The dataset represents an index layer showing the geographic extent of geological maps of Greenland printed and published by the Geological Survey of Greenland (GGU) and the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) since 1957. The layer functions as a search and reference tool and does not contain the original map material. The dataset provides direct links to the GEUS Dataverse, where each map is assigned a DOI and can be downloaded as high-resolution TIFF images (400 dpi) or PDF files.

Areas of special drinking water interest (OSD) are assigned the highest priority for drinking water supply. They are delineated according to criteria including future water demand, groundwater quality, natural protection, and the preservation of existing abstraction infrastructure. The spatial extent of OSD areas may be adjusted as new knowledge becomes available through fee-financed groundwater mapping under the Environmental Objectives Act § 8a. Within these areas and abstraction catchments for public waterworks, action plans are developed under Chapter 3 of the Water Supply Act. Areas of drinking water interest (OD) represent regions with groundwater of suitable quality for drinking water, primarily relevant for smaller utilities and local abstraction. The data are provided as a vector Dataset and are accessible via OGC web services. Source data are obtained from the Danish Environmental Protection Agency’s groundwater delineations (as of November 2022) and reflect the state of knowledge at publication time.

The dataset contains polygons representing selected protected and regulated areas in Greenland relevant to mineral activities. The areas include UNESCO World Heritage Sites, nature protection areas, and zones with specific restrictions or prohibitions on mineral activities. The dataset is converted from a WFS service provided by the Ministry of Mineral Resources in Greenland and is used as a geographic reference in the assessment of exploration and exploitation licences. The polygons represent administrative boundaries and do not constitute a legally binding representation of current legislation.

The dataset contains polygons representing active mineral exploration licences in Greenland. The data are based on geographic information provided via WFS by the Ministry of Mineral Resources in Greenland and are redistributed without modification of the original boundaries. The dataset provides an overview of areas where companies currently hold valid exploration licences.

The topographic map of Greenland at a scale of 1:250.000 is based on data collected from the 1930s through the 1970s and 1980s. These data formed the basis for the production of a series of 1:250.000 scale topographic map sheets, which continue to serve as the primary topographic reference for large parts of Greenland. Mapping of areas prior to 1970 was based on several historical map series, including 18 map sheets at a scale of 1:300.000 covering North Greenland produced by Lauge Koch between 1932 and 1940, 1:250,000 scale mapping of parts of Northeast Greenland conducted by the Geodetic Institute in the 1930s, and complete national coverage at 1:250.000 produced by the American Army Map Service in the 1950s. The digital topographic map of North and Northeast Greenland has been produced by the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) since 1977, based on high-precision digital photogrammetry using aerial photographs. The dataset has primarily been used as a topographic reference for geological mapping at scales of 1:100.000 and 1:500.000.

The main geological environments in Greenland and their mineral resources have been described and divided into four main geological environments: infracrustal regions, supracrustal regions, magmatic provinces and sedimentary basin regions. Within the various geological environments, characteristic mineral deposits are outlined. Within the infracrustal environment, relatively few mineral occurrences are recorded in Greenland, but three types are described: gold in gneiss, nickel and copper in mafic intrusions, and olivine in ultramafic rocks. For more detailed information, reference is made to the report Greenland geological environments and mineral resources.