This article was originally published on Nature’s Rainbow.
The Ilímaussaq complex is one of the world’s most fascinating igneous complexes. The abundance of rare elements has resulted in more than two hundred and twenty-five different minerals and many unique fluorescent mineral specimens. Thirty minerals were first discovered and described in the complex and twelve are unique to it. I first visited this complex in 2001 and have returned every year until 2012. Each year fantastic new discoveries are made, earning this complex a reputation as a “World Class” fluorescent mineral locale.
That’s me in the middle of the “Elv” (river) that runs through the valley separating Kvanefjeld from the Taseq Slope. The river is glacial melt and we often had to wade/jump across. The mountain in the background is Mt Ilimaussaq; it’s actually not in the complex named for it.
The video below is a powerpoint presentation I made at the Denver show a few years ago (2012?), and at the Telus museum (Atlanta GA) a year later. Some of the slides are “dated” but it’s a great overview of the minerals we found and the collecting. (It’s a 20 minute presentation if you let the slides switch automatically. Be sure to start from the beginning.)