GEOLOGY of HâRN  1

Preface
Tracing the geological history of Harn is a paradoxical task. There is little reason to believe that the crea-
tors of Harn paid more than passing attention to geology as they mapped its contours and marked its features.
There are hints buried here and there of some small plans, but no trace of an organic whole. For the most part,
things are where they are on Harn for the simple reason that N. Robin Crossby liked them there.
Of course, the creator was artist enough to give Harn a patina of verisimilitude. For the person unfamiliar with
geology, the maps look real enough. It takes a skeptic’s eye to notice that the basic shapes and forms on Harn aren’t
quite right. There aren’t enough straight lines or any circles, the coastlines are too jagged, there is an odd lack of
canyons and promontories, the rivers and mountains are too similar. Harn just isn’t as strange as reality.
So why even attempt a project like this? The only honest reason is that it is an interesting challenge. What is
more natural than the intellectual desire to force order upon the unorderable? The absurdity of explaining the
arbitrary gives the project a peculiar appeal, at least for this author.
But there is a practical benefit. The data here - if accepted by the GM - can be used to posit the results of
prospecting, or to help describe gargun complexes, or provide a justification for an ancient edifice. Small de-
tails may have surprising ramifications in any game.
The basic premise of this project is simple - all the processes described here are well documented real
world phenomena. Every feature has been explained as the result of processes that are known to occur in the
real world. In addition, common features are explained by common processes, and rare processes are invoked
only rarely. The result should seem reasonable and familiar to a modern geologist.
The primary clues used to solve this puzzle were the topography, landform descriptions in canon, and mines.
The topography is the trickiest to evaluate. Both the Kelestia and the Columbia maps were used, and these maps
have subtle differences. Both maps have their limitations. The Columbia maps provide very little information
on contours and elevation. The Kelestia map has more topographical hints, but the process used to create the
map obscures a lot of details. For example, mountain valleys are monotonously alike, which makes it impossible
to know whether the valleys were shaped by glaciers. The Kelestia map does have more detail, and is also more
refined, as new ideas can be seen in the map that clearly are missing from the older maps.
There are only a handful of passages in canon that address geology, notably in the Azadmere and Kiraz
articles. The most interesting canon element is the karst landscape of Misyn. In fact it’s the central riddle of
Harn - why is the very center of Harn built from seafloor sediments?
Very rarely, canon descriptions were simply too far off-base to consider as true. For these, the canon
descriptions were taken as being the common interpretation of Harnic scholars, rather than the literal truth.
Only the most egregious errors were treated this way, and they are clearly described as such in the text.
The mines are perhaps the most important element of all. They are widespread, and in places seem scat-
tered at random. Ores that are rarely found together in the real world are juxtaposed with abandon on Harn.
Explaining the mineral lodes presents incredible challenges, and where we occasionally demand a leap of faith,
it is inevitably to explain an oddly placed mine.
Absolutely no attempt was made to consider any fanon literature.
One process that was invoked but rarely was meteor impacts. As cliche as these have become in fantasy
worlds, there is evidence for exactly one of them here, and it was minor. Lake Benath is often discussed as a
candidate, but the central valley is far from circular. It looks nothing like a real-world impact. A more plausible
candidate is the Denia Marshes, which are smaller and more roughly circular. However, it is still not nearly
as circular as we should expect and the rim not well defined. The explanation offered here has three advan-
tages. It better matches the topography of the Denia Marshes, it explains the unique broad valley extending
to the southeast of the marshes, and it provides for more interesting gaming, as the Denia Marshes now have a
unique geological composition analogous to Yellowstone National Park.
Inevitably there will be disagreement and alternative explanations for almost every statement made here. The
same is true in real world geology, where almost nothing can be stated without controversy. The only way to adju-
dicate such arguments is through careful field research, for which, unfortunately, grant money is hard to come by.

HârnWorld © 2013 N. Robin Crossby & pokep.

 GEOLOGY of HâRN  2
Part One: Geological Units
As with any land mass, Harn can be divided into a number of geological units. Each unit arose from a
different sequence of processes, often from different base materials, and are marked by distinctive minerals
and geological formations. The classification detailed here is a relatively coarse analysis. More detailed study
might allow finer distinctions, and in turn, allow more units to be identified. Thus the contents of each unit
should not be considered completely homogeneous, nor should the borders between them be interpreted as
hard and absolute.

Alluvial Sedimentary Units

The largest portion of Harn consists mostly of sedimentary rocks formed from material eroded from the
several mountain zones. While a great amount of variation occurs, in general the sedimentary rock tends to be
more finely grained and contain more calcite the farther from the central sources. Areas closer to the center of
Harn have sandier, more quartz-rich stone. Gravel is prevalent in the flood plains of ancient rivers, so grit-
stones and conglomerates mark the path of the ancient Thard, Kald, and northwestern rivers.
These units contain few exploitable minerals. A few placer deposits exist where heavy minerals have erod-
ed from mountain lodes, but these are usually poor quality. They are important mostly as a pointer to better
deposits in the higher units. The main exception is the iron deposits along the floodplain of the ancient Thard,
which include the remarkable Hikun Mines.

© 2013 N. Robin Crossby & pokep. HârnWorld

 GEOLOGY of HâRN  3
Complex Central Highlands
The central mountains have a complex origin, and were formed through several different processes. They
began as underwater strata formed when Harn was a shallow sea. Thick layers of limestone, chalk, and dolo-
mite were deposited over a sea bottom consisting of ancient rock. These layers were thrust up to form the
early central highlands, and then largely eroded away. The unit then went through a period of volcanic activ-
ity. Magma reached the surface through numerous fissures, rebuilding the mountains. In some places magma
failed to reach the surface and cooled slowly underneath, forming granite masses. The volcanic activity even-
tually petered out, and the region is now marked by erosion – especially glacial action.
The complex processes that formed these units also created a variety of mineral sources. During the vol-
canic period, hot water percolating through the porous stone concentrated minerals in specific locations. This
process created the spectacular Kiraz deposits – certainly the richest on Harn. Minerals were also concentrated
through the slow differential cooling of magmas, and many exploitable lodes are associated with the gran-
ite intrusions. Deep in the roots of the mountains, exploitable banded iron deposits are found in the ancient
undersea sediments that underlay the entire island. Finally, erosion has created placer deposits in some valleys
within the unit.
The unit is composed of innumerable varieties of stone. Most distinctive are the various marbles formed
where limestone and other carbonates came in close contact with hot magmas. The region is also famous for
its granites. Basalt and limestone are common, but countless varieties of rocks and minerals are scattered
through the region.

