www.webmineralshop.com | Norway The Evje - Iveland
Pegmatite District
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Norway,
The Evje and Iveland Pegmatite District
Introduction
The Evje Iveland area is located in the southern part of Norway in the Vest Agder region about 60 Km north of Kristiansand where a regular ferry service with Denmark exist. The district is famous for its welth of minerals. There are old mines and hundreds of small quarries originally opened for feldspar and quartz. The actual landscape and morphology of the area was formed by the glacial processes during the last ice age. The last remnants of the great inland icecap melted away from the Evje and Hornes area no more than 9500 years ago. The Setesdal valley has a marked "U" form, characteristic of glacial valeeys. Large quantities of sediments were washed out by the melting ice and the the Otra river was much bigger than today. The sediments from this process form, today, wide areas of pine-covered plains along the valley floor. Landscape forms and moraines show the story of the ice age, forming kettle holes, eskers and terrasses, Dåsvassdalen valley close to Evje is very rich in several "ice age" landscapes.
Area Map
For what concern mineral collecting some of the classic localities are today open to collectors. Additionally there are beautiful mineral collections exhibited. All this is in a beatiful natural setting, forests, mountains, rivers and lakes.There are also excellent opportunities for fishing and outdoor activities. In the forests one may meet moos, roedeer, beaver and woodland birds.
The Evje Iveland area has become quite popular among mineral collectors and mineralogical scientists thank to the peculiarity of its mineralisation. In the thousand of pegmatites crossing the area more than 100 different mineralogical species have been identified during the years several of which very or extremely rare. The area is also extremely well developed for what concern the Mineralogical tourism since it offer mineralogical museums, minerals shops, organised mineral trekking paths and other geological attractions for a broader public fun of naturalistic attractions.
Histrory of Mineralogical Exploitation
The Flåt Cu-Ni Mine
The exploitation of Copper and Nickel resources
Mineral Exploitation in the area began in the 1844 with the opening of the Flåt Mine. The Flåt mine at the beginning of its history was a copper mine then from 1872 it was operated for Nickel. The English Company H.H.Vivian worked the mine from 1884 to 1894. After a short stop Colonel Henriksen re-started up the mining activity in 1899 again for the Nickel.
Exploitation was so succesfull that in 1910 a nickel refinery was built in Kristiansand whilst all the works and plants in Evje were heavily modernised. Electricity, with a wire way, signed the end of horse transport to the smelter in Evje. In this period the mine provided work up to 350 men. In 1927 the Company Refininwork Ltd. toke control of opeartion in the Flåt Mine.
Despite the previous intensive work 3,2 million tons were extracted until 1946. The main lod was around 450 m deep and went well below the sea level. 20200 tons of Nickel and 14500 tons of copper had been refined in Kristiansand by the time the mine closed down definetively in 1946.
Alltogether 75% of Norway' nickel was produced by Evje and for several decades the Flåt Mine was the Europe's largest nickel mine.
The Story of the Flåt Cu-Ni Mine documented in the Evje Mineralogical Museum |
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The Flåt Cu-Ni
Mine in a painting
(c.a. 1940) Evje Mineralogical Museum |
The The Flåt Cu-Ni Mine around 1899
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The smelter of Flåt mine in Evje around 1900 |
The Quartz and K - Feldspar Exploitation
During the end of the 19th Century also the exploitation of the pegmatite bodies started. There are several hundred quartz and feldspar mine in the Evje Iveland district. The information available says that around 1880 the famous Landsverk mine was among the first to be taken in industrial exploitation. In this period until the first world war the mining objective was the quartz to be used for smelters of the Flåt Nickel Mine.
