Grace Howe
Travel Scholarship report- Finnmark, Arctic Norway
1.0 Introduction
With the use of the travel scholarship funds, I was able to go on an expedition with the British
Exploring Society (BES) to Finnmark, Arctic Norway, for a duration of three and a half weeks. The
aim of the expedition was to conduct my own field investigations with regards to the geomorphology
and geology of the underlying bedrock of a selected region of Nuvsvag Finnmark. Three locations
were subjected to reconnaissance work where no previous studies had taken place prior to our arrival.
Although, nearby locations of Oksfjord and Soroy had previously been studied other institutes.
As a geology undergraduate about to start my third year of a four-year MGeol course, I am interested
in a career as an exploration geologist. This experience has given me a fantastic insight into the nature
of expeditions, including working and living in remote and harsh environments, which will hopefully
be invaluable in my future career.
My own geological observations and interpretations are going to be included in the British Exploring
Society Journal and will then be presented at the British Exploring annual gathering which takes place
at the Royal Geographical Society London, at the end of January 2015.
2.0 Fieldwork undertaken
The field work that I conducted with the British Exploring Society was in three areas around Nuvsvag
(Nuvven Peninsula, Base camp and Mountain camp)where my team were based for six days at a time.
Primary data was recorded in a field notebook including structural measurements, rock descriptions
and interpretations, in order to add to previous years’ geological map. During the two previous years
of expedition in Finnmark, a basic geology map has been constructed. Consequently, due to my
efforts on this year’s expedition, I have been able to further contribute towards this team research
effort.
Below is a brief outline of the geology encountered at each locality.
2.1 Nuvven
Locality 1:
Date: 31/7/14
Molluveik Dalen Valley, Storr Mollu Dalen
GR 40939 99176
A rock description was taken at the locality which identified the rock as being a high grade
metamorphic rock: gneiss, with small index minerals of garnet crystals indicating this. The structural
geology at this location was of importance as it contained boudins; the product of an extensional
regime called boudinage, indicative of relatively high pressure deformation.
At the same location granite dykes were found which cut across the pre existing gneiss, showing a
cross cutting relationship; granite is younger than gneiss and the deformation.
Fig.2.1. Myself studying boudins within gneiss
Fig.2. 2. Granite dyke showing cross cutting relationship
with gneiss
Grace Howe
Locality 2:
Date: 1/8/14
GR 40751 00603
Granite was encountered at this location and the composition was determined. Larger intrusions up to
6-7m width, interpreted as dykes. Granite composition consisted of orthoclase feldspar crystals and
quartz crystals. No biotite mica was found indicating a non water based origin of the parent magma.
Fig.2. 3. Myself studying a granite dyke
Locality 3:
Date: 2/8/14
GR: 3961 9976
Granite intruded quartzites, a low grade metamorphic rock, indicated by remnant bedding features. A
contrast with the high grade metamorphic rock, gneiss.
2.2 Base Camp
Locality 4:
Date: 4/8/14
GR: 40170 91094
The same quartzite was found here which contain Fe-sulphide mineral, pyrite. This could be an
indication of an environment of deposition which lacked oxygen and allowed the growth of such
sulphide minerals. Or could be a product of
metamorphism providing the levels of sulphur remain
high enough, as pyrite can remain stable until high
temperature and pressures.
Fig.2. 4. Base camp
Grace Howe
2.3 Mountain Camp (Fjordallen)
Locality 5:
Date: 11/8/14
GR: 42255 87880
Quartzites were also found at this location; however structural measurements could be taken, showing
folding in the area by measuring cleavage planes which have developed due to deformation of the
rocks. This is expected of rocks of Precambrian to Cambrian age (485- >540million years old) in
Finnmark, Northern Norway.
Glacial terrains made finding in situ exposures difficult, however, revealed many rock types which
could be found in the area; granites composed of
hornblende but no orthoclase and diorites, both
intrusive igneous rocks.
Fig.2.5. Synform folding within quartzites, shown by yellow
lines.
The geological history of this area is a result of the Caledonian Orogeny, a mountain building process,
where the closure of the Iapetus ocean occurred over a 150 million year period between the late
Cambrian and mid Devonian (500-380 million years old), creating the Scandinavian Caledonides
(Mountain range). Nuvven, most likely comes under the Seiland Igneous Province found in Oksjord,
with a variety of igneous rocks which were later deformed by the Scandian phase of the Caledonian
Orogeny during the late Silurian (420 million years old). However, Nuvven has not been directly
studied and so this is an assumption. The rocks I encountered provided evidence of this process and
are the rocks you may expect from such a Himalayan style orogeny.
In addition to studying Nuvsvag’s geological history, I was fortunate enough to learn how dynamic
the modern day environment is, especially with fast retreating glaciers. At Nuvven, I witnessed
current extensional forces, producing normal faults, influenced by the glacial retreat and isostatic
rebound along with raised beaches occurring all along the coast line.
