, Roebuck and Company catalogs, which made it possible for Inuits and Danish Greenlanders to order luxury appliances such as General Electric stoves and refrigerators, helping to modernize life in Greenland. The mine stayed operational with a 1,500-foot-long inclined tunnel and deep underground workings. The world's last commercially viable cryolite mine produced 3.7 million tons of ore containing 58% cryolite by 1962, before it was declared depleted and eventually abandoned in 1987. The now-heritage site was transformed into a ghost town, with its infrastructure and quarrying cavity preserved.
Essential minerals like cryolite, which aided in making aluminum production affordable and efficient, have the power to significantly impact and advance the lives of people, communities, and nations. Cryolite's role as a solvent for aluminum ore and a temperature lowerer during the extraction process was pivotal in turning a small Inuit village in the Arctic into a hub of activity, even attracting an American military base.
Industrial minerals hold immense influence, capable of shaping lives and societies to unprecedented degrees, even without direct monetary involvement. For instance, in Ivittuut, the necessary minerals for green technologies or defense, such as rare earth metals, played a crucial role in transformation, all without the U.S. acquiring Greenland.
The United States can draw important lessons from Denmark's collaboration with Greenland, especially in regards to sensitive minerals crucial for environmental security, green transitions, and defense purposes. Currently, Greenland has self-governance within the Danish Kingdom, and this sovereignty should be respected by the United States and other advocates of indigenous self-determination. Through thoughtful diplomatic engagements, the world can secure its environmental, mineral, and human security, avoiding physical acquisition or annexation of territories.
- Despite Russia's support for Trump's proposition to acquire Greenland, the competition for Arctic resources, particularly rare earth metals, could become more complex due to Denmark's collaboration with Greenland.
- The Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa), founded by Charles Hall, relied heavily on cryolite, a mineral primarily sourced from Greenland, for its aluminum production process.
- As Denmark announced significant increases in security spending over the Christmas holiday, the U.S. might find it challenging to navigate its relations with NATO allies due to Trump's push to potentially acquire Greenland.
- Besides aluminum, Greenland is also rich in rare earth metals, such as neodymium and dysprosium, which are crucial for the production of magnets used in renewable energy technologies and various electronic devices.
- During World War II, the U.S. constructed a naval base near the Greenland cryolite mine, highlighting the strategic importance of Greenland's minerals, including cryolite, for military operations and industrial growth.