FLOSSI: RARE EARTHS IN GREENLAND
Neodymium, Dysprosium, and Terbium: Rare Earth Elements (REEs)
These elements are part of the rare earth group and are essential for modern technology and clean energy applications. Here's an overview of each:
Neodymium (Nd)
Atomic Number: 60
A silvery-white, soft, malleable, and ductile metal.
Reactive and oxidizes quickly when exposed to air.
Neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets are the strongest permanent magnets available.
Widely used in electric vehicle motors, wind turbines, and computer hard drives.
Neodymium is used in Nd: YAG lasers, important for cutting, welding, and medical applications.
Glass and Ceramics:
Adds color to glass and ceramics, producing purples and other shades.
Dysprosium (Dy)
Atomic Number: 66
A silvery-white metal with high thermal neutron absorption capability.
Very stable at high temperatures.
Added to NdFeB magnets to enhance resistance to demagnetization at high temperatures, essential for electric motors and wind turbines.
Used as a neutron absorber in nuclear reactors due to its high neutron cross-section.
Dysprosium compounds are used in halide lamps and high-intensity lighting.
Terbium (Tb)
Atomic Number: 65
A silvery-white metal that is soft and malleable.
Oxidizes slowly in air and reacts with water.
Used in combination with dysprosium to improve the heat resistance of NdFeB magnets.
Added to metal alloys for strength and durability.
Neodymium (Nd) was first discovered and separated in 1885 by Austrian chemist Carl Auer von Welsbach.
Neodymium became widely used in the 1980s with the invention of neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets.
These magnets, developed independently by General Motors and Sumitomo Special Metals in 1984, are incredibly strong and have revolutionized industries such as electronics, renewable energy, and automotive.
In response to calls for greater self-determination, Greenland was granted home rule in 1979.
Greenland’s parliament (Inatsisartut) was established, allowing local governance over many internal matters.
Greenland gained increased autonomy through the Self-Government Act of 2009.
This act recognized the Greenlandic people as a distinct people under international law, and Greenland assumed greater control over areas like policing, judiciary, and natural resources.
Denmark retains control over Greenland’s foreign affairs, defense, and monetary policy.
Greenland remains a part of the Kingdom of Denmark
Key Historical Milestones
1380: Union of Denmark-Norway begins.
1721: Danish missionary Hans Egede re-establishes Danish control over Greenland.
1814: Treaty of Kiel transfers Greenland to Denmark.
1953: Greenland becomes a Danish county.
1979: Greenland achieves home rule.
2009: Greenland gains self-government.
The Treaty of Kiel was signed on January 14, 1814, and marked a significant reshaping of the Scandinavian political landscape. The treaty was a result of Denmark's defeat during the Napoleonic Wars, and it had lasting consequences for Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
Napoleonic Wars:
Denmark-Norway allied with Napoleon during the Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815), while Sweden sided with the British-led coalition opposing Napoleon.
Denmark-Norway’s alliance with France led to significant losses, including a British attack on Copenhagen in 1807 and the loss of the Danish fleet.
By 1813, Denmark-Norway was on the losing side of the war, prompting negotiations with Sweden and the Allied powers.
Sweden, under King Charles XIV John (formerly Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, a French marshal), sought territorial compensation for losing Finland to Russia in 1809.
Sweden targeted Norway as compensation for its territorial loss.
Denmark’s economic and military strength was severely weakened by a British blockade and internal challenges, forcing it to negotiate peace with the Allied powers.
Key Provisions of the Treaty
Cession of Norway to Sweden:
Denmark ceded Norway to Sweden, effectively ending the Denmark-Norway union that had existed since 1380.
This established a personal union between Norway and Sweden under the Swedish crown.
Retention of Greenland, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands:
Denmark retained sovereignty over Greenland, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands, territories that had been associated with Norway under the union.
Denmark received the Duchy of Lauenburg (a small territory in northern Germany) as partial compensation.
Sweden recognized Danish sovereignty over the Duchy of Schleswig, ensuring Denmark’s continued influence in German territories.
Denmark renounced its alliance with Napoleon and joined the coalition against France.
