The discovery of rubies in Greenland marked a significant moment in both geological research and the global gemstone industry. Although indigenous Inuit populations may have long been aware of colorful stones in the region, it wasn’t until the late 20th century that scientific exploration confirmed the presence of gem-quality rubies.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Danish geologists began conducting mineral surveys in southern Greenland, particularly around the Fiskenaesset (now known as Qeqertarsuatsiaat) region on the southwestern coast. These surveys noted the presence of corundum, the mineral that forms rubies and sapphires, in the area’s ancient rock formations.
Interest in the region grew, and in the early 2000s, systematic exploration began. Having confirmed the commercial potential of Greenland's ruby deposits. The work in the Aappaluttoq area (meaning “red” in Greenlandic) led to the identification of significant ruby and pink sapphire resources embedded in high-grade metamorphic rocks—some of the oldest on Earth.
The discovery was groundbreaking not just for its gemological value, but also because Greenland became one of the few known sources of rubies outside traditional regions like Myanmar, Mozambique, and Sri Lanka.
