| Abstract |
Geothermal springs in the neighborhood of the Ittoqqortoormiit settlement in E-Greenland were investigated during August of 2022. Of particular interest was Greenland’s hottest spring, Uunartoq, 1 l/s of 60.1 °C. The Uunartaaji warm springs, located 2 km further east, measured between 32 and 45 °C. They had a minimum combined flow of 1.6 L/s on about 80 m long NW trending lineament, and likely double that rate when accounting for a 1200 m2 open sea area spotted in mid-winter satellite images. Geothermal springs at Ittaajimmiit, 15 km west of Ittoqqortoormiit, were also visited. Their highest temperature was 15 °C and flow 1.6 L/s. A handful of large 3-6 °C cold springs were mapped, some flowing tens of L/s of fresh water coming out of fractures in the bedrock. This infers sizeable groundwater circulation in the area’s bedrock, best explained by summer infiltration of meltwater at higher elevations and lower elevation discharge by faults. The water collected had neutral to basic pH, low in TDS while high in radon relative to springs in basaltic rocks. Seawater also percolates down, presumably near the hottest Uunartoq manifestation, where it mixes at depth with the fresh water infiltration before ascending to surface. Geochemical thermometers infer above 80 °C temperature at depth in Uunartoq. The geochemistry has a signature of chemical equilibrium with basalts, despite coming to surface within gneiss. This infers basaltic dykes, from the opening of the North Atlantic Ocean, still play a significant role in the geothermal convection. We theorize that the mouth of Kangertittivaq (Scoresby Sound) is tectonically active. This allows for deep circulation of cold and hot waters. Northerly trending escarpment faults of the early rift are suspected as the primary geothermal fluid convection cells. If right, such systems have industrial scale cold and hot water production potential that can be developed for the local community and as a backbone for the region’s growing travel industry. As a best-case scenario, a cogeneration of power and heat looks achievable at Uunartoq and Uunartaaji due to the 80 °C geochemical temperature at depth and access to the locally cold ocean as a heat sink. Carefully executed green energy development is expected to go hand in hand with the delicate and pristine flora and fauna at site, and without displacing arctic hares, seals, whales and polar bears that entertained the field crew during their August 2022 expedition. |