6. Guadeloupe comprises 2 main islands as shown. The two islands, Grande-Terre a

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6. Guadeloupe comprises 2 main islands as shown. The two islands, Grande-Terre and Basse- Terre are separated by a narrow channel. Basse-Terre is a volcanic massif; note the inactive (but still smouldering) volcano "la Souffrière with a height almost 1500 mASL. Given that, what do you expect the easterly island of Grande-Terre is composed of, and how was it formed? What differences would result between the two islands in terms of topography, climate, vegetation, agriculture etc. La Guadeloupe Pointe de la Grande Vigie Mer des Caraibes Port Louis Net à Cere Petit Cans Ber& Fajou Morne Moule Deshaies Grande Terre Abymes Noire te-à-Pitre Parc Nature Petit Pigeon Goyave les de la Pebite Tere Basse-Terre ·l'Mine a Soutnere Cepestere Bele Eau Océan Atlantique Basse-Terre An Agro friend of yours is an avid rock collector and amateur prospector who knows nothing about geology. He returns from his vacation with a bag of rocks that he was given by a local who plans to start an exploration company and is looking for investors-the rocks were given to your friend as proof of the mineral wealth waiting to be discovered. You see a dark shiny dense rock with what looks like some bornite (sulphide ore of copper), another sample of black brittle foliated schist with tiny specs of what looks like native gold. And the third sample looks suspiciously like quartz-rich granite. Where do you suspect each of the samples came from? Do you invest? If you did invest, where in Gualdeloupe would you look for each (and why)? Bonus Question] There is another smaller island, Marie-Galante - located about 30 km to the south of Grande-Terre. This island is made up of two distinct sections- each a plateau with a major valley separating them and cutting across the island. Describe (using small sketches as appropriate) the geologic processes that created this island and its current topography

Explanation / Answer

Guadeloupe proper (583 sq. mi.), is actually composed of two islands, Basse-Terre (364 sq. mi.) to the west and Grande-Terre (219 sq. mi.) to the east, separated by a mangrove swamp and a narrow tidal channel but linked by a bridge and a road over the swamp.

Grande Terre, closely adjoining on the east, 18 by 15 miles, 354 feet high, is described by Duchassaing as consisting chiefly of volcanic tuffs and marine limestones, raised above sea level and eroded into rolling hills of small relief. A section by Spencer shows the strata of the island dipping gently eastward, with low cliffs on the northeastern shore line where an emerged reef stands six or eight feet above the sea level. The limestone island of Désirade, one by six miles, 912 feet high, with steep sides and discontinuous fringing reefs, stands five miles farther east. A bank of late generation which occupies the northern bight between Guadeloupe and Grande Terre, where many discontinuous bank reefs are found, also extends eastward from the last-named island so as to surround Désirade; its border has the small depth of 20 or 30 fathoms.

Grande-Terre is very different. Formed of thick beds of limestone deposited on an ancient, eroded volcanic base, the island has a maximum elevation of about 400 feet, and its surface is generally level.
There are some coral reefs around both islands, especially Grande-Terre
Basse-Terre is high, rugged, and volcanic, second only to Dominica in elevation among the Lesser Antillean islands. The old volcanoes, which average almost 3000 feet in altitude, have been much eroded and are dissected by deep ravines. Mt. Soufrière (4867 feet), the highest, is apparently dying or dormant but has several fumaroles and hot sulphur springs. The coast line of Basse-Terre is varied, with great cliffs, swamps, sandy beaches, and numerous indentations, but no good harbors. Even at the town of Basse-Terre, the capital, ships must anchor off shore.

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