Unstable Greenland Ice Sheet Undermines Trump Mining Plan

Scientists have identified a hidden geological weakness beneath Greenland’s ice sheet that could accelerate its collapse and complicate US ambitions in the Arctic.

Mining Greenland's resources—including oil, gold, graphite, copper, iron, and other rare earth elements—could be severely hindered by the sediment layers.

A new study found a concealed sediment layer—made up of soft dirt and sand—that has caused more of the Danish territory’s glaciers to melt, fracture, and slide into the ocean, the Daily Mail reported.

The findings suggest the Greenland ice sheet is far less stable than it would be if it were anchored directly to hard bedrock. Instead, the sediment reduces friction, particularly as meltwater seeps downward, allowing massive ice sheets to move more easily.

The revelations could significantly impact the Trump administration’s ambitions to acquire Greenland not only for its strategic Arctic location but also for the vast natural resources beneath the ice.

Mining those resources—including oil, gold, graphite, copper, iron, and other rare earth elements—could be severely hindered by the sediment layers, which slow drilling and create dangerous conditions as glaciers collapse.

University of California, San Diego researcher Yan Yang said the sediment layer is up to 650 feet deep in many areas beneath the ice sheet.

While the study suggests this hidden sediment is likely accelerating global sea-level rise, other scientists warned that its immediate effects could make Greenland difficult to exploit over the long term.

Recent research indicates that safe drilling requires stable, frozen bedrock, while offshore oil rigs would face rising risks and escalating costs due to an increasing number of icebergs calving into nearby waters.