TJie Gcolixjij itf (\)lm(i.iihil. 193 



The evidence in regard to the formation of stratified glacia 

 beds aflorded by the Malaspina glacier is striking. This glacier, 

 which is formed by the union of several ice-streams from Mount 

 St. Elias, covers an area of 1500 square miles. In one place it 

 <;omes down to the sea and terminates in cliffs sometimes 300 feet 

 high. The lower part of the glacier is interrupted by two groups 

 of hills, respectively named the Chaix and the Samovar Hills. 

 They are described by Mr. J. C. Russell — who had charge of the 

 exploration of the glacier in 1891 — as "formed of a monoclinal 

 block of conformable strata eiglit or ten miles long, trending N.E. 

 and S.W., and tilted northward at an angle of 10 or 15 degrees. 

 The general elevation of their crest is about 3000 feet. But 

 what makes the hills especially interesting to the geologist is the 

 fact that they are composed of str-atified moranial material. The 

 stratification is conspicuous even from a distance, but is due 

 principally to slight diftei-ences of colour. Light purplish-brown 

 alternating with light grey are the prevailing tints. Tlie colours 

 are in broad bands and may be traced continuously for thousands 



of feet It is evident that the minimum thickness 



cannot be less than 4000 or 5000 feet. The rocks are essentially 

 homogeneous from base to summit, and are composed of sandy 

 <;lay containing large quantities of both angular and rounded 

 boulders of all sizes up to 6 or 8 feet in diameter. The fact that 

 they have been transported by glaciers is beyond question. 



" In the finer portions of the deposit, especially in certain fine 



light grey sandy clays, sea shells are numerous 



Besides the shells of molluscs there are shell cases of annelids 

 (serpulai?) attached to the glaciated boulders, showing that the 

 stones on which they grew must have I'emained exposed at the 

 bottom of the sea for some time before being wholly buried." 



In the opinion of Mr. Russell, the Chaix and Samovar Hills 

 were formed by the uplifting of the northern side of a fault 

 or series of related faults. 



Mr. Russell proceeds : " The interpretation of these various 

 records leads to the conclusion that the strata composing the 

 Chaix Hills were deposited about the extremity of a glacier 

 which ended in the ocean. Portions of the finer material, 

 especially that containing sea-shells, is largely glacial silt, while 

 the boulders and gravel were deposited by the bergs that floated 



8A 



