In Norway, a landscape map exists which gives the opportunity to collect data in landscape units for further analysis. This study covers parts of Norway and Sweden, so the landscape map was extended into Sweden to form a unified landscape structure. A collection of geological and terrain data within landscape units can serve as a tool to describe the geodiversity profile of the units, study their geographical distribution and analyse similarities and dissimilarities between them. We collected geological and terrain data for an area covering large parts of southern Norway and Sweden. The data were collected as attributes in landscape polygons. The data were then analysed using multivariate techniques (Principle component analyses) where the first four axes of variation were definable. The first axis is a terrain axis, the second a bedrock unit axis, the third a bedrock diversity axis and the fourth a soil/sediment axis. In total, the four gradients answer for 54.9% of the total variation in the material. Links are found between the terrain data and geological units, but these links are relatively weak. The four gradients represent a step-less model of the geodiversity profile of the landscape areas but are dependent on the quality and scale of the input data. Norwegian and Swedish data had to be harmonised in order to be analysed together; however, because of this they ended up having a coarser resolution than desired, both spatially and scientifically. The stepless model was clustered to form 16 geodiversity profile groups for easy comparison and regional overview. The procedure can serve as a baseline for more detailed and field-based studies of geodiversity profiles, and give the opportunity to make analytical maps through simple overlay techniques and to compare areas with each other with respect to their geodiversity profile. This can be carried out both alone and in a wider landscape setting.

Larvikite is a peculiar and unique monzonitic rock originating in the Carboniferous–Permian Oslo Rift, SE Norway. The blue iridescence in the feldspar crystals made the rock particularly attractive as ornamental stone, and since the start of industrial scaled production in 1884, the use of larvikite has reached every corner of the global community. With resources for hundreds of years, the region will produce larvikite blocks far into the future. The production of larvikite has changed significantly during the last decades, towards more sustainable production finding new applications and markets for excess rock in the quarries. The significance of larvikite in the global market has also created a wider appreciation of the rock in the Norwegian society, acknowledging the rich history of larvikite production and use.

Norway has a significant aggregate industry and there is potential for further growth. However, there are usually competing land-use interests. Integrated landuse planning requires accessible and unbiased information on natural resources. The Geological Survey of Norway manages and maintains databases of Norwegian aggregates, sand, gravel and hard-rock deposits, with maps, qualitative and quantitative information. In the Jaeren region on the southwestern coast, regional authorities are planning the future supply of aggregates. In a neighbouring region, a quarrying company is developing the Såt hardrock deposit. These cases are used to underline the importance of geological information in the future development of existing quarries or when there are conflicting land-uses at the planning stage.