Non-Volcanic Central Highlands

This unit consists of those portions of the central highlands that did not experience significant volcanic
activity. They consist almost entirely of carbonaceous sediments over ancient sedimentary rock, and are highly
faulted and eroded. More recent sedimentary formations are common in the ancient valleys.

Mixed Central Alluvial Units

The origin of these units started with the same uplift of undersea sediments that formed the Central High-
lands. But these areas were at a lower elevation, and thus faced less erosion and were themselves covered with
alluvial sediments. Much of these areas were underwater, at least for some of their history, and in that time
they were further covered with silt and clay sediments.
Slicing through these units would reveal a comparatively well preserved set of layers. Deep below are the
primordial sediments that underlay all of Harn. Above them, and occasionally reaching the surface, are the
carbonaceous rocks that formed in the shallow Harnic Sea. Where these sediments are at the surface caves and
sinkholes are common. But mostly these areas are covered by a moderate layer of more recent sediments –
mostly siltstones and claystones, but coarser stone is not uncommon.
These units offer a few exploitable resources, but are generally less productive than nearby units that have
been subjected to a greater variety and intensity of geological processes. Banded iron formations in the deep-
est layers are rarely exposed, and water action occasionally concentrates minerals in the porous carbonaceous
layer, but such deposits are limited in value.

Hefiosa Uplift
This unit was created by a relatively recent secondary uplift within a section of central Harn. It consists
mostly of granites, with an eroded upper layer of carbonaceous rock and some alluvial sediments. Iron de-
posits in the region are limited to the alluvial sediments – they are bog iron washed down from the prehistoric
Benath Basin. Tin and mica are the direct result of the granitic activity, while salt and gypsum are mined from
remnants of an ancient salt flat.
The region is also notable for the scablands created by ice age floods. Steep-sided dry canyons mark the
area. The bottom of these canyons are lined with stony and gravelly debris and sandbars – the size of the
debris indicates the speed of the floodwaters that deposited them. Apparently there were several floods – most
through the Thard Canyon and the gap between the Pech and Imris Rivers.

HârnWorld © 2013 N. Robin Crossby & pokep.

 GEOLOGY of HâRN  4
Misyn Karst
This units marks where the carbonaceous sediments of the central uplift are thickest and best preserved.
Early in the uplift period this unit collapsed into a deep graben valley. With its lower relative elevation the lime-
stone was not subject to the severe erosion that removed much of the similar sediments from the surrounding
mountains. While some sediments have covered parts of the region, the thick limestone is fully exposed over a
wide part of the region, and only thinly covered anywhere.
This is a karst landscape. Since limestone is relatively soluble, water action readily dissolves caves and
sinkholes within its mass. These caves are often spectacular, with abundant stalactites, stalagmites, and water
features. Some minerals are concentrated by the water action, although few are commercially important.

Peripheral Uplifts
Among the more recent events in the geologic history of Harn is the uplifting in peripheral regions that
brought shallow sea floor sediments above sea level. Perforating these soft sediments are granite masses, the
margins of which often contain valuable minerals. In some areas, such as Melderyn Isle, there is little to no
granite, and the bedrock is entirely sedimentary. The softer materials tends to be easily eroded, forming round-
ed hills with light, porous soils. Thus much of these areas are rolling heathland
Two main kinds of sediments predominate in these units. Most common are chalks, but sandstone are
found in the areas that were closer to the prehistoric shores – that is, the portions that are now inland. None of
these sediments host much in the way of exploitable minerals. In a few places bog iron deposits have formed
in prehistoric swamps, providing some ores of modest value.

Anadel Granites
It may be that uplifts in southeastern Harn are related to the large granitic intrusions that form the spine of
the Anadel Highlands. Over most of the region the granite is covered by the same carbonaceous sediments
that dominate the surrounding unit, but where the granite is near enough to the surface to be mined some of
the most productive tin and copper orebodies on Harn are found. Granite is formed by magmatic material that
cools while still under the surface, and if a large mass cools slowly, different chemicals precipitate from the
magma solution at different levels of concentration. The precipitating minerals are thus concentrated in zones
which can be profitably exploited. The best example is are the mines of the Kenmusi Downs, Birenshire, which
tap into highly mineralized granites from this unit.
The distinction between the Anadel Granites and the neighboring Uplift Unit described previously is one of
proportion rather than type. The two units are very similar, but the Anadel Region has a greater proportion of
granite mass to sedimentary material.

Telumar Sediments
This unit is similar to the Alluvial Sedimentary Units that dominate Harn, but were subjected to uplift in
the relatively recent epoch. Like the larger units, it consists mostly of fine-grain sedimentary rock, fringed by
sandstone in former coastal areas. Underneath are carbonaceous sediments. The region is pocked by granitic
intrusions, perhaps related to the uplifting process. Where these intrusions are exposed are some of the most
productive orebodies on the island.
The heat from the intrusions also transformed some of the sedimentary rocks. In a few places the deeper
carbonaceous material was transformed to talc and soapstone. Elsewhere, terrestrial sediments were trans-
formed to slate. But most of the mining activity involves porphyric deposits created directly within the granite.

Kaldor and Anoth Depressions

The broad swath of lowlands that lay between the mountain ranges were formed by the relative movement
of the three main blocks. This motion has stretched the crust between the blocks, creating the lowlands in
between much like pulling taffy thins it out. Where the stretching was the greatest – southern Kaldor and the
Anoth Delta, the land is lowest. Northern Kaldor, in contrast, saw much less deformation and remains gener-
ally higher.
Geologically, the region consists mostly of alluvial sediments eroded from the mountain blocks. The sedi-
mentary layers also include a substantial quantity of volcanic ash, blown over the area from the central volca-
noes.