In 1896 the famous Setesdal railroad was taken into use. The existance of the railway also made profitable the exploitation of the potassium feldspar. The Norwegian feldspar company (1913) , ran mines, and bougth from farmer who worked their owns mines in winter time. Transport was done by horse and sledges up to the railway station in Evje. Several new quarries entered into operations and the Feldspar was transported by train to Kristiansand as well as the copper-nickel mineral . Over the years, more than 100 different minerals, many extremely rare, were accumulated on the dumps of the mines. Thedor Gautestad was one of the first collector in the area. He began collecting ans study the area minerals in 1937 at his collection is now at the Fennefoss Museum in Evje.
The main markets for K-Feldspar were Germany and England were the mineral was utilised for production of ceramic and porcelain. The historical record say that alone in the Landsverk mine (the large one) 20.000 tons of K-Feldspar were exploited in the period till 1928.
Works in Landsverk quarry for Feldspar exploitation (1950 c.a.) From Gunnar Helvig Hansen
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Orest Landsverk in Kongsberggruva, Knipane, 1974 with some huge beryl crystals on his back Foto: Gunnar Helvig Hansen
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Geology of Evje - Iveland district
TTheTThe main rocks of the Evje area were formed in the orogenic phase of the Sveconorwegian period as far as back as 1200 million years ago. The high grade metamorphic rocks foun here, formed at considerable depth under elevate temperature and pressure and have now been exposed by the erosion after this long period of time. In the Evje and Iveland districts the main outcropping rocks are Precambrian amphibolites. In particular the area is characterised by a distinct amphibolite body, 35 km long and 10-15 Km wide. This body undergone several phases of mineralisation. These amphibolitic rocks has been dated to 1.1 - 1.2 Billion years age. In these maphic polimetamorphosed formation granitic magmas and solutions have been later intruded. The age of this intrusions is relatively younger (900 million years). These acid intrusions formed granites and granitic pegmatites.
Thousand of pegmatitic bodies occur in the Evje Iveland district. Especially in the northern part of the area is it possible to observe the pegmatites as ridges in the woody landcape. In general the major pegmatite bodies follow the layering of the amphibolite rocks, but also often they cut the amphibolite layering.
Type of Pegmatites
We may list two main different types of Pegmatite in the Evje - Iveland area . The most widespread are microcline-quartz veins of magmatic origin. The second type are constituted by cleavelandite and quartz veins of late hydrothermal origin. The first type is by far the most common.
The size and thickness are aslo usually far larger than the hydrothermal veins. The magmatic pegmatites are constituted by pink - red or gray perthitic microcline, gray white / yellowish palgioclase, quartz, biotite and muscovite. The most common accessory minerals are Beryl and Garnets.
The largest pegmatites are found at the borderzone of the amphibolite, in the southern and northern parts of Iveland and all around Evje. The big pegmatite bodies are often very coarse grained and contain huge individual crystals. What makes the Evje-Iveland district quite peculiar is that more than the common constituents of the pegmatites such as Quartz, Plagioclase, Beryl, these pegmatite bodies also contain huge crystal of very rare minerals.
Cryptic (graphic) granite is quite common at the contact of the pegmatite with the amphibolite, while in the central zones feldspar crystals of several meters were quite common during the industrial exploitation .
Most of the Pegmatites are usually small, lense- shaped and very irregular. The largest pegmatite bodies can be found at the borderzone.
