The Coolest Minerals on Earth

Geological Guide to South Greenland

geol_guide_sgreenl_book_cover-ukAuthors: Henning Sørensen, Anker Weidick, Henry Emeleus, Brian Upton, Karsten Secher and Tom Andersen.

This book is a handy guide book to the fascinating geology of South Greenland which houses some world-famous mineral localities. It focuses on the description of the main geological features of the region and of localities and is intended as a guide book to be used in the field.

132 pages richly illustrated and with many topographical and geological maps. Many of the major mineral types are described with photographs for easy identification.

Editor: Henning Sørensen
Lay-out: Henrik Klinge Pedersen; GEUS
Illustrations: Carsten E Thuesen, Henrik Klinge Pedersen, GEUS og Britta Munch, Geologisk Institut

Size: 13.5 x 21 cm (5“ x 8”)
Printed: December 2006
ISBN: 978-87-7871-192-2

 

The Geological Guide - South Greenland describes the geology of the region along the long fjord Tunulliarfik from Narsarsuaq at the head of the fjord to Narsaq, which is located where the fjord changes name to Skovfjord, and further on to Qaqortoq at the mouth of the fjord.

The geology of the region is very interesting. 1200 million years ago, this part of Greenland was the site of volcanic activity. The volcanic cones and most of the lavas have been removed by erosion. Thus, Tunulliarfik and the neighboring fjords and valleys offer unique opportunities for studies of the geological processes which took place at depth beneath the volcanoes. Furthermore, some of these volcanic "root zones" are outstanding in the world in their richness in rare rocks and minerals. One of the rare minerals is the red tugtupite which has become a popular gemstone and is a sort of ambassador for the region.

The area includes the Ilímaussaq complex, which is one of the world's most fascinating igneous complexes because of its extreme enrichment in rare elements expressed in more than two hundred and twenty-five different minerals and in unique multicolored rocks. Thirty minerals were first discovered and described in the complex and twelve are unique to it.

Narsarsuaq airport is the gateway to a mountainous region dissected by valleys and fjords which give access to a variety of landscapes and provide rich opportunities for a broad spectrum of tourist activities such as hiking, fishing, climbing and visiting towns and settlements and sites of historical or naturalistic interests such as the sites of some of the most important Norse settlements: Brattahlid, Gardar and Hvalsey which can be visited from Narsarsuaq and Qaqortoq.

This book presents an introduction to the geology of the region and describes localities of particular geological interest. Many of the described localities are within walking distance from Narsarsuaq, Qassiarsuk, Igaliku and Narsaq, but most localities can only be reached by boat, since no roads or trains connect the towns.

The book is designed as a handy field guide, it is in A5 format, the cover is plastic laminated, the 132 pages lacquered. It is thus prepared for use in the field. There are many topographic and geological maps and color photos of practically all described localities. The target group is the people living in the region and visitors who would like to know more about the geology of the region or become fascinated by its mountains, glaciers, multicolored rocks and minerals. Therefore, it has been endeavored to use a minimum of technical terms, those used are explained at the end of the book which also brings a list of supplementary literature.

Four of the contributors have studied the geology of the region covered by the book for more than 50 years, Henning Sørensen, the editor of the book, since 1946, Anker Weidick since 1950, and Henry Emeleus and Brian Upton since 1955. Karsten Secher and Tom Andersen are also experienced investigators of this region.

 

Contents:

Preface

Practical information

The geology of the region

The rocks

  • The Ketilidian
  • The Gardar
  • Plate tectonics in Ketilidian and Gardar times

Glacial geology

Geological excursions in the area

Description of the main geological features and guide to localities

The geology around Qassiarsuk

  • Guide to localities (Tour 1)

The Igaliko complex and surroundings

  • Guide to localities
  • The geology from Narsarsuaq harbour to Kiatuut Sermiat (Tour 2)
  • Glacial geology in the Narsarsuaq area (Tour 3)
  • The Suuluaqqap Qaqqaa viewpoint (Signalhøjen) (Tour 4)
  • The mountains north-east of Narsarsuaq (Tour 5)
  • Qooroq (Tour 6)
  • Itilleq to Igaliku (Tour 7)
  • South coast of Tunulliarfik (Tour 8)

The boat voyage from Narsarsuaq to Narsaq

  • Guide to the voyage
  • The north coast of Tunulliarfik (Tour 9)
  • The south coast of Tunulliarfik (Tour 10)

The Ilímaussaq complex

  • The naujaite
  • The lujavrites
  • The kakortokite
  • Pegmatites and veins
  • The contact relations of the Ilímaussaq complex
  • Guide to localities
  • The north coast of Tunulliarfik (Tour 11)
  • The south coast of Tunulliarfik (Tour 12)
  • Kangerluarsuk (Tour 13)
  • Kvanefjeld (Tour 14)
  • Tugtupite (Box)

 

Geology of Narsaq

  • The giant dykes
  • Gabbro
  • Anorthosites
  • Ultramafic rocks
  • Diatremes
  • Syenites and granites
  • The latest Gardar events near Narsaq
  • Narsaq glacier
  • Guide to localities
  • Narsaq (Tour 15)
  • The north-east coast of Tuttutooq (Tour 16)
  • Narsaq glacier (Tour 17)

The Julianehåb granite between Narsaq and Qaqortoq

Economic geology

  • Niobium and tantalum
  • Uranium
  • The economic potential of the Ilímaussaq complex
  • Uranium - Kvanefjeld
  • Guide to localities (Tour 18)

Collecting minerals in the Ilimaussaq complex

  • The light colored minerals
  • Black minerals
  • Yellow and brown minerals
  • Platy minerals
  • Red minerals

Explanation of terms

Suggestions for further reading

 

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Glossary of Terms

Tenebrescense - Most Greenland sodalites and tugtupite exhibit dramatically strong tenebrescense - color change upon exposure to UV light. The tenebrescent sodalite responds strongly to UV light, fluorescent orange, and is highly tenebrescent. Upon exposure to shortwave UV, it will turn varying degrees of grape purple.  Tugtupite often darkens to a deep red, or perhaps to a pink - usually fading in a few hours.   Exposure to white light causes both to fade again, and the process can be repeated over and over. “Hackmanite” is another term used to describe these types of minerals.

Phophorescense - When exposed to UV light and the light is removed the mineral continues to glow - sometimes for hours. Many Greenland minerals are deeply phosphorescent. 

Ilímaussaq Complex - The mineralogy of the Ilímaussaq Complex, South Greenland has been studied for two centuries. Over 200 minerals have been identified from this unique complex - over 15 of them only found here. Ilimaussaq is the type locality for dozens of alkaline minerals and the variety is amazing! Even more amazing is the yet to be discovered variety of fluorescent rocks and minerals. Greenland is essentially “virgin territory” for collecting rocks and minerals - fluorescent or not.

Fullwave, SW, MW, LW - Fluorescent rocks require an ultraviolet light to make them glow. Greenland minerals are among the brightest fluorescents, and many will simply glow under an ordinary blacklight (LW - longwave, 350nm).  MW, or midwave, is another wavelength (302nm, 312nm, etc) which often causes minerals to glow a different color than LW (or even SW). SW, or shortwave is the most popular wavelength used (254nm) and usually shows the most dramatic colors. Fullwave is a combination of all three lights at once - Greenland minerals often show dramatic colors under this setting.

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