© 2013 N. Robin Crossby & pokep. HârnWorld

 GEOLOGY of HâRN  5
The region also features substantial banded iron formations. These deposits were created on the ancient
sea bed by the precipitation of iron from the water, a process that is believed to be due to fluctuations in the
oxygen content. They were covered by carbonaceous rocks when Harn was still under water, then lifted into
place early in Harn’s history as an island. In parts of Kaldor where the stretching and erosion has exposed this
ancient sea floor, these hard, red-striped rocks are an important source of iron ore.
The region is relatively mineral-poor, but Kaldor hosts one of Harn’s more unusual ore-bearing formations.
Early in Harn’s prehistory, much of Kaldor was apparently a large lagoon. Salt deposits accumulated in the
slowly shrinking bay, which were buried by terrestrial sediments as the Harnic mountains grew. The stretch-
ing of the region brought those salt deposit close enough to the surface to be mined in a few places in central
Kaldor.
A few volcanoes exist in the region, and some mineral deposits are associated with them. The most impor-
tant by far is Mount Tanir, described below.

Kathela Volcanic Plateau

This unit is dominated by a thousand-foot thick layer of basalt, erupted from a swarm of volcanoes scat-
tered through the region. The eruptions were recent enough that they have only begun to erode, and whatever
sediments lay underneath are unknowable to Kethiran science. The region is mineral-poor, though obsidian is
common and useful to gargun and iron-poor barbarians.

Tuleme Basalts
In this region, the deepest observable layer is a set of flood basalts similar to the Kathela Flows, but incom-
parably older. Over this layer alluvial sediments have accumulated, but the deeper basalts are visible in the
river canyons and cliffs. This region is mineral-poor.

Sorkin Core Region

One of the most complex units on Harn, the Sorkin Mountains were formed by a combination of uplift,
volcanism, and accretion. Because of the complexity, the map can provide only a general indication of the
interrelationships within this region.
The Sorkin Mountains were originally created by the uplift of sub-sea sediments. The upper chalk sedi-
ments were not nearly as thick as the limestones that are found in central Harn, which means that the siltier
sediments below them are more prominent in the mountains. A second period of volcanism built the western
spine of the Sorkin range, and incidental activity in the central region created rich epithermal deposits of silver
at Azadmere, while porphyric deposits of copper and other minerals were created in granitic intrusions nearby.
This activity also transformed chalk into useful soapstone and talc, deposits of which can also be found within
the Azadmere mines. And nearby, erosion has revealed banded iron formations in the deepest primordial sedi-
ments. While the Azadmere mines are not as rich as the Kiraz deposits, they are unmatched in the variety of
useful minerals available.

Sorkin Volcanic Region

The movement that created the Kaldor Depression also created weaknesses in the crust, which resulted
in a zone of volcanic activity stretching along the eastern margin of the region. These eruptions created the
western Sorkin Mountains and their foothills reaching deep into Kaldor and Nuthela.
Beneath these volcanoes are the metamorphosed remains of the older sediments. Glaciation exposed some
of these remnants, creating the spectacular cliffs and valleys around Lake Arain. Relatively few minerals are
found within these hard strata.

Sorkin Accretion Zone

As the Lythian Plate slowly moves east it occasionally bulldozes over seamounts and islands tethered to
the oceanic plate. The material of these islands survive as terranes on the coast of Harn, mostly in the Sorkin
Mountains. Keron Island is destined to be incorporated into Harn eventually, and its material will either be
subducted to be recycled as igneous rock, or it will form a new terrane.

HârnWorld © 2013 N. Robin Crossby & pokep.

 GEOLOGY of HâRN  6
Within the Sorkin Mountains, the terranes are mixed with the native rock of the Sorkin Core. Most of the
terranes consist of basalts, and useful mineral deposits are rare. But not all seamounts and islands are volca-
noes, and other, more exotic terranes do exist in the region.

Keron Island
Keron is the highly eroded remnant of a hot spot volcano. It was probably the oldest of a small chain
stretching to the northwest. The rest have been incorporated into the Sorkin Mountain terranes. The volcano
has been dead for quite some time, and the island has eroded to the point that it is difficult to discern its ori-
gins. The small islands nearby are probably the products of side vents from the same hotspot.

Jahl Mountains
The Jahl Mountains have some of the most spectacular scenery yet the most straightforward geology. Like
the early central highlands and Sorkin Mountains, the Jahl were created by the uplift of underwater sedi-
ments. However, the uplifting process has been far more continuous, and volcanism has not been a feature of
the region. However, some granites have been created where cracks in the basic sediments opened paths for
magmatic intrusion.
Most of the carbonaceous sediments that are so prevalent elsewhere on Harn have long since eroded away,
although pockets remain, including some small metamorphosed bodies of soapstone. Most of the exposed
mountains are shales and slates from the deeper ocean sediments, including some banded iron formations rich
enough to mine. A few granite masses punctuate the region.

Exotic Volcanoes
There are several remarkable volcanoes on Harn worth special attention as geologic units. In Kaldor, the
Taniran Hills are the ice-carved remnants of the extinct Mount Tanir. The region is notable for its mineral
riches. Geologically the Taniran basalts sit on top of common sedimentary bedrock, and the numerous cracks
in the bedrock are filled with igneous material. The percolation of hot water through these cracks has con-
centrated valuable minerals as veins. A similar volcano exists in northern Rethem, near Bedenes, and is also
mined. While Mount Taniran is certainly extinct, the status of the Rethemi volcano is uncertain.
The Denia Hotspot Volcano is an extinct hotspot that left a trail of basalts through northern Rethem. Geo-
logically, the unit consists of thick layers of basalt and tuff that bury the sedimentary substrate too deep to be
recognized. The Denia Marsh region has been profoundly affected by water action, which has created a geo-
logical wonderland of exotic sulphates.

