President Donald Trump said he believes that the United States will obtain control over Greenland, which emphasizes his recent repeated claims on the Arctic Island and once regarded “economic security” as the reason. Although the independent Danish territory quickly said that it was not sold, it was huge and most of the unshapeded mineral resources had great demand.

The sawtooth -shaped gray peaks suddenly appeared in front of us because the motorboat sailed in the ripple coastal waters and dramatic fjords at the southern end of Greenland.

Eldur Olaffsson, the chief executive of the mining company AMaroq Minerals, said: “Those high peak mountains are basically a gold belt.”

Two hours after sailing, we went ashore at a remote valley under Nalunaq Mountain, where the company was drilling gold.

It is also searching for the surrounding mountains and valleys, looking for other valuable minerals, and snapped up an exploration permit of more than 10,000 square kilometers (3,861 square miles).

Iceland boss said: “We are looking for copper, nickel and rare earth.” “This is unknown, and it is still possible to have multiple large deposits.”

The base camp is a group of mobile buildings and bright orange accommodation tents, including more than 100 employees, including Greenland, Australians and former British coal miners. From there, a road climbed into the valley, and we drove into the gold mine along the car in a dark tunnel in the mountains.

“Look here!” Mr. Olavson said, pointing at the seams of white quartz and a thin black line. “Gold, gold, gold. It has always been. Isn’t it extraordinary?”

AMAROQ has been operating most of the past decade in the past ten years, but it was closed due to the decline in gold prices and high operating costs at that time.

Amaroq believes that the mine will be favorable now. It plans to increase production this year, where it builds a brand new processing factory to crush ore and improve precious metals into gold bars.

Mr. Olavson explained: “We either have a golden handbox every month, and it is a 30,000 -ton ship (containing ore).”

He said Greenland provided an unparalleled opportunity because its huge mineral reserves were not touched to a large extent.

Mr. Olavson added: “It can become a supplier of all minerals needed for decades in the Western world.” “This is a very unique position.”

But at present, there are only two active mines on the entire island.

Greenland is an autonomous field, part of Denmark, but controls his natural resources.

It gives the eighth largest reserves of the so -called rare earth element, which is essential for all items from mobile phone to batteries and motors. It also has a large number of other key metals, such as lithium and cobalt.

There are also oil and gas, but new drilling is prohibited, and deep -sea mining is also excluded.

Christian Kjeldsen, director of the Greenland Business Association, said “the current geopolitical situation is aroused interest in the world’s largest islands.”

He pointed out that China has the world’s largest rare earth metal reserves, while the West hopes to obtain alternative supply.

He said: “In terms of key raw materials, your China is very powerful.”

This exacerbates the increasing focus of Western countries to enter Greenland minerals. China has always been keen to participate, but its existence is limited.

Reuters Recent report Australian mining companies in the United States not sell Greenland’s largest rare earth project to potential Chinese buyers.

Greenland Business, Trade and Raw Materials Minister Naaja Nathanielsen said that his interest in the area “has absolutely increased in the past five years.”

She added: “We are used to becoming a hot spot in the climate crisis. We want to be part of the solution.”

Now, a permit from 100 groups has been obtained on Greenland, and the company is looking for feasible deposits. The British, Canadian and Australian mining companies are the largest holders of foreign licenses, while Americans only hold one.

However, there are more steps before these locations have become potential mines.

However, although Greenland may be sitting on mineral wealth, the realization of any “gold rush” is still very slow.

Each year’s GDP is more than $ 3 billion (£ 2.4 billion), and its economy is still driven by the public sector and fishing. The territory also relies on Denmark’s $ 600 million subsidy.

Greenland’s politicians hope that mining revenue will reduce the dependence of Denmark’s annual subsidy of $ 600 million and help promote independent efforts. But at the same time, Greenland is making more money from the tourism industry.

Javier Arnaut, the head of Greenland’s Arctic Social Sciences, said official mining is still important for independence. “But in fact, you can see that there are very few mining licenses awarded.”

Ms. Nathanielsen acknowledged that although we have established partnership with the United States and the European Union, “we still have not seen a lot of funds flowing into the industry.” She hopes to have three to five mines in the next ten years.

However, due to the remote geographical location and weather, the mining on Greenland is not easy. It is the largest island in the world, 80 % of which is covered by ice sheet. It has no road at the Trone Mountain between the settlement.

“This is a North Pole terrain of the Arctic.” “In terms of climate and limited infrastructure, he encountered problems under bad conditions. Therefore, there is a problem. Opening the mine is very expensive. “

These high costs and low global metal prices have delayed investors.

Others blame the Fanwen TAPE Festival on the slow growth of the industry. The territory has strict environmental regulations and social impact requirements, and it takes time to obtain permits.

Ms. Nathanielsen insists that most communities do support mining, which will promote the local economy. She said: “They (overseas miners) are shopping in local stores. They are hiring local employees. They are renting local ships or helicopters.”

However, in QaqortoQ, the largest town in the south, the resident Heidi Mortensenmøller is suspicious, whether the new mines will lead to employment. “When they say they want to increase their jobs, who are they talking about?”

Jess Berthelsen, head of Sik local union, said that many people think that mining income will “leave the country” and cannot benefit Greenland. But he supports the growth of the industry. “Greenland needs more income and make money from other methods other than fishing.”

It is unclear how Trump’s latest game on Greenland will play a role. However, the country’s Prime Minister Mute Egge said earlier this month that “we need to start a business with the United States”, which is “the door opened in mining.”

Mr. Kjeldsen of the Commercial Association hopes to bring his “urgent investment” to the industry. “On the other hand, if the uncertainty around the Trump signal has been extended for a longer time, it may have a negative impact on the investment environment.”