US President Donald Trump. File Photo/Reuters
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Firstpost11-01-2026, 12:29

Trump's Greenland Rare Earth Ambitions Face Harsh Reality: High Costs, Tough Terrain

  • Greenland's harsh environment, lack of infrastructure, and difficult geology hinder rare earth extraction.
  • Trump aims to break China's rare earth monopoly, viewing Greenland as a solution despite challenges.
  • Geopolitical concerns about Russian and Chinese influence in the Arctic also drive Trump's interest.
  • Mining in Greenland faces issues like remoteness, local power generation, and environmental impact from toxic chemicals.
  • Rare earths in Greenland are in eudialyte rock, for which no profitable extraction method exists, unlike common carbonatites.

Why It Matters: Trump's push for Greenland's rare earths faces significant economic, environmental, and geological hurdles.

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