Kangerella, Tugtupite, Polylithionite - Greenland

Pieces from this area within the Ilimaussaq Complex were nicknamed "Kangerella" for their beauty. The tugtupite responds differently to each wavelength, is very tenebrescent, and very phosphorescent. The blue fluorescing chkalovite responds under all wavelengths. The polylithionite fluoresces a bright yel/grn under SW UV.

These pieces are probably our favorite find from the Ilimaussaq Complex. The tugtupite occurs as veins in a chkalovite matrix. The bluish green fluorescing chkalovite on this piece is striking, as is of course the tugtupite. The polylithionite consists of fine crystal of yellow fluorescence. The tugtupite is phosphorescent.

Kangerella is a nickname we gave to an exquisite combo we discovered in the Kangerlussaq area (see story below). The tugtupite is in a matrix of chkalovite (bluish green), with deposits of yellow/green fluorescing polylithionite.

There’s a lot of history in these pieces. Early in our travels to Greenland we stumbled across pieces like this in an area of what appeared to be circles of rocks - kind of like a series of very large old campfires (which they weren’t as there is no firewood in Greenland). Within these circles we found these very unusual pieces such as this but could not find a source other than the rock circles.

We eventually found the source (see story below) and the resulting specimens were one of the prettiest from the complex IMHO - we nicknamed them “Kangerella”. The deposit of this very unique material has since been mined out we only had a few remaining pieces left, occasionally finding one hidden in our inventory such as this. It is a beautiful pinkish/red fluorescing tugtupite, along with greenish/yellow fluorescing polylithionite and blueish fluorescing chkalovite and dark orange sodalite. The tugtupite fluoresces differently under each of the main wavelengths (like terlingua calcite) and is very phosphorescent (see pics).

(More history): We did some research and found that Sorensen (a Danish geologist in the 50’s) had discovered a line of white boulders stretching from the cliffs to the shoreline in this area (the Kangerlussaq Fjord). Only then did we realize what the rock circles were; the locals had obliterated the white boulders in search for tugtupite (most commonly found in association with chkalovite - a white mineral). What was left were the circles of rock pieces.

This was a fortuitous find. During a later tour (2005) one of the group (a fellow named Herb) decided to trace this trail of rock chips, on his hands and knees until he found the source - a vein hidden in the crumbled syenite gravel. This was eventually excavated to reveal a small but beautiful vein of purple colored tugtupite; many cabochons were made from this material, and some superb collector pieces found their way into the collector community. We nicknamed that material “Kangerella”. Those were the good ol’ days!