The main problem is that Trump is an uneducated man. He is neither worldly nor sophisticated and is definitely not versed in science. He is good at making money with other people's money in deals he bullies them into. That's it.
So, when he hears the words "rare earth", he thinks "gold rush" because the "rare" attribute must mean there isn't much of it and thus it's worth a fortune. Except, that's not the case. Rare earth are not repeat not rare. They are all over the planet in reasonable quantities, including in the US. They derive their names from the fact that, contrary to most other minerals, they are almost never in high concentrations anywhere, so you have to dig huge amounts and carry out a long and complex refining process to get any useful amounts out of the ground.
So Greenland (like just about everybody else) has known sources of rare earth? Well, Woopdy-doo! it's under hundreds, if not thousands of feet of ice, and then you still have to dig huge open air pits of it to bring huge amounts of basically rocks to a refining place that can convert it into a small usable amount of rare earth.
Nobody is doing that right now in Greenland because it makes no economic sense when you can do the same in a hundred if not thousands of other locations that are not under an ice cap.
AI overview
Greenland has few active mines but significant untapped mineral potential, with the Lumina anorthosite mine being the main producer, alongside the restarting Nalunaq gold mine; major deposits of rare earths, uranium, zinc, and iron exist, but development faces major infrastructure challenges and requires significant investment, though projects like Kvanefjeld and Citronen are in advanced planning. The EU and local government are working to develop these strategic resources, balancing economic potential with environmental concerns.
Active & Restarting Mines
Lumina (Anorthosite): The island's only fully operational mine, producing industrial mineral anorthosite (used in construction/fiberglass) from a fjord-based site.
Nalunaq (Gold): Owned by Amaroq Minerals, this gold mine is restarting and ramping up production, with its first gold pour in late 2024.
Key Potential Projects (Not Yet Active)
Kvanefjeld: A major deposit of rare earths (REEs), uranium, zinc, and other minerals, but faces complex environmental and licensing hurdles.
Isua: A planned large-scale iron ore mine near the ice cap.
Citronen Fjord: Planned to produce lead, zinc, and germanium.
Tanbreez: Significant deposits of rare earth elements (REEs) and gallium.
Malmbjerg: A large molybdenum deposit with strong European interest for its use in defense and high-performance steel.
Key Minerals & Resources
Rare Earth Elements (REEs): Abundant, crucial for high-tech industries, with projects like Kvanefjeld and Tanbreez being globally significant.
Uranium, Zinc, Lead, Iron, Niobium, Tantalum: Deposits are widespread, with Kvanefjeld, Citronen, and Motzfeldt being key sites.
Challenges to Development
Infrastructure Deficits: Lack of roads, railways, and local supply chains makes operations complex and costly, relying heavily on sea and air transport.
Environmental & Political Factors: Decisions rest with Greenland's government, balancing resource extraction with environmental protection