Abstract
In the small Ikka Fjord in southwestern Greenland, we have studied remarkable submarine tufa columns forming over alkaline springs by abiotic precipitationof the metastable, cold-water mineral ikaite (CaCO3.6H2O)1,3. The columns, which support a rich marine life, are up to 20 m high, with annual growth of more than 50 cm. We wish to nominate the locality, which seems to be unique, for classification as a geological World Heritage Site.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on SpringerLink
- Instant access to the full article PDF.
USD 39.95
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Pauly, H. Arctic 16, 263–264 (1963).
Marland, G. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 39, 83–91 (1975).
Suess, E. et al. Science 216, 1128–1131 (1982).
Berthelsen, A. & Henriksen, N. Ivigtut 61 V.1 Syd. Geological Map of Greenland 1:100,000 (Geol. Surv. Greenland, Copenhagen, 1975).
Emeleus, C.H. Medd. Grønland 172(3), 1-75 (1964).
Pauly, H. Naturens Verden Argang 1964, 168-192 (Copenhagen, 1963).
Johnston, J., Merwin, H. E. & Williamson, D. E. Am. J. Sci. 41, 473–493 (1916).
Bischoff, J. I. et al. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 57, 3855–3865 (1993).
Shearman, D. J., McGugan, A., Stein, C. & Smith, A. J. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 101, 913–917 (1989).
Benson, L. Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol., Palaeoecol. 109, 55–87 (1994).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Buchardt, B., Seaman, P., Stockmann, G. et al. Submarine columns of ikaite tufa. Nature 390, 129–130 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1038/36474
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/36474
This article is cited by
-
Submarine metalliferous carbonate mounds in the Cambrian of the Baltoscandian Basin induced by vent networks and water column stratification
Scientific Reports (2022)
-
Overview of coralline red algal crusts and rhodolith beds (Corallinales, Rhodophyta) and their possible ecological importance in Greenland
Polar Biology (2017)
-
An exceptionally cold-adapted alpha-amylase from a metagenomic library of a cold and alkaline environment
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology (2015)
-
Is the meiofauna a good indicator for climate change and anthropogenic impacts?
Marine Biodiversity (2015)
-
Discovery of novel enzymes with industrial potential from a cold and alkaline environment by a combination of functional metagenomics and culturing
Microbial Cell Factories (2014)
