Walk along the cliffs just above the road. Pay attention to the different rock types you encounter: layered mudrock, silt- and sandstone from the Cretaceous Carolinefjellet Formation. These sediments were deposited on the sea floor around 115 million years ago. You can find beautiful sedimentary structures and trace fossils. You can also find marine fossils such as shells and ammonites. Look for the „cannon-balls“, round concretions formed by decaying organic material in the seafloor mud. With a lot of luck you can even find fossilized wood here.
The Longyearbyen Field Guide
We are a group of scientists and Svalbardians who want to share our knowledge about the vicinity of Longyearbyen with you. This app is non-commercial and meant for locals, guides, tourists and everyone interested in science.
It is initially based on the book “The Geology of Longyearbyen” and supported by the Svalbard environmental protection fund, The University Centre in Svalbard, Store Norske Spitsbergen Kulkompani and HDpublish.
We appreciate all of the voluntary contributions and support from all authors and initiators for making this app possible.
Supported by the