Fact sheet
Kakortokite is a variety of agpaitic nepheline syenite displaying pronounced cumulate textures and igneous layering with a repetition of layers enriched in alkali feldspar, eudialyte and arfvedsonite. Originally described from Kakortok (now Qaqortoq), Ilimaussaq, Greenland.
Rotation 1 - arfvedsonite
Rotation 2 - eudialyte
Rotation 3 - unknown
Rotation 4 - aenigmatite
Rotation 5 - microcline with albite inclusions
Many thanks to Alessandro Da Mommio for providing us with this sample. Alex describes the sample here.
The Ilimaussaq alkaline complex is the type locality for agpaitic nepheline syenites and represents an enormous concentration of rare elements, notably Li, Be, Nb, Zr, REE, Y, Th and U. Around 220 mineral species have been identified. We can't identify all the minerals present in these samples. Email us at virtual-microscope@open.ac.uk if you can help.
Note we have recently expanded the collection to include other syenite complexes worldwide.
See also Alex Strekeisen's great website for more information on syenite complexes.