© 2013 N. Robin Crossby & pokep. HârnWorld

 GEOLOGY of HâRN  7
Part Two: Geohistory
Early Period
Primordial Harn
Harn sits at the periphery of the Western Lythian Plate. Contrary to common intuition, it is structurally
part of the continent, and has held roughly the same position relative to the nearby mainland for millions of
years. However, it was not always an island. For most of prehistory, the region was a shallow sea.
During its long time underwater, clay and silty sediments accumulated – in some places over a thousand
feet thick. In these ancient time, the oxygen content of the ocean fluctuated considerably, and as it did, dis-
solved iron was forced to precipitate onto the sea floor. This created bands of iron-rich sediments, which
would eventually become the iron deposits of Kaldor.
In later periods the flora of the ocean evolved and the sediments being accumulated changed. The micro-
scopic shells of diatoms and other tiny creatures fell to the bottom to form carbonaceous deposits. And as the
central portions of the area rose close enough to the surface, reefs appeared. These reefs created the limestone
seen today in Misyn, as well as the famed marble of Kiraz. (Kethira must have been substantially warmer dur-
ing this period of time, for coral to thrive at this latitude.)

Early Uplift and Salt Formations

For reasons unknowable, the crust under Harn began to rise in three large areas. It isn’t clear that all three
regions rose at the same time, but it is clear that sections of Central Harn, Eastern Harn, and Northern Harn
experienced major uplifts and made Harn into an island. Outside these three areas a lesser amount of uplift
brought additional land above sea level, creating an island recognizable as Harn.

HârnWorld © 2013 N. Robin Crossby & pokep.

 GEOLOGY of HâRN  8
Early in this period, it is clear that portions of what is now Kaldor and Tharda were large lagoons or coastal
flats. Within these areas sea water repeatedly entered and evaporated, leaving substantial salt and gypsum
deposits behind. Eventually these flats would be buried and thus preserved to be mined by modern Harnians.

Benath Graben
The largest part of the uplift occurred in Central Harn. Here the uplift was so great that it collapsed at its
apex. A section twenty miles wide and two hundred miles long fell like a souffle, creating an enormous graben
valley. At this time the valley did not house a lake. Instead it was amply drained by a west-flowing river.
Since this area was also the region where the coral reefs had been thickest, the bottom of this valley – and
the tops of the surrounding mountains – were predominately formed of limestone. Today this limestone sur-
vives intact only in the karst region of Misyn.

Alluvial Expansion
The uplifted regions were capped mostly by relatively soft carbonaceous deposits – limestone and chalk –
which quickly eroded. Somewhat slower to erode were the iron-rich sediments from the earlier epochs. These
sediments were carried to the lowlands and shallow waters, forming large alluvial plains ringing the uplifted
highlands.
The largest plains radiated from the largest uplifts, and eventually the entire region from the Afarazir Islands
to the islands of the Gulf of Chakro was built up into a terrestrial landmass. To the east, however, relatively
little land was formed, indicating that the sea was deeper in that direction.

Tuleme Lava Flows

At some time during this early period, a large but thin flow of lava spread across the region around the
modern Chelna Gap. The flow was probably created by a swarm of volcanoes that were created by magma
penetrating crustal rock cracked and weakened by the uplift. Because of the thin viscosity of the lava, the
volcanoes did not grow very high and today are unrecognizable.
The flow, however, had a profound effect on the modern topography of the region. The hard basalt covers
a layer of much softer sedimentary rock, which doesn’t resist erosion with the same tenacity. As a result, cliffs
and canyons are prevalent in the region, as seen in the falls of the Wend and Kald rivers and the numerous is-
lands in the lower Kald that have resisted eroding away. All of these features are formed from the hard basalts.

© 2013 N. Robin Crossby & pokep. HârnWorld

 GEOLOGY of HâRN  9
Second Period
Central Mountain Building
The massive uplifting and the collapse of the central highlands into the Benath Graben inevitably weakened
the crust in the central region. This allowed magmas to penetrate the region. In some places these magmas
failed to reach the surface, and cooled slowly under the surface to create masses of granite. In some places the
magma reached the surface to create volcanoes.
In this period most of the Felsha and Rayesha peaks become recognizable. The volcanism was strongest
in the northeastern region, at the head of the graben, and along the northern edge of the graben. The volcan-
ism was weaker on the southern edge, and weakest along the southwestern quadrant. These areas were less
stretched by the original uplift, and the crust was less deformed in that direction.
Besides creating new rock and thus building the region even higher, the presence of the hot magma and
the pressure created by the new layer of surface basalt had a profound impact on the older sedimentary lay-
ers present in the region. Some of the older stone was metamorphosed – most remarkable is the creation of
marble from limestone. Hot water created by the magma and percolating through the permeable sandstone
dissolved minerals in the sedimentary rock and concentrated them in areas where the water cooled or escaped.
The concentrated ‘epithermal’ mineral deposits include ores of silver, copper, lead, zinc, and even gold. By far
the most important of these deposits is at Kiraz, but lesser deposits are hidden throughout the region.
The volcanoes are long extinct, and most have been eroded well past the point where they are easily identi-
fied as such. The resulting geological map is now a confusion combination of surface basalts, granite masses
that have been exposed by erosion, old sedimentary rock – mostly sand and limestone, with some seafloor
sediments that originated below the limestone layer – and metamorphic rock where where the sedimentary
rock came in contact with the igneous.
For much of this time Lake Benath was a marshy, lake-dotted valley. This environment was conducive to the
formation of bog iron, and much of this material was swept down the proto-Thard River in occasional floods.
They are found today in the rich iron deposits of Hikun and the Imrium Downs. These lodes are particularly
easy to exploit, as the iron ore is available in easily mined soft sediments.

Kald and Anoth Spreading

The reasons for the relative movement of the three main regions of Harn are obscure – it may be linked to
the uplifting process that created the island. But whatever the reason, the regions that are now the Jahl and
Sorkin Mountains moved away from the central highlands, stretching the crust between them like taffy. These
regions fell to form modern Nuthela and Kaldor.

