KANGERLUSSAQ
This section is a compilation of trip reports from 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006. Rather than repeat the similar stories from several different viewpoints, we decided to simply merge them into one large grouping of photos with stories, in a "locale order".
On the third or fourth day several of us decided to camp out at Kangerlussaq. We spent the day preparing our campsite, and then surveying the area for likely spots. After a day of exploration, cliff climbing, and collecting, it was time to eat. It was getting windy and quite chilly, so we found some (extremely rare) driftwood and started a fire to keep warm. Beans and hot-dogs really hit the spot and we were all looking forward to a night of collecting in this very remote area.
We were not disappointed! Kangerlussaq offered up some marvelous specimens of tugtupite with polylithionite, sodalite and several unknowns.
After a night of collecting we were looking forward to climbing into our nice tent and warm sleeping bags - only to find that the wind had other plans. The tent was flattened, so we each picked a nice rock to hide behind and crawled into our sleeping bags for what turned out to be a great night's sleep. The next morning we returned to some of the spots we marked during the night and recovered more great specimens using our "UV tents" - A very fruitful spot.
Camping at Kangerlussaq - People are often surprised by the vastness of the locales. This picture was taken from one of the cliffs above Kangerlussaq showing our campsite one year in the valley (invisible white dots).
Kakortokite layering (Kringerline) from the Kangerlussaq Fjord - We night lamped Kangerlussaq with varying degrees of success and spent the next day exploring. At the end of the day I was ready to take Kangerlussaq off the list of places to visit (folks had much better luck at other locales) when Herb Y. made an outstanding discovery. Using his excellent detective skills he located a vein of very unusual (and extremely bright) tugtupite combo pieces. These pieces are filled with a myriad of unknown FL minerals, and may possibly be some of the nicest material from the complex. It was too late in the day on Sunday to start mining it so plans were made to go back and excavate later in the week (after the tour was over).
KVANEFJELD
Expecting to find beryllium (for some odd reason) this guy wore the appropriate dress. Note the smile on his face - this was before he climbed the mountain behind him to get to the top of Kvanefjeld.
In the background is the old uranium mine, and above that the summit of Kvanefjeld. A two hour walk/climb and we spent the day atop Kvanefjeld. We told him that when he got up there the ground would be glowing red from all the tug - he didn't believe us. Now he does....
We have no idea what this guy's laughing about. He's about to climb the same mountain - and HE KNOWS what he's in for. He was with us last year. Howie was a great guy to have along - always up and fun - and kept me supplied with PB&J!
Some of the "adventurers" couldn't wait until they climbed the mountains - they simply started picking up rocks in the fields.... It's a good thing John didn't have to carry the rocks he found below up - there were plenty to carry down.
Pic to the left shows members of the tour relaxing after climbing Kvanefjeld (of course one member examining a piece of tugtupite found on the way up).
Kvanefjeld yielded the typical tugtupite specimens, along with some new varieties we haven't seen before. I finally succeeded in busting up this big boulder of chkalovite/tugtupite that I had been working at for two years.
BOAT TRIPS
After a very long plane ride from the USA, through Iceland, to Greenland (24 hours), 7 people arrived in Narsasuak. We got all our gear and loaded into two boats for the trip to Narsaq. 7 people complete with camping supplies makes for quite a load. (The 2nd boat is not in the picture). (Yes - that's an iceberg up against the boat dock)
This is when everyone gets their first taste of the majestic and vast mountains and fjords. It's a 90 minute boat ride to Narsaq, much of it through the very complex we have come to explore.
Majestic scenery everywhere, especially when traveling by boat (that's glacial melt making that river).
Icebergs are everywhere, and the most beautiful ones are the blues ones. Sometimes the ice is so thick in the fjords we simply cannot take the boat out.
Mineral Scenery
Tugtupite in-situ at Tugtup Aktoforia - the type locale. The mica mineral is epistolite. We ascended the cliffs of Tunuliarfik for a day (and night for some) of wonderful collecting. Fantastic specimens of tugtupite/polylithionite and ussingite were among the finds. One member found a cropping of very rare tundrite (non FL). 4 people spent the night on Tunuliarfik - sans tent or sleeping bag - it was a cold night!
Ussingite in-situ - the cliffs of Tunuliarfik
A large slab of tugtupite busted off a cliff - from the type locale for tugtupite
Examining specimens at the water's edge
A wonderful haul of Taseq Tugtupite
Map of the Ilimaussaq Complex with the major collecting areas shown.
