Greenland's Rare-Earth Potential Faces Practical Obstacles

Greenland holds substantial rare-earth deposits, but harsh climate, sparse infrastructure and difficult geology mean commercial production is likely years away.

Explorers have identified about 1.5 million tons of rare earths, often locked in eudialyte rock—a mineral matrix that currently lacks a proven, profitable extraction route compared with more tractable carbonatite deposits. Remote fjords, limited roads, no railways, the need for local power generation and imported skilled labor add steep capital and logistical barriers. Environmental concerns compound the challenge: separation of rare earths typically requires corrosive chemicals and can produce radioactive byproducts such as uranium, raising risks to fragile Arctic ecosystems and tourism-linked local economies.

Geopolitical drivers have intensified interest, with U.S. policy pushing to reduce dependence on China, which still dominates rare-earth mining and processing. Washington has invested in established projects and domestic processing capacity, while some companies in Greenland plan pilot plants and exploratory work—but commercial mines would demand hundreds of millions in investment and face price volatility, including periodic Chinese market interventions.

Industry experts argue strategic focus should favor nearer-term, proven deposits and processing facilities in more accessible jurisdictions rather than rapid, costly development in Greenland, which may remain an uncertain, long-term option.