Early Rivers
In this period the great rivers of Harn become traceable. The Thard is the hardest to trace. It certainly did
not follow its current route in the upper portions – it probably followed roughly the course of the Pech, judg-
ing from the mineral deposits found in that region. The lower portions of the Thard River changed course
frequently over the millenia. At times the mouth of the Thard was as far north as Shostim, and its possible that
it might have wandered as far south as roughly Selvos during this period. In these lower portions, any useful
minerals in the sediments would have been dispersed too broadly to be exploitable today.
The Kald followed a course significantly to the west of its current location. At that time, the region that is
now the Gulf of Chakro was dry land, and the Kald likely flowed right through it. In its middle reaches – what
is now the the Kald Estuary and further upstream, the Kald carved a substantial canyon through the hard
basalts of the Tuleme Lava Flows. The Kald still flows through the lower section of this canyon – each of the
numerous islands in that section is capped by a block of erosion-resistant basalt. The modern Kald enters that
ancient canyon at Tuleme Falls. Those falls have moved many times over the ages, as the channel tends to
silt up over time and the swamps above the falls are effectively a delta. The Wend enters the canyon about 10
leagues upstream. Above the Wend the canyon is now filled with sediments.
Southern Kaldor was drained to the east by a river system than can still be traced, though it has changed
dramatically. At this time the Anadel Highlands had not yet been uplifted, and the upper Osel drained to the
west into what is now the Onden River. At that time the Onden flowed directly to the sea - later it would be
diverted south, into the Horka.

HârnWorld © 2013 N. Robin Crossby & pokep.

 GEOLOGY of HâRN  10
The Anoth River was a major watercourse at this time, and the Anoth Delta was already growing well into
the eastern sea.

Anrist Hitch
Throughout the geological history of Harn, the entire continental plate that Harn rides upon was moving
slowly to the east. This motion is created by the spreading of the seafloor between Lythia and Kamerand, and
is responsible for many of Lythia’s most important mountain ranges. But Harn itself has generally ridden along
peacefully, far from the plate margins where the most violent activity occurs.
However, Harn has collided into various seamounts and islands, incorporating them into its eastern mar-
gins. The most prominent of these collisions built much of the Sorkin Mountains and the rugged terrain
between those mountains and the sea. The victim of this bulldozing was a chain of extinct hotspot volcanoes,
the oldest of which is Keron Island. Material from these islands is now part of the jumble that is the Eastern
Sorkins, and Anrist Point is a basalt remnant of one of these volcanoes.
But the islands did not take easily to this treatment. They pushed back on Harn, causing the motion of the
island to change. A “hitch” in the motion was created, which can be seen in the shape of the Kaldor Depres-
sion. The Sorkin Mountains swiveled from their previous north-south orientation, allowing southern Kaldor to
stretch more widely than the north.

© 2013 N. Robin Crossby & pokep. HârnWorld

 GEOLOGY of HâRN  11
Third Period
Peripheral Uplifts
In the relatively recent past, a second phase of uplifts occurred around much of the perimeter of Harn.
The cause of this uplift is obscure, but might be attributed to a weakening of the crust due to the stretching and
stresses caused by earlier uplifts. This uplift was substantially less dramatic than the earlier mountain-forming
epoch, and of a very different nature. Whereas the original uplift process effectively blew Harn up like a bub-
ble, these later processes were marked by numerous granite intrusions. This later process expanded the island’s
extent in several directions.
The largest of the five major uplift zones was in southeastern Harn, and it brought Melderyn up from under
the sea and built the hills of Anadel. A second major zone was in northwestern Harn, and created the Obodu
Hills of Peran and the Mirath Islands. The third zone was in the southwest, and lifted Anfla Island and much of
what is now the Ternu Heath and Cape Gemal. The fourth was an east-west wrinkle that lifted the Tirsa Islands
and western Rethem into place. The fifth uplift created the Hefiosa, and is treated in a separate section.
In all of these regions the uplift was driven by granitic intrusions, which both created new bedrock material
and also lifted the covering material higher. This older material consisted of weak carbonaceous stone, easily
eroded away. Thus in many areas the process was a race between the land-creation process of uplift and the
land-destroying process of wave erosion. Where the uplift was the stronger force substantial hills resulted, but
elsewhere the uplift was eroded into islands, or even lost entirely under the sea.
In most areas the granitic intrusions remained well below the surface, but in a few areas where it penetrated
higher it had important effects. The heat of the intruding magmas metamorphosed neighboring chalk and
limestone, creating talc, soapstone, and (rarely) marble. In addition, it also created important tin and copper
deposits, and many of Harn’s most important mining regions exploit minerals at the margins of the granitic
intrusions.

Sorkin Volcanoes
The incorporation of the Keron Seamount Chain into the Sorkin region had a secondary effect on the
region. Some of the seamount material was subducted under the island, creating a pool of magma which
emerged in a volcanic zone about a hundred miles inland. This zone stretched from Nuthela to Tontury Lake,
built up the western Sorkin Mountains, and created the rugged foothills that separates Azadmere from the
Kingdom of Kaldor. The magma source is now apparently depleted, but inevitably will be replenished when
Keron Island itself is finally bulldozed by the slowly moving island.

Kathela Basalts
The final paroxysm of the volcanism in the central mountains created a large swarm of small, low-lying
shield volcanoes in the western Kald Basin. The likely cause was the weakening of the crust in the region due
to the spreading activity that created the basin. The result is the Kathela Hills – a large hummocky plateau.
The flows went right over the bed of the Kald River, forcing it to its current location, which closely follows
the edge of the flows. This in turn created the Tuleme Marsh and waterfall.

Kaldor Volcanoes
While the Kathela Basalts are by far the most prominent volcanic feature of the region, other smaller volca-
noes dot the Kald Basin. These volcanoes are all small – few, in fact, are even recognizable. But they have had
an important impact on the region, as many of Kaldor’s mines exploit ores concentrated by volcanic or epither-
mal action. The volcanoes were formed by small magma sources finding weaknesses in the bedrock caused by
the valley spreading.