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Geology of Evje and Iveland pegmatite district (from NGU geological map 1:250000) |
Mineralogy
In the list reported hereinafter we just mention the main rare minerals that made the Evje-Iveland district famous to all the worldwide mineralogical collectors . A complete list over the minerals from this district is far too long to describe all the minerals individually. Therefore we will focus on the more classic species and some of the peculiar typical pegmatite minerals of the area. Overall we will focus our interest on the minerals containing Rare earth Elements such as Cerium, Yttrium, Lantanium, Scandium, Beryllium, Uranium and Thorium. These are really the minerals that make the district a distinctive reality in the worldwide mineralogy. The pictures come from authors collection, museums, or other private collections
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Aeschynite - (Y) - (Blomstrandine)
(Y, Ca, Fe, Th) (Ti, Nb)2 (O, OH)6
It is one of the more characteristic minerals of the district where it occurs in beautiful orthorombic idiomorph crystals sometime of outstanding size. Well developed crystals up to 30 cm have been encountered when some of the quarrys were in operations. The typical localities are Vestre Frikstad, Kabuland, Ljosland all in Iveland area. The most outstanding xls occur at the contact between biotite and K-Feldspar matrix. The Mølland occurrence provided the best worldwide specimen for the mineral
Aeschynite (Y) xl 3 cm xl in matrix Mølland, Iveland Norway private coillection |
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Aeschynite (Y) xls 30 cm xl plate Mølland, Iveland, Norway Evje Mineralogical Museum |
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Ancylite (Ce)
Sr, Ce (CO3)2 (OH) * H20
This rare mineral occurs in orthorombic xls inside the K-feldspar. It is quite widespread in the area but the best occurrencies are Våanne and Hornnes in the Evje area. The typical shape are elongated xls of orange-brown colours embedded in K-feldspar often associated with Garnet.
Ancylite (Ce) xl 4 cm in matrix Vånne, Evje Norway private collection
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Beryl
Be3 Al2Si6O18
It is definitely one of the most widespread and imposing minerals in the district. Crystal of few cm are estremely common but also huge crystal are reported in the district weighing up to 3 tons. The largest crystals several meters long come from the Iveland area. The bigger known xl had a length of 3,2 meter and a diameter of 1,1 m. The colour of most of xls is pale yellowish, but nice deep blue coloured acquamarine are also reported sporadically from several quarries. The best acquamarine has also been used for cutting remarkable gemstones.
Beryl xl 25 cm xl in matrix Landsverk I, Evje Norway Evje Mineralogical Museum
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Beryl xl 1,4 m xl in matrix Landsverk I, Evje Norway (Iveland, Museum) |
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Betafite
( Ca, Na, U)2(Ti, Nb, Ta)2, O6(OH)
It has been sporadycally reported in cubhotaedrons xls up to 1 cm in Ljoslandsåase (Iveland) and in the Landsverk quarries (Evje) . The district never provided outsdanding specimens for the mineral
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Bismite
Bi2O3
It has been reported in Birkeland (Iveland) and Liheia (Evje).
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Bismuthinite
Bi2S3
The minerals has been reported in Tveit and Eptevann (Iveland) and Rumpetrollsynken (Evje). It occurs has large mass or also pseudo idiomorph xls up to 15 cm in lenght embedded in K-Feldaspar amd Quartz It has been reported in Birkeland (Iveland) and Liheia (Evje).
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Bismutite
Bi2(CO3)O2
The minerals has been reported in granular masses or pseudo idiomorph tetragonal xls in Kjent and Liheia (Evje) and Eptevann, and Rossås in Birkeland (Evje) .
Bismuthite 4c m xl in matrix Landsverk I, Evje Norway private collection
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Cerianite (Ce)
(Ce+4, Th)O2
The minerals has been reported in Tveit and Eptevann (Iveland) and Rumpetrollsynken (Evje). It occurs has large mass or also pseudo idiomorph xls up to 15 cm in lenght embedded in K-Feldaspar amd Quartz It has been reported in Birkeland (Iveland) and Liheia (Evje).
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Columbite
Fe+2 Nb2O6
Columbite has bee reported in well developed outstanding xls up to 8 -10 cm in several localities. Probably on the most famous occurence is that of Brattekleiv (Evje), where the minerals is found in beautiful idiomorphic xls often associated with yellow beril.
Columbite xl 8 cm in matrix Landsverk I, Evje Norway private collection
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Churcite
YPO4*2H2O
This rare Yttrium phospate has been reported in landåas (Iveland) inside a clevelandite pegmatite. It occurs in brown masses or pseudo idiomorphic xls often associated with topaz .
