Northern Nautical and Scientific Expedition in 1838-39. 251 



thb system for the selagites or liypcrsthene rocks, which have been said 

 to occur in this part of Finmark. lie found no traces of them even 

 among the pebbles on the present shores of the sea, wliich are composed 

 of numerous debris of gneiss-deposits, associated with syenite, shining 

 quartzy grey sandstone, Lydian-stone, and even volcanic scoriae. The 

 presence of these fragments is probably owing to diverse accidental 

 causes. 



The summits around Mageroe Sound rise to upwards of 328 feet 

 above the sea. The North Cape abruptly overlooks the Polar Ocean 

 at an elevation of nearly 1082 feet. Sixteen drawings or sketches repre- 

 sent the appearance of all these mountain?, of dislocations in the gneiss- 

 formations, and the inclination of the strata. We have likewise repre- 

 sentations of many ancient sea-beaches, whose elevation above the pre- 

 sent surface of the sea frequently extends to IG or 24 metres. These ancient 

 beaches are easily known by their perfectly rounded forms, their abraded 

 and as it were polished surfaces, and the mass of broken shells, pebbles, 

 and sea-sand, which cover them at certain places. 



At the island of Rolfso-Ham, which is situate between North Cape 

 and I^mmerfest, the phenomenon of the progressive rising of Finmark 

 is indicated, in a still more positive manner, by a great alluvial deposit, 

 which rises with a gentle slope to a height of more than 108.7 feet, and 

 shewing seven stages or terraces faintly marked, formed of marine peb- 

 bles, placed one behind another, and separated by a turfy soil. The 

 whole of this system rests upon a thick layer of the debris of shells, among 

 which we perceive fragments of Cyprina Jslandica, and other molluscs, 

 identical with those now living in the Polar Ocean. The fundamental 

 formation of the island belongs to the gneiss series. 



It is the same with the island of Qualoe, where M. Robert has besides 

 established this singular fact, namely, that in a depression situate behind 

 the gate of the town of Hammerfcst, and at a height of about 82 feet above 

 the sea, there exists an assemblage of rounded blocks of the primitive 

 rocks of the country, the interstices of which are filled with small pieces 

 of blackish pumice-stone, similar to those which continue to be thrown 

 ashore from time to time even in the present day on the coasts of Norway 

 along with floating wood, and whose origin is evidently to be ascribed 

 to the volcanic eruptions of Iceland or of that of Jean Mayen. 



On traversing Lapland from Altengaard to Tornea, that is to say, an 

 extent of more than a hundred leagues, M. Robert found nothing but a 

 surface uniformly composed of gneiss, with some layers or ^subordinate 

 veins of harmophanite, amphibolite, or diorite ; these subordinate rocks 

 often enclosed oxidulated magnetic iron. These formations, not very 

 prominently developed, are covered here and there with erratic blocks, 

 sand, and diluvian gravels, from which are daily separated, by the running 

 waters, an iron sand. 



The gneiss-formations composing the western sides of the Gulf of Both- 

 nia, presented nothing to M, Robert particularly deserving of attention ; 



