proceedings: geological society 171 



It is estimated that sufficient gas is generated during distillation to 

 carry on the operation without the addition of other fuels. Different 

 samples of the oil began to boil at from 70° to 80°. From 2 to 10 per 

 cent of the oil was distilled under 150°. From 33 to 55 per cent of the 

 oil volatized between 150° and 300°. The residues varied from 44 to 66 

 per cent. The amount of ammonia contained in the shale has not yet 

 been determined. These data indicate that the bituminous shale is a 

 valuable resource. The deposits are easily accessible by railroad, pipe 

 lines or tram tracks. 



The conditions of "antiplanation^' in sub-Arctic regions (illustrated) : 

 H. M. Eakin. a widely distributed topographic feature in central 

 and western Alaska, the development of which is apparently peculiar 

 to those regions of the earth's surface that are exposed to the rigors of a 

 sub-Arctic climate was described as essentially flat-topped accumula- 

 tions of loose rock. They include flat-topped hills, ridges, passes and 

 terrace-like forms. The materials involved have migrated under the 

 thrust and heave of frost action in moisture saturated soil. They have 

 been moved at extremely slow rates and for very short distances. 

 Inequalities in the amount of soil mingled with the rock waste cause 

 different parts of the accumulating mass to move at different rates. 

 These irregularities are mutually cumulative and the slopes which they 

 affect become more and more irregular and finally exhibit the flats and 

 scarps here discussed. These phenomena indicate the action of a mor- 

 phologic process distinct from the processes of aqueous erosion, which 

 oppose its operation; distinct from equiplanation which, according to 

 Cairnes, is a process affecting more widespread, regional areas, and which 

 reduces relief by the migration of materials from hills to valleys; and 

 distinct from the general phenomena of solifluction in being localized 

 in its operation and in resulting in a special and distinct type of topo- 

 graphic featm-e. The process is termed antiplanation — a specific process 

 that is active in forming high level flats and plains of limited extent 

 wherever the essential conditions are met. 



Problems of the glacial geologist: Frank Leverett. Certain prob- 

 lems, such as the cause of the glacial epoch, the alternation of glacial 

 and interglacial stages, the origin and relations of loess deposits, etc., 

 are world-wide in bearing. Others, such as the localization of the ice 

 centers of North America and the lowan drift question are regional. 

 There are also collateral problems such as the effect of the ice load in 

 producing deformation of the earth's crust, the effect of climatic changes 

 of the ice age upon migration, extinction of species, and the develop- 

 ment of new species. To the glacialist also fall certain determinations 

 leading to a geologic time scale through combining data on cataract 

 recession, ice-border recession, uplift of shore lines of glacial lakes, 

 relative amounts of weathering, and erosion of the several drifts, etc. 



The cause of the glacial epoch, which was thought by many, a generation 

 ago, to be solved by Croll, is generally regarded today as an unsolved or 

 but partially solved problem. Chamberlin and students under his 

 direction have in the past twenty years thoroughly considered many 