2.4 Glaciology
Date: 25/07/2014
I also had the opportunity to study glaciology, a topic
which I have only been able to briefly touch on in my
studies. I was able to study the ninth largest glacier in
Norway, Oksfjordjokelen, which had been a product of
the last glacial maximum 22,000 years ago. I witnesses
the impacts it had on the landscape, including striations
left upon boulders( Fig.2.5), glacial (‘U’ shaped)
Fig.2.6. Glacial striations upon loose boulder within
moraine fields.
Grace Howe
valleys (Fig.2.6) and glacial deposits (moraines and terminal moraines) which mark the previous
position of the glacier. The relative age was determined by lichen abundance on boulders. I saw
firsthand the impacts of climate change as this affected my team’s ability to summit the ice cap,
through rapid melting of snow which fell during the winter months.
Fig.2. 7. ‘U’ shaped valley created by the
retreating glacier.
Date: 10/08/2014
Fjordallen, the second glacier, left remains of its advances also. Using maps of the glacier published
in 2012 we were able to map the snout of the glacier using GPS, discovering that the glacier had
retreated 100m in two years. These kinds of observations along with LUX readings, which measure
the amount of solar radiation reaching the glacier and valley and amount of light reflected. These
readings will be part of a global study into climate change and used in the BES journal.
Fig.2.8. Myself and my team at the snout of Fjordallen glacier
Grace Howe
3.0 Expenditure
Prior to my departure I was awarded a Travel Scholarship of £500 plus an additional £200 from the
Ede and Ravenscroft fund.
Expenditure
Flights
Equipment costs
BES expedition cost
Cost
£497
>£1000
£2500
The cost of the expedition was paid prior to departure, plus equipment costs in excess of £1000, this
was self funded. The scholarship contributed towards flight costs and remaining £203 went towards
equipment costs. Without the Scholarship I would not have been able to continue with the expedition
as I required funds for my flights and remaining equipment, such as a down jacket. A necessity for
Arctic expeditions!
4.0 Career and academic benefits
Field work is an essential part of my course, and I thoroughly enjoy studying and working outdoors in
remote locations. This expedition gave me the opportunity to travel to an even more remote location,
Arctic Norway! Consequently, this inspired me to undergo my own field studies, where the purpose of
my trip was to use and develop my geological field skills acquired during the last two years of my
degree to identify and interpret the geological setting of Nuvsvag.
Not only did the expedition allow me to develop field skills I have already, but it also offered the
opportunity for me to study scientific areas new to me. Studying the geomorpholy of Nuvsvag
enabled me to see the environmental, economic and social impacts of climate change. Climate change
has directly impacted the glaciers and increased melt, created hotter summers and has indirectly
influenced the human population. The local inhabitants can no longer rely on subsistence farming of
fish due to reduced Arctic Cod populations and reduced quotas allowing only 1,700 fish to be caught
each year, which rules out fishing as a livelihood. As a result, a lack of any job stability in prevails in
Nuvsvag, younger generations are moving out of the area leaving abandoned schools. Melting of the
glaciers also causes more frequent flooding of rivers which impacts the local wildlife, such as
reindeer, as flood plains become more common with less access to grazing areas.
Field experience is important technically
as a geologist but a more unique
experience is engaging and recognising
the social, economic and environmental
impacts industry has upon a location,
particularly as I aim to pursue a career in
mining and exploration: where all these
aspects come together. Recognising the
social, economic and environmental
impacts that natural resource exploration
and exploitation has upon an area is
essential. The expedition has given me
unique experience that I can bring to a
company; I have seen the previous state
Fig.4.1. Myself and the glaciers at Fjordallen.
Grace Howe
and effects humans can have on a remote pristine environment, during exploratory work. In addition,
this kind of reconnaissance work and remote location logistical experience that I under took is the
same kind any exploration team would conduct themselves.
Fig.4.2. Myself and my team, learning self rescue
techniques.
In addition to this I was able to interact with the local people and learn how an expedition can be
sustainable. The BES have to leave an area every 3 years so the local population do not become
dependent on the expedition bringing money to the area by hiring boats and buying food etc.
Environmentally, the expedition aimed to reduce litter by burning rubbish, using biodegrable soaps
and reducing overall erosion of camp sites, by sticking to the same paths and camping in small groups
to avoid erosion over large areas. I also learnt basic safety skills for ice travel such a self crevasse
rescue and self arrest on the ice. I learnt mountaineering skills such as leading a team up a scree slope
and ensuring the safety and wellbeing of my team. Survival skills were also acquired such a foraging;
gaining knowledge of what vegetation was safe to consume.
Other soft skills acquired include team work skills, the entire duration of the trip I had to live and
work in a team of 12, with a variety of backgrounds and experiences. This included being punctual,
managing and maintain equipment, cooking, distributing kit to the appropriate team members,
working collectively to store equipment safely, such as erecting a tarp to store stoves, food and
science equipment. I have seen how an expedition is run and the challenges of preserving the
environment, managing equipment and people.
These team work skills are something I will use frequently throughout my degree and are transferable
into industry, especially acquiring and honing these skills through expedition, mimicking the work
environment for exploration.
Grace Howe
Finally, I have had the privilege of meeting people who have inspired me to take part in more
expeditions in the future not only for scientific purposes but to explore and enjoy pristine
environments.