Ingahogg

SOAPSTONE QUARRY AT 1000 METRES ELEVATION

At nearly 1000 metres over sea level, on the north side of INGAHOGG mountain, the remains of a soapstone quarry have been discovered. It is said, according to the Sagas, that Inga collected the big soapstone that lies in front of the Åkra Church from here.

Soapstone is soft and easy to shape. Therefore it was a sought-after rock type in earlier times. It is a rather unusual rock type, but in association with the gabbro field in Sunnhordland, a lesser deposit is found that originates from the serpentine, which some places has been altered to soapstone.

In the quarry one sees evidence of the removal of pots and pans, but the soapstone from here has very probably also been used as net sinkers loom weights, casting moulds etc. Larger blocks were also carved out, but what one used them for, is unknown. The quarry at Ingahogg has not been investigated more closely. Therefore, we cannot date when it was in operation, but there probably has been quarrying going on here for a long time. In Kvinnherad there is also a soapstone quarry in Åkra and Rosendal. There may be other undiscovered quarries. If you want to hunt for one, it is best to look in association with the gabbro field.

Utsyn frå brotet mot nord. Knausane framme på biletet ligg innanfor brotområdet. Her kan ein finna spreidde hoggemerke etter uttak langs ei skrå hylle i fjellet. Hugs at klebersteinsbrot er freda fornminne – ikkje bruk kniv eller ta stein frå brotet. (Svein Nord)

I grunnfjellet frå Rosendal til Åkrafjorden strekkjer det seg eit fleire kilometer breitt belte av basiske bergartar. Geologane kallar gjerne denne sona gabbrobeltet, men ho inneheld òg mange andre bergartar. Dei er restar av Hordaland si jordskorpe for halvannan milliard år sidan. Bergartane er såleis eit vitnemål om den eldste delen av den geologiske utviklinga i Hordaland.

Urtidsjordskorpa vart i første rekkje danna av størkna jern- og magnesiumrike smelter frå djupet. Kva desse gabbrosmeltene trengde inn i, veit vi ikkje. Kanskje vart det danna heilt ny skorpe ved at den gamle rivna og vart dregen til sides. Seinare pressa granittsmelte seg inn i gabbroskorpa, slik at det berre er restane av den gamle skorpa vi no finn att.

Basaltgang som har trengt inn i gabbro. Slike basaltgangar er vanlege i gabbrobeltet. Frå Røynholm. (Haakon Fossen)

Ingahogg

See also

Places in muncipality