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Davidite (La)
(La, Ce)(Y, U, Fe+2)(Ti, Fe+3)20(O, OH)38
Davidite is known from Frigstad and Birkeland in Iveland. It occurs as brown masses with metallic luster or in well developed idiomorphic xls up to 10 cm in size. Unfrequent
Davidite xl 5 cm Tuftan, Birkeland, Iveland Norway private collection
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Euxenite (Y)
(Y, Ca, Ce, U, Th)(Nb, Ta, Ti)2O6
This rare mineral occurs unfrequently in well develop idiomorphic xl of brown luster inside K-Feldspar or Mica biotite matrix. Xls up to 20 cm have been reported. The richest occurence is probably in the Iveland area near Birkeland. Tuftan quarry provided remarkable samples during operations
Euxenite xl 10 cm xls Tuftan, Birkeland, Iveland Norway (Evje, Museum)
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Fergusonite (Y)
YNbO4
This rare Ytrium Niobate occurs unfrequently on several quarries. The richest occurrences of crystallised Y-fergusonite are Rossås in Iveland and Høgetveit in Evje, where idiomorphic xls up to 10 cm in size has been recovered . It is very difficult to recover intact xls due to the fragility of the mineral. Fergusonite masses with typical fat brown luster occur also in Landsverk quarries.
Fergusonite xl 2,5 cm in matrix Råssas, Iveland Norway private collection
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Fergusonite xl 4,0 cm in matrix Råssas, Iveland Norway Evje Museum
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Ferrocolumbite
Fe+2 Nb2O6
Ferro - Columbite has bee reported in well developed outstanding xls up to 30 cm in several localities. Probably one of the most famous occurence is again the Brattekleiv quarry (Evje), where the minerals is found in beautiful idiomorphic xls often associatedwith yellow beril. Other remarkable occurrences are those of Kjente and Eftevann quarries near Iveland as well as also Landsverk in Evje.
Ferro-Columbite xl 12,0 cm Råssas, Iveland Norway private collection
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Fersmite
(Ca, Ce, Na)(Nb, Ta, Ti)2(O, OH, F)6
Often associated with Fe-Columbite is reported mainly from landsverk area in millimetric masses spread into the K-Feldspar or in well developed idiomorphic xls up to 6 cm in size. Rare
Fersmite xls 6,5 cm Landsverk, Evje Norway Coll. G.Helvig Hansen
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Fluorapatite
Ca5 (PO4) 3 F
Fluorapatite occurs in several localities in the area such as Knipane (Iveland) Skripeland (Iveland). For sure the quarry that provided the most outstanding xls (up to 30-40 cm) is Knipane (Iveland). Fluorapatite xl are of a deep blue colour with a well developed prismatic habitus and typical exhagonal xl shape. The Xls are embedded in Mica Biotite or Quartz matrix
Fluor-Apatite xl 5 cm in matrix Knipane, Iveland Norway private collection
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Gadolinite (Y)
Y2 Fe+2 Be2 Si2 O10
Together with Thortveitite and Aeschynite It is among the most interesting and outstanding minerals of the district. When the quarries were active Gadolinite xls from the district may reach 30-40 cm in length and weigh several kgs. Xl colour is deep brown or black and the monocklin xls are usully embedded in K-Feldspar and/or quartz. The best specimen have been provided by the Frigstad area in Iveland district.
Gadolinite xl 3 cm Størbrekka, Iveland Norway private collection
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Gadolinite xl 12 cm Landsverk 1, Evje Norway (Evje, Museum)
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Garnet (Spessartina and Almandine)
Mn3 Al2 (SiO4)3
Garnets are quite frequent in the district pegmatites but rarely have outstanding showing. Some remarkable spessartine xls up to 3-4 cm in size are reported from Tveit (Iveland). The xls are embedded in quartz and K-Feldspar and have a deep red - brown colour. In the same locality also Almandine garnets occur in beatiful xl up to 3-4 cm in size.
Spessartina xl 2 cm in matrix Tveit, Iveland Norway private collection
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Ilmenite
Fe+2 TiO3
Ilmenite xls are quite unfrequent in the district. Quality also is never oustanding. Xl up to 1 - 1,5 cm embedded in Quartz and alkali feldspar are reported from Hilltveit in Iveland and Kabuland.
