Bedrock Geology and Morphology of the Tarfala Area, Kebnekaise MTS., Swedish Caledonides

• Published in: Geografiska annaler. Series A, Physical geography Vol. 71; no. 3-4; pp. 235 - 239
• Main Authors: Andréasson, Per-Gunnar, Gee, David G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Taylor & Francis 1989; Swedish Society for Anthropology and Geography; Blackwell; Svenska sällskapet för anthropologi och geografi
• Subjects: Bedrock; Bgi / Prodig; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Geological folding; Geology; Geomorphology; Geomorphology, landform evolution; Gneiss; Hydrology; Minor Contributions; Mountains; Physical geography; Quartzite; Rocks; Schist; Shales; Structural geomorphology; Surficial geology; Tectonics. Structural geology. Plate tectonics; Metamorphic rocks; Gneisses; Lower Paleozoic; Europe; Amphibolites; Caledonides; Igneous rocks; Bedrock; Sweden; Diabase; Mylonites; Dikes; Erosion
• ISSN: 0435-3676; 1468-0459
• DOI: 10.1080/04353676.1989.11880290

The highest mountains in Sweden are located in the Scandes within the Seve belt, where the bedrock has generally been identified as amphibolite. However, the rocks in these Seve Nappes vary considerably both in composition and resistance to erosion. Thus the glaciated Kebnekaise and Sarek Mountains are composed of sheeted dolerite complexes with very subordinate metasediments. In the Tarfala area, there are significant morphological differences between the different Seve Nappes, particularly between the dolerite dyke complexes and the underlying units consisting of amphibolites, gneisses and schists. The dolerites are often well preserved and the metasedimentary rocks are usually hard hornfelses. Other morphological breaks are caused by resistant mylonites along nappe boundaries, one prominent example occurring beneath Storglaciären.