Tontury Lake and the Osel River

It isn’t obvious why Tontury Lake should drain in such a roundabout way – bypassing the seemingly easier
route through Vemionshire in favor of the hilly Upper Osel. In fact, it required two rivers to reverse course to
create this unusual drainage system
The uplift of the Anadel region also affected the topography of the Kald Basin. Before the uplift, the Ton-
tury region was a lowland stretching towards Telumar and drained to the Sea of Ivae. The Upper Osel region

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 GEOLOGY of HâRN  12

also drained into the same river system that ran through Telumar. As the region around Telumar rose, the Osel
River reversed course and the valley lost its drainage. Eventually the fork of the Osel River that had formerly
drained the Upper Osel region to the east also reversed course, providing the valley with a way to drain to the
west instead. Thus the Ilme-Osel river system took its modern form. But the new drainage system is substan-
tially higher than the old drainage system, transforming the formerly well-drained valley into a lake and swamp.

Hefiosa and Lake Benath

The fifth major uplift in this epoch was comparatively dramatic and compact. The Hefiosa Hills emerged
from the bottom of the Benath Valley to rapidly form a massive plateau. The process was driven by a mass of
granitic intrusions, much of which is exposed in the canyons of the region. Today the region consists of a layer
of sedimentary rock laying upon a broad igneous base.
As the Hefiosa rose, the Thard River repeatedly changed course to avoid it, but it inevitably lost the battle
to drain the valley. The lakes and marshes of the Benath Basin slowly merged into a single massive lake. At this
time the lake was still significantly smaller than today, as the Felsha Mountains hemmed it in more tightly on
the southern edge.

Denia Hotspot
Probably unrelated to the uplifting was the development of a hotspot volcano northwest of Menekai. As
Harn slowly moved southeast, the hotspot stayed anchored to the deeper core and thus slowly moved north-
west relative to Harn’s surface. It left behind a trail of basalt and a twenty-plus mile wide valley. The hotspot
finally petered out after moving over fifty miles, and created a large, shallow caldera. The later action of water
and ice leveled the caldera floor, creating the Denia Marshes. The volcano is now dormant – probably extinct.
The marshes surely conceal some of Harn’s most interesting geology, and chances are excellent that a variety
of interesting minerals are hidden there.

© 2013 N. Robin Crossby & pokep. HârnWorld

 GEOLOGY of HâRN  13
The valley marking the volcano’s trail is a common
feature of hotspots. The interior of the path behind a
hotspot tends to collapse, leaving twin ridges on each
side. But the Denia path is unusual because for much of
its length the valley flows towards the terminal caldera.
Originally the valley flowed away from the caldera,
which is normally the highest point on the path. But the
topology apparently changed during the ice age, when
the valley was covered by an extension of the Tirpal Ice
Sheet. When the ice melted it left a plethora of lakes
in the central segment of the valley, which was now its
highest point.
About forty miles to the west another volcano
erupted, near Bedenes. This volcano is also dormant,
and may or may not be related to the hotspot.

The hotspot probably is not related to the Peran Uplift - the Denia Caldera is fairly recent, and if the hotspot
is still active it must be fairly nearby. It is more plausible that the hotspot was related to the Hefiosa Uplift, but
the evidence is inconclusive.

Ice Ages
Glaciation
The history of glaciation on Harn is most plainly seen in the fjords of Orbaal. The number of glacial cycles
is unknown, but it is plain that during the glacial maxima sea level was substantially lower. The Orbaalese gla-
ciers were thus able to scour valleys deep into what is now underwater. When the sea level rose, these valleys
were largely flooded, creating the watery fjords seen today.
Glaciers also deepened valleys in Harn’s other mountain ranges. Perhaps the most prominent glacial feature
is Lake Myen, in the foothills of the Felsha Mountains. The lake is dammed by a glacial moraine – the mass of
gravel and boulders bulldozed into place by the front edge of the glacier, then left behind as the glacier melted.
Direna Lake in the other side of the Felsha Mountains has a similar origin. Lake Arain in the Sorkin Mountains
probably existed before the ice age, but it certainly was deepened by glacial action. Most glacial features, how-
ever, are comparatively subtle, and it is difficult to determine the full extent of glacial ice.
In addition to the glaciers that carved the mountains, at least four major ice sheets were created in the cold,
wet climate of the glacial period. The ice sheets formed wherever snow could accumulate faster than it could
melt and drain, which was the case in the relatively flat basins and plains. Ice sheets do not move like glaciers,
and their effects on the topography can be subtle. However, in three areas they had a profound impact.
Before the glacial period, the Sea of Tirpal was a broad sedimentary plain. The pressure of the ice sheet
that built up in this wet region compressed the soil and bedrock to the point that when the ice melted and the
sea level returned to normal, most of the region was now submerged. The outer perimeter of the ice sheet
was affected less, and the coastal plain survives in the Afarazir Islands. The same phenomenon inundated what
is now Jarin Bay and turned Kereva from a peninsula into an island.

Lake Benath
Glacial action had a profound effect on Lake Benath and the hills around its southern margin. Before the
glacial epoch Lake Benath was substantially smaller – constrained on its southern edge by an extension of
the Felsha Mountains. These southern mountains were the site of the thickest and most active ice flows on
Harn. The region still receives more precipitation than most of Harn, and the moderate temperatures in the
area made the glaciers more volatile and erosive. As a result the mountains were ground down to a level which,
when the ice sheet finally retreated, was below the level of the lake. A few islands and promontories remain
above water to hint at the submerged mountain landscape.
As the ice melted, Lake Benath was reborn as a much larger lake. Lake level was substantially higher than
it is today, and its spillways were repeatedly blocked by ice dams. The lake found several different spillways be-
sides the modern Thard. The most obvious was the Pech-Imris route, but at least one other canyon in the He-

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 GEOLOGY of HâRN  14

fiosa was the drain for a time, and various canyons in Athul were created by the icy lake waters. The ice dams
that formed intermittently across the heads of the Thard and Pech Rivers often broke suddenly, released enor-
mous floods that carved the Thard Valley and numerous cliffs and canyon in the Hefiosa. These watercourses
are marked by gravel deposits, seemingly inexplicable cliffs, dry canyons, and boulder fields. And throughout
the entire floodplain of the Thard as far as its mouth, large boulders as large as wagons are sometimes found –
carried there by rafts of ice.