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Struverite ( Ilmenorutile )
(Ti, Nb, Fe+3)3O6
The district provided sporadic but oustanding Struverite xls occurrences. Well developed xls up to 10 cm have been reported. The localities are : Landsverk (Evje), Tuftan and Knipane. Probably the most outstanding find is that of Håverstad near Iveland were beautiful xls have been recovered also recently.
Struverite xl 6 cm in matrix Håverstad, Iveland Norway private collection
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Manganotantalite
Mn Ta2O6
Manganptantalite xls are reported from several localities but never in outstanding specimens. In general occur in clevelandite pegmatite of Frigstad and Solås in Iveland and of Lihei in Evje. Xl size is in general up to 1 cm max.
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Microlite
(Na, Ca)2Ta2 O6 (O, OH, F)
Microlite is relatively frequent in the clevelandite pegmatites of the Iveland area as small masses or pseudo idiomorphic xls of 2-3 mm. Well developed brown octhaedric xls are extremely uncommon. The best specimens probably come from Skirpeland pegmatite (Iveland)
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Microcline
KAlSi3O8
Microklin is extremely common in the district and sometimes it shows up in well developed idiomorphic xls. Giant xls up to 1 m have also been sporadically reported
Microcline xl 12 cm Landsverk, Evje Norway museum collection
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Molybdenite
MoS2
The mineral is quite diffuse in several pegmatites of the district. Some remarkable xls up to 3-4 cm are reported from Landsverk quarries in Evje and from Frosjå in Iveland.
Molybdenite xl 4 cm Landsverk 3, Evje Norway private collection
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Monazite (Ce)
(Ce, La, Nd, Th) PO4
Monazite is well diffused in the granite and clevelandite pegmatites of the district. The area also provided when the quarries were in operations some of the best worldwide monazite specimens. Xls are of a deep orange brown colour, well developed and embedded in K-feldspar or biotite matrix. The most famous localities are Kjente quarry (Rossås, Iveland), Mølland and Ljoslandsåsen (Iveland), Landsverk 1 and Unneland (Evje). The best specimen have xls that can reach 15-18 cm in size. Remarkbale findings of Monazite xls have been reported also recently (y 2000) from Landsverk 1 quarry in Evje.
Monazite xl 3 cm in matrix Landsverk I, Evje Norway private collection
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Polykras (Y)
(Y, Ca, Ce, U, Th)(Ti, Nb, Ta)2O6
This rare mineral is quite diffused in the Iveland district. The mineral occurs often in well developed orthorombic crystals up to 2-3 cm in size. The best localities are Hilltveit, Mølland and Håaverstad in Iveland. Occasionaly Polykras is also been reported from Landsverk area.
Polikras xl 3 cm in matrix Størbrekka, Iveland Norway private collection
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Samarskite (Y)
(Y, Ce, U, Ca, Pb) (Nb, Ta, Ti, Sn)2O6
The mineral is not frequent in the area. Usually the typical occurrence is in fibrous or sub-idiomorphic masses with fat luster often associated with Ferrocolumbite . Well developed idiomorphic xls are extremely rare. The most famous occurence are those of Kjente, Størbrekka, Rossås and Ljosland in Iveland.
Samarskite xl 3 cm in matrix Størbrekka, Iveland Norway Evje Museum
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Thorite
ThSiO4
This rare Thorium sylicate is reported from several localities of the district. The best crystallised occurrences are in Håversta and Frigstad from Iveland and from Einerkilenn and Ås in Evje. Xls up to 3 cm in size are reported
Thorite xl 2,5 cm in matrix Ås, Evje, Norway Evje Museum
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Thorogummite
Th (SiO4)1-x (OH)4x
The mineral occurs as pseudomorphosis of Uraninit xls. Yellow cubic terrous xls up to 0,8 - 1 cm in size may be recovered form the cleaveges of the K-Feldspar. The most famous occurences are from Eiberkilen and Rossås in Iveland district.
