Greenland Mineral Data
 There are several key localities offering the collector access to many rare and unusual minerals. Some of these areas are small intrusions perhaps only meters wide. Many minerals in these areas are found nowhere else in the world. Due to the rapid weathering of the friable (brittle and easily crumbled) syenites most of the mountains have no vegetation (no soil), and the gray and reddish hues contrast nicely with the deep blue fjords and gleaming white icebergs.
The MinData section has detailed information regarding the famous minerals of Greenland, including studies on tenebrescense, phosphorescence, information on fluorescent minerals, along with many image galleries of spectacular fluorescent mineral specimens found in Greenland and the Ilimaussaq Complex. Join us on one of our Greenland Tour adventures and view the beauty of this complex on your own!
The transition zone into the Ilimaussaq Complex - View from Tunuliarfik Fjord
Ilimaussaq Complex
Perhaps the most famous is the Ilimaussaq Complex in Southwestern Greenland - an 8x17km intrusion located between two fjords - Kangerdluarssuk fjord and Tunulliarfik fjord. Located near the city of Narsaq, access to certain parts of the complex (Kvanefjeld) can be made by foot, while other areas (Kangerdluarssuk and Tunulliarfik) requires travel by boat. It is without a doubt the most mineral-rich area in Greenland. Many of these minerals are new finds for the fluorescent collector.
 New fluorescent minerals from Greenland are being uncovered almost weekly. For the latest list and pictures of the most significant finds download our article “The Fluorescent Minerals of Greenland”. (printer ready)
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 The complex consists of three different intrusions. First augite syenite formed a shell along the sides and the roof, next an alkali granite and alkali syenite formed two thin sheets near the top, and finally the biggest part and center of the intrusion was formed by a layered series of under-saturated syenites. The rocks close to the roof are the oldest. The most common rocks in these areas are a sodalite-nepheline syenite called naujaite, an arfvedsonite-aegrine bearing nepheline syenite called lujavrite, and a eudialyte-bearing nepheline syenite called kakortokite.
 Illimaussaq is the area with the most minerals in Greenland - more than 200 so far, half of them silicates. Here the silica content is much higher than elsewhere in the world. Numerous pegmatites and hydrothermal veins, streaks and patches are found all over the intrusion, but are most common in the areas of Kangerdluarssuk and Kvanefjeld. Some of the famous minerals from this area include:
For more information on the formation of the Illimaussaq complex see the Minerology Pages. For more information on tenebrescense visit our sodalite pages.
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The Fiskenaesset area includes a matamorphosed layered magmatic complex. It occurs in granitic gneiss bordered by amphibolites. This area is most known for the occurrences of: