386 О. В. Bøggild. Examination of some rocks from N.-Greenl, 



appears to be distributed throughout the whole region. The fact that 

 no sandstone was brought home from the two places in Game Land 

 where diabase was found may possibly be accidental. The comparatively 

 small variations between the individual occurrences of diabase and sand- 

 stone, as shown in the list, are of no importance as regards the general 

 view to be obtained of the geological character of the country. Where 

 both rocks occur at the same locality, it would seem that the diabase 

 forms strata above the sandstone. 



In the absence of fossil finds, we can only endeavour to conclude, 

 from examination of the rocks themselves, to which formations they 

 belong. The large amount of red sandstone found suggests the Devo- 

 nian, which in these regions is generally seen to have developed in this 

 manner. The nearest occurrences known are Kaiser Franz Joseph's and 

 King Oscar's Fjords on the one hand, and King Oscar's Land west of 

 Ellesmere Land on the other. In both these places the formation con- 

 sists chiefly of red sandstone, and mention is also made of diabase in 

 veins, not however, in layers. The Devonian formation in these 

 places Hes for the most part in undisturbed position. 



Another formation to which the rocks here in question might 

 reasonably be ascribed is the Cambrian. This is found on the Bache 

 Peninsula, western side of Smith's Sound, in the form of slightly sloping 

 layers of sandstone, alternating with diabase, having a total thickness 

 of abt. 250 m. As regards the colour of the sandstone, nothing is stated. 

 To this should also possibly be added the strata found on the Greenland 

 side between Cape York and Smith's Sound; various rocks have been 

 described from here, but Kane, however, mentions red sandstone, sur- 

 mounted by a deposit of trap rock as the principal formation in these 

 regions. Unfortunately, no fossils have been found here, so that the 

 age of these strata cannot be accurately determined, and they have also 

 been ascribed, by scientists who have had occasion to observe them, 

 to different formations, from the archaic to the tertiary. 



It will doubtless be impossible, from the data here given, to state 

 anything definite as to the age of the formations found in the regions 

 visited by the expedition. Various features would seem to suggest that 

 they should be assigned either to the Cambrian or to the Devonian; 

 it is by no means impossible, however, that they may be found to belong 

 to some other period. 