Thorogummite xls after Uraninite 0,5 cm in matrix Einerkilen, Evje, Norway private collection
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Thortveitite
(Sc, Y)2 Si2O7
This Scandium sylicate It is probably the most interesting and outstanding minerals of the district. It was discovered in 1910 when a local collector named Olav Thortveit sent an unknown specimen to the Oslo Museum for analysis. In 1911 the mineral was described as the first scandium mineral found in the world. The name was given in honour of Olav Thortveit. Later it was clear that already in 1903 other collectors have already found samples of Thortveitite naming it Epidote with a question mark. Thortveitite in the most typical occurrence is found as elongated prismatic crystals embedded in pink K-feldspar. The colour ranges from greenish, gray or pale green.The largest described xls weigth more than 200 gr. Occasionally Thortveitite has also been specifically mined in the district for Scandium. This small scale mining went ahead till 1961 when 50 kg of mineral were totally excavated. After that period production almost ceased. Thortveitite has been found in a number of occurrunces in the district but the most famous are Laandsverk1 and 3, Knipane, Ljoslandknipen, Eptevann2, Håverstad, Tuftane etc.
Thortveitite xl 4 cm in matrix Landsverk 3, Evje Norway Evje Museum
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Thortveitite xl 10 cm x Landsverk 3, Evje, Norway |
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Thortveitite xl 18 cm in matrix Knipane, Iveland Norway Evje Museum
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Tombarthite (Y)
Y2(Si, H4)4O12-x(OH)4+2x
This rare mineral has been reported from Høgetveit in 1968. Occasionally it has also been reported in Iveland area. It occurs in sub-idiomorphic crystal masses up to 5-6 cm inside mikroklin or biotite. The classic locality id Høgetveit in Evje district. Very rare
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Tveitite (Y)
Ca 1-x Yx F2+x
This rare Ytrrium and calcium Fluoride after the discovery in the Tørdal area (Nissedal), has also been reported from the Iveland district. It occurs in sub crystalline masse up to 5 cm in size fro, Frigstad (Iveland) . Idiomorphic xls are extremely rare
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Uraninite
UO2
The mineral is not extremely frequent but is diffused in sub idiomorphic masse of few cm in several pegmatites of the district. idiomorphic xls are quite rare. They may reach 2 cm in size and often are deeply alterated. Pseudomorphosis in Thorogummite are frequent. Xl occurs inside K-Feldspar and Biotite. The most famous locality for crystals occurrence is Einerkelen in Evje.
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Xenotime (Y)
YPO4
This rare Yttrium phoshate is present in the district with remarkable specimens. Deep brown Ochtaedrons up to 5-6 cm in size have been reported . Often most of the xls are labelled as Zirkon. The most famous occurrences are Hilltveit, Rosåas in Iveland and Ås and Landsverk in Evje.
Xenotime xls 1,5 cm in matrix Ås, Evje Norway
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Yttrialit (Y)
(Y, Th)2Si2O7
This rare mineral is reported from Ivedal amd Kåbuland (Iveland) and from Høgetveit (Evje): it occurs as brown masse together with Keivyite. Xls are extremely rare
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Yttrotantalite
Fe+2 Nb2O6
It has been found in nice small idiomorphic xls up to 0,5 - 1 cm in size from Ljosland and Solås (Iveland). It is also reported from Liheia in Evje. Rare
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Yttrotitanite
YCaTiSi2O5
Ytrrotitanite is reported from Iveland area. The Knipane quarry provided remarkable brown Y-Titanite xls up to 4-5 cm in size embedded in black quartz matrix.
