336 THE VOYAGE OF THE 'DISCOVERY' [Appx. 



probably a modification of the mass above. The dark rock pro- 

 ducing the gable is separated from the granite by a very definite 

 and almost horizontal line which may be traced westwards for over 

 ten miles. 



Half-way between this gable and the point where this group of 

 hills terminates on the west, a dolerite has been found to lie 

 directly upon the even surface of the granite. The former 

 appears to have flowed out over the surface of the latter, and the 

 contact plane dips to the west with an inclination of about 2°. 

 The western end of this exposure of grey granite is hidden from 

 view by a rise in the surface of the ice, but on gaining the western 

 extremity of these hills a pink granite is found. This granite 

 appears to be intrusive in the dolerite ; tongues of the former 

 extend upwards into the latter, and the usual vertical columns of 

 dolerite are very much disturbed. 



Fifty miles inland, in the Dry Valleys, and at a height of 5,000 

 feet above sea level, small and large boulders of both grey and 

 pink granite were found. These boulders were resting on the side 

 of Beacon Height West on a surface of sandstone ; and since the 

 hills to the southward rise to great heights, it is possible that 

 granite occurs at a greater elevation than 5,000 feet. On the side 

 of Knob Head Mountain great boulders of granite lie on a surface 

 of dolerite, and as the mountain consists mainly of sandstone, 

 these boulders must have their source further inland. 



The Beacon Sandstone Formation. 



The existence of a fossiliferous sedimentary rock in South 

 Victoria Land has always been considered probable since the 

 'Challenger' dredged up sandstones, limestones, and shales in a 

 high southern latitude ; but, on the whole, it seemed very doubtful 

 whether the ' Discovery' would be able to encounter any of these, 

 as it was thought the coastal belt of the land was composed 

 entirely of volcanic rocks. 



Granular sandstone fragments were dredged up by the 

 ' Discovery ' near Coulman Island, and the tabular structure of the 

 Prince Albert Range pointed to the possibility of a sandstone rock 

 being developed. Sandstone was also found in Granite Harbour, 

 and when a broad band was observed extending horizontally from 

 end to end of the Royal Society Range, it seemed probable that 

 here a sedimentary rock would be found. Mr. Armitage's pioneer 



