Cathodoluminescence (CL) petrography of nepheline syenites of the Igaliko complex, Gardar province, South Greenland shows that sodalites possess embayed contacts against nepheline, and have formed by a process of metasomatic replacement. This texture is demonstrated clearly by CL, since sodalite luminesces bright orange and nepheline is poorly luminescent. The transformation from nepheline to sodalite results in a volume change which leads to a network of fractures in which deep-blue luminescent fluorite is precipitated. Fluorite is formed since the chlorination process involved in the transformation causes localised reductions of the salinity of the fluid and therefore a decrease in the solubility of fluorite. Sodalite-fluorite textures observed using CL allow sodalites of secondary origin in alkaline igneous rocks to be identified.

Nephelines and sodalites, when observed using scanning electron microscopy, possess small micropores. By analogy with recent work on alkali feldspars, pervasive alteration of nephelines may occur by fluid flow assisted by a permeable micropore network.

The North Qôroq syenite centre forms part of the Gardar Province of South Greenland. Extensive metasomatism, associated with the evolution of syenitic magmas, has resulted in redistribution of the rare-earth elements (REE), originally concentrated by magmatic processes, in both the syenites and surrounding granite-gneiss and quartzite country rocks. An important host for REE is apatite which can occur in significant quantities. Metasomatic apatites show complex, concentric, but irregular patterns of zonation, clearly seen using CL and BSE imaging. This zonation is related to successive pulses of metasomatising fluids. Electron microprobe analysis confirms the presence of significant quantities of REE in the apatites. The dominant cation exchange mechanism proposed is Ca2+ + P5+ ⇌ REE3+ + Si4+. In contrast to apatites from the nearby Ilímaussaq intrusion, there is no significant Na present in the structure and exchange reactions involving Na+ and REE3+ for Ca2+ have not occurred.

Apatites from the quartzite are fluor-apatites, while those from the granite-gneiss are more Cl-rich. These differences reflect the fact that granite-gneiss apatites are original and modified by metasomatism, whereas, those in the quartzite are metasomatic in origin. REE were probably transported as carbonate, fluoride or fluor-carbonate complexes, and reflect the activity of a F−-rich, CO2−3-rich fluid phase.

Two new occurrences of Zn-rich minerals are described from the SM6 lujavrite unit of the Motzfeldt alkaline centre, South Greenland. Zinc and beryllium complexes in the magma gave rise to the formation of interstitial grains of genthelvite (Zn4Be3Si3O12S), identified in samples by strong green cathodoluminescence. It is suggested that subsequent metasomatism leached Be from the genthelvite, giving rise to the formation of associated willemite (Zn2SiO4).