Yttrotitanite xl 3 cm in matrix Knipane, Iveland Norway
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Zircon
ZrSiO4
Zircon is not extremely frequent in the district area, In any case the districyt never provided remarkable specimens. It has been reported from Ljoslandsåasen (Iveland) and Landsverk (Evje) as brown centimetric xls in K-feldspar. Metamiktic amorph zirkon masses may also reach 15 cm in size and were relatively frequent in landsverk and Ljosland quarries. Most of the well developed idiomorphic octhaedrons are Xenotime xls
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Other Minerals
Hereinafter is a list of the others recognised minerals from the Evje Iveland district. Some of them are also present in remarkable xls in the pegatite of the district:
- Allanite (Ce)
- Analcim
- Anatas
- Arsenopyrit
- Bastnaesit (ce)
- Bavenite
- Bertrandit
- Biotite
- Bismuth
- Calcite
- Carnotite
- Chabasite
- Chalcocite
- Chalcopyrite
- Chlinoclor
- Crysoberyl
- Cl0inozoisite
- Coffinite
- Epidote
- Euclase
- Phenakite
- Fluocerite
- Fluorite
- Fourmarierite
- Ghanite
- Galenite
- Gips
- Goethite
- Hematite
- Keivyite
- Laumontite
- Lepidolite
- Magnetite
- Malacjite
- Milarite
- Montmorillonite
- Muscovite
- Opal
- Prenhite
- Pumpellyite
- Pyrite
- Pyrofanite
- Pyrrothite
- Rhabdofanite (Ce)
- Rozenite
- Rowlandite
- Rutil
- Schoepite
- Schrockeringite
- Siderite
- Sphalerite
- Stilbite
- Stilpnomelano
- Tapiolite
- Tengerite
- Topas
- Tourmaline
- Triplite
- Tornebohemite (Ce)
- Uranofane
- Vandendriesscheite
- Zinnwaldite
- Zoisite
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Today Collecting Situation (2002)
The Evje - Iveland district is still today an attractive area for collecting. The district has probably been one of the first in Norway that toke the intiative to develop a well organised Mineralogical tourism since it offers since the 80s ' mineralogical treks, mineralogical museums and minerals shops. Today very few of the quarries and mines are still active and furthermore they are not the most prone of interesting minerals.
An Evje classic is the visit to the Flåt Gruva and to the Evje Mineralsti. Information on this path are available in the Evje municipality (Evje tourist office) . Camping facilities nearby the collecting areas are also available.
The Landsverk mine complex are six old mines that have been marked out on a mineral trail specifically opened for collectors. The main quarry is Landsverk I where more than 60 different minerals have been recorded. Landsverk I is probably also today the best place to find different minerals,
The Evje Mienaralsti allows the visit of all the Landsverk complex quarries that have been in operation for long time in the Evje district and that provided during several decades beautiful specimens of the classic district minerals.
The Evje Mineralsti trek |
With the Evje Mineralisti trek you can access the Landsverk 1, Landsverk 2 (Rumpetrollsynked), Landsverk 3 (Hagebruddet) and Landsverk 4 (Furulunden) quarries as well as the complex of Flåt Nickel mine and other feldspar quarryes (Håtfjellet) . Entre fee per person is very moderate and than you have to pay additional fee for each kg. of collected samples. Despite of the several hundreds of mineralogists visiting the site every year, good collecting is still possible if you are patient and lucky. In the last years several remarkable samples of Monazite have been colleceted in The Landsverk I quarry. Thortveitite may also be collected with some luck in Landsverk 3 quarry.
In the nearby area to the organised trek several other quarries exist. Collecting in these areas is restricted or is provided conditional to land owners permit. Again the municipality may offer useful information about the address of the different land owners that can provide access to the different sites for moderate daily fees.
The Evje Mineralsti trek Main Entrance and explanations June 2002
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Along the Evje Mineralsti Entrance to the famous Landsverk 1 quarry. June 2002
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Along the Evje Mineralsti Collecting at the Landsverk 2 quarry. June 2002
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The Iveland area is less known for most of the mineralogists but it offers probably the best possibilities for fruitful collecting. Information again are available at the Iveland Kommune where a remarkable mineralogical collection is also in exhibition (note that Saturday and Sunday is closed!).