Glacial Features
While the fjords of Orbaal and the deep valleys and moraine lakes of the high mountains are well-known
glacial features, there are other places where the ice shaped the landscape. Across the Farin from Mount Put-
est is a 200 square mile region dotted with hundreds of lakes – the site of a small ice sheet. The Denia Caldera
was leveled and transformed into a swampland by a tongue of the Tirpal Sheet. Similar, smaller lake-dotted
districts exist in Nuthela, Equeth, and Peran.

Peran Impact Event

Recently – geologically speaking – Peran was hit by a
large meteor which left an impact crater about five miles in
diameter. The crater is still plainly evident as an ring of hills
surrounding a slightly domed plain.

© 2013 N. Robin Crossby & pokep. HârnWorld

 GEOLOGY of HâRN  15
Part Three: Survey of Mines
It should be noted that many mines produce more than one mineral, and the labels on the map only show
the ore of the greatest importance from each site. Not all mines are equal – the most productive are major
industrial operations employing a hundred or more miners, while the least are scarcely more than pits visited
a few times a year by a local work crew. And mines eventually are exhausted, and we can only guess at the
scores of mines that no longer merit inclusion on the maps.

Kaldor
Kaldor has a variety of mines spread broadly across the region. The scattered geography suggests that no
mining region is particularly rich, and probably few of Kaldor’s mines would be competitive with the mines of
other regions were Kaldor less isolated.
The main exception is salt, which is mined in deposits ranging from the edge of the Oselmarch to Mesely-
neshire to Vemionshire. All of these mines tap the same halite deposit created when Harn was just emerging
from the sea. Wherever geology has conspired to bring the deposit close to the surface the halite is mined.
Tin and copper (and rarely, lead) are found in small quantities in Meselynshire and Vemionshire. The
original ores are associated with igneous intrusions, and very low grade ores are common across Kaldor. Only
where percolating groundwater has concentrated the minerals by dissolving, moving, and then depositing them
again are the ores rich enough to be mined profitably. This “supergene” process has only been active in a hand-
ful of locations.
More dramatic are the epithermal deposits associated with volcanism in the Taniran Hills around the Thel-
shire-Oselshire border. The region is dominated by an enormous shield volcano, and where the magma cooled
underground important minerals were concentrated. These minerals were further concentrated by the action
of hot water, dissolving and then redepositing the minerals as it percolated on the margins of the igneous activ-
ity. The volcano is long extinct, but dotted around a twenty mile radius are ore bodies containing lead, silver,
copper, and tin. Several are exploited today, and many more have been played out over Kaldor’s long history.
Kaldor’s other important mining district is the Lonemor iron mines of northern Balimshire. These mines
tap iron deposits created when Harn was still a shallow sea. Faulting in the region has exposed these deposits
along ridges in the hilly area. Similar orebodies are exposed in eastern Thelshire and near Kobing. All of these
mines are virtually inexhaustible, but require hard rock breaking to exploit and are poorly located. In metal-
poor Kaldor, though, they are of critical importance.
Kaldor’s famous salt mines have had an unfortunate impact on the region’s metallurgic resources. The vast
alkaline deposits have ensured that most of Kaldor’s soils are neutral or alkaline. Kaldor has several marshes
but few true bogs, and the lack of acidity inhibits bog iron formation. Nowhere in Kaldor is bog iron found in
enough quantity to be of more than local interest.

Thardic Republic
The Thardic Republic is a mineral powerhouse among Harnic states. Most famous are the silver deposits of
the Hefiosa and Pech Valley. These are alluvial deposits, the original lodes being lost in the Rayesha Mountains.
The deposits indicate that the Thard River once flowed right through what is now the Hefiosa, delivering the
valuable sediments.
More important, though, are the numerous iron mines in the Hefiosa, Kom, and Imrium regions. These are
rich and easily exploited deposits of bog iron, washed down from prehistoric marshes that once filled much of
the Benath Basin. Their locations show the many routes the Thard has taken over the epochs. Most of these
lodes have been uplifted to their current elevations above the lake, effectively disguising their origins.
When Harn was first emerging from under the sea, much of Tharda was a large lagoon or flatland where
seawater repeatedly flooded and evaporated. The water left behind enormous salt and gypsum deposits. Most
of these deposits have been jumbled, buried, or destroyed, but some have survived and are close enough to
the surface to be mined. Salt is mined near Imrium, Dumon, Ostenor, and Peden. Gypsum is mined in earnest
near Telen.

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 GEOLOGY of HâRN  16
A handful of very important lead and zinc deposits are found in limestone formations exposed in the south-
ern Rayesha Mountains and across the Thard in the Cassinar and Quilver Hills. These deposits form when
calcite in the limestone recrystallizes, ejecting impurities that then become concentrated in the neighboring
stone. The two minerals are often found together.
Tin deposits were formed by intruding granite – as the granite cools various minerals are concentrated. In
the Rayesha Mountains and the Hefiosa this is a common process, and it is also found in the Waroak Hills near
Moleryn. It should be noted that most mines do not exploit the primary lode, but instead exploit the placer
deposits below them. Copper deposits in these regions were also formed by essentially the same process. The
handful of copper deposits outside these two regions were formed when Harn was on the ocean floor, and are
they are exposed today due to uplifting and erosion.

Kanday
Kanday’s mineral resources derive from two main sources. Southern Kanday – from the Eryn River to Cape
Gemal – is dotted with granite masses, mostly still covered. These intrusions created tin, copper, and lead ores
that are mined in Torenshire and Erynashire. They also metamorphosed overlying carbonaceous materials,
creating the soapstone and marble quarried along the coast.
The other resource that Kanday has in relative abundance is bog iron. Kanday’s largest source is the an-
cient bog iron easily dug up near Chison. Near Hebon and Selvos are similar deposits created by now-dried up
bogs. These lodes merely scratch the surface of Kanday’s bog iron potential. The same process that created
them is constantly working to create more iron ore in the many bogs of western Kanday.