Iveland Area Collecting at the Knipane quarry. September 2002 |
Again collecting permits are requested form the various land owners to collect in the different areas/quarries. Some
areas are definitelky closed for collecting (like the famous Aeschynite occurrence at Mølland) . Once permits have been
obtained interesting areas to be visited are Brattekleiv, Frigstad, Knipane. The most serious problem is that most of
the quarries are completely water filled and collecting is therefore limited to the accessible dumps where all of course
have access and good spots are obvously sporadic.
Iveland Landmark September 2002
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Remember some important information if you wish to collect in the Evje-Iveland area:
- Make sure you have permission from the land owner,
- Use the necessary safety equipment and look around for loose overhangs of rock (collecting is under your
own responsibility)
- Some quarries are now specially opened and prepared for collecting minerals
- Tour with a guide may be arranged contacting the Tourist Office in Evje Kommune
Evje Area Map showing the main collecting areas and quarries |
Museums and Collections
The Museum at Fennefoss is a nice country Museum documenting the local farm culture, educational history and the
story of mining and minerals in the district. The celebrated Madam Curie used several radioactive minerals from
Setesdal and some of theses and some of her laboratory equipment are preserved in the Museum. One of the
Norwegian mineral pioneer was Theodor Gautestad in Evje. His collection of more than 1000 specimens was
purchased with the help from the State Culture Organisation in 1988. Later the systematic collection of Odd S.H.
Hansen with 1250 specimens was bought in 1989. The Museum has now over 300 minerals, 700 of which form the
present exhibition of local and Norewegian specimens.
The Evje Fennefoss Museum June 2002 exterior
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The Evje Fennefoss Museum The Mineralogical Collection
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Other Museums in the area are the Setesdal Mineral Park Museum at Auensneset (5 km south of Evje) and
the Mineral Collection of Iveland Kommune where than more 200 hundred specimens from local mines are
in exhibition. In the Iveland Kommune you can also collect additional information concerning the
mineralogical coolecting possibilities in the area.
Shops
In the areas also several shops for mineralogists exhist. The most famous is probably the Setesdal Mineral
Park. This tourist attraction is at Auensneset, 5 Km south of Evje. It consists of a new mineral museum, park
and open air stone exhibition. Inside the small hill on the background of the entrance 175 m of "mine space"
has been blasted out in the mountain, to make room for the exhibition of the many minerals from the district,
the local geology as well as antique mining equipment. Special exhibitions of Norwegian and foreign
minerals of the highest quality creates an high level of stone culture.
For more professional mineralogists another good stop is the shop BERYLLEN (BERYLLEN Mineralsenter
ANS) in Haegeland (about 20 km south of Evje). The shop is owned by two high level Norwegian
Mineralogists and you may find here a good selection of the most typical material of theEvje and Iveland
district .
Links
Useful links if you would like to visit the district are:
www.e-h.kommune.no
www.evjeweb.com
www.setesdal.no
References
Åmli, R.: Sekundaere Uraniums - og Thoriumsmineraler fra Einerkilen, Evje
NGU Årbok 1968
Neumann H. (1985) : Norges Mineraler. NGS Skrifter 1968
Frigstad, O.F.: Amazonitpegmatitter i Iveland - Evje. Bergverksmusset Skrift nr. 15
Flåt Gruver: Sørlandset Geologiforeniongs Skrift 15 år, 1985
Gunnar H.H. (2001), Mineralene i Evje-Iveland
Kleveland, O.A.: Flot Nikkelgruve-Evje Nikkelverk
Kleveland, O.A. : Einerkilen Urangruve. IFE Rapport I-91/001+KAF
Wilke, H.J. (1976): Fundstellen Band 4 - Skandinavian ; Christian Weise Verlag
Werner R., The Evje-Iveland Pegmatite district, NAGS (unfinished article)