Rethem
Rethem’s mineral riches come from a wide variety of sources. Economically, the most important are the
porphyric orebodies found throughout the southern Rayesha mountains. Copper, tin, and lead are plentiful in
the region, and silver is often found in the same ores. The proximity of these resources to water transportation
make the Gomisen River Valley one of the most important mining regions on Harn.
The southern reaches of the Rayesha Mountains include salt mines – a surprising feature at this elevation
in a humid region. These formations are remnants of an ancient coastal salt flat, uplifted in the early history of
the Rayeshas, and later covered by basalts and sediments. Iron in the same area consists of deposits created in
the ancient seafloor and also uplifted.
But the overwhelming majority of Rethem’s iron comes from bog iron. Bog iron was once available in the
floodplain of the Thard, washed down from the prehistoric bogs of the Benath Basin, but these sources have
been thoroughly depleted. Today prehistoric bog iron is gathered near Menakai, and bogs are directly harvest-
ed along the Gomisen River and near Weseda and Arketh.
Western Rethem has a smattering of tin, lead, and copper mines. These were formed in the uplifting
process that raised the Tirsa Islands and much of Hohnamshire. Granitic intrusions in the region created the
deposits, which are found in a desultory line from Tormau almost to Shostim.
An odd feature of Rethem is a copper deposit east of the Hohnam Marshes. This deposit formed undersea
around an ancient vent and was uplifted very early in Harn’s prehistory. The lode also produces lead and zinc,
and is easily mined from the chalky substrate.
Rethem has two silver mines, both created by volcanic activity. The mine near Menekai exploits alluvial
ores eroded from a nearby small volcano, one of many in the Rayesha Mountains. A similar orebody is ex-
ploited near Bedenes. The broad volcano that created it is relatively recent and has no obvious neighbors. It
may be related to the nearby uplifts, or it may be a small hotspot. While dormant today, it still has the potential
for further activity.

Melderyn
Melderyn is blessed with some of the most productive mining regions on Harn. Two major ore-forming
processes are apparent in the region. The granitic intrusions that built most of the region created innumerable
lodes of tin and copper, mainly in the Anadel Highlands and the Kenmust Downs of Birenshire. And the same
uplifting process raised seafloor sediments rich in lead, zinc, and silver, mostly in the Anadels.

© 2013 N. Robin Crossby & pokep. HârnWorld

 GEOLOGY of HâRN  17
The uplifting process created substantial tidal flats that for a time allowed salt and gypsum to accumulate.
These deposits were lifted further, preserving them, and are now mined in a zone stretching all along the east-
ern coast, about ten miles inland.
The handful of iron deposits exploited in Birenshire and Elorinshire are extremely ancient bog iron deposits,
mostly predating the creation of the Anadel Highlands. The iron was formed in swamps when the region was
still a lowland, then washed into river channels where the ore was concentrated in gravel beds. As the Anadels
rose, the bogs and river systems were destroyed, but the iron-rich gravels remained.
The Isle of Melderyn is hardly as blessed as the neighboring mainland, but a few tin and copper mines
reveal that the same process that built the Anadels also raised the island. A few deposits of prehistoric bog iron
are exploited as well, but today there are no recent bogs to exploit. The vast Leonese Marshes are too salty and
alkaline for iron formation.
The island’s most important minerals are found in its numerous quarries. Undersea carbonaceous deposits
were uplifted to create the island, and in many places the original chalk and limestone was metamorphosed by
contact with hot magma. The many quarries on the island produce large amounts of lime, which is used in the
mortar that makes Cherafir’s remarkable architecture possible. They also produce soapstone and marble. Most
of the quarries are along the Tuven River, and boats are essential for efficient transportation. Almost every
community of any size in Melderyn has a quarry to produce the invaluable lime as well as building stone.

Kiraz and Azadmere

Azadmere is famous for having been practically carved out of solid granite, but it’s actually the cracks in the
granite that attracts the Khuzdul. The cracks can contain rich veins of gold, with silver, copper and tin mixed
in as well. The ores form as hot water dissolves the minerals from nearby sources, then deposits the minerals
again as it cools in the cracks. The mines of Azadmere (and Kiraz) are a spiderweb of tunnels leading up these
veins.
The granite formations that form Azadmere and Kiraz proper do not contain any iron, and therefore other
mines such as Fana and Ushet were created. The Sorkin Mountains have a particularly chaotic history, and
chunks of undersea crust are juxtaposed with pieces of ancient undersea volcanoes and obsidian-bearing lava
flows. Azadmere is at an important locus of these many elements. Glaciers have scoured away to the cover
to reveal the geology to the sharp-eyed Khuzdul, and they have also created easily exploited placer deposits.
Almost every mineral-forming process known can be found someplace in the region, acting on a wide variety
of sources materials including ancient crust, seafloor sediments, basalts and magmas. The profusion of gem-
stones and minerals in the region is unmatched anywhere on Kethira.
Only Kiraz is close. In fact, Kiraz trumps Azadmere in having ample quantities of high-quality marble avail-
able. The marble is not at Kiraz itself, but in the nearby Rayesha Mountains, and the Khuzdul of Kiraz generally
had to look farther afield to get the same variety of ores. But the essential structure of the two main mines is
the same. Only the proximity to other kinds of formations was different.
For Kiraz, as Azadmere, the most difficult ore to obtain was ordinary iron. In both regions the source they
discovered was formed in ancient seabed sediments, uplifted in Harn’s most ancient epoch. These hard rock
formation are difficult to mine. In Azadmere, some placer deposits were created by glaciation, making ore
gravels that are easily scooped up. Mostly, though, the mining requires the difficult task of breaking hard rock.
It should not be surprising that the Khuzdul expend so much effort to making their iron works truly remarkable
– as difficult as the mining is, the metal should not be wasted on items of mediocre quality.

HârnWorld © 2013 N. Robin Crossby & pokep.