INTRODUCTION. 



D. 



'uring his famous expedition to the South Pole 191 1 — 1912 Roald 

 Amundsen on the way back to his head-quarters in Whale Bay collected 

 rock-specimens from Mt. Betty at lat. 85' 8' S in South Victoj-ia Latid. 

 The other party under the leadership of Lieutenant K. Prestrud undertook 

 the investigation of King Edward VII Land and collected rock-specimens 

 from Scott's Nunataks, the only mountains in King Edward VII Land found 

 free from snow. 



On his return to Norway Roald Amundsen presented these very 

 valuable collections to the mineralogical institution of the universit}'. The 

 director, Professor \V. C. Brøgger, has kindly entrusted me with the 

 preparation and description of these highl}' interesting rocks, collected 

 from unknown parts of Antarctica. I take this opportunity of tendering 

 to Professor Brøgger m}- sincere thanks for his kindness. 



A preliminary report on the geological results with a short description 

 of the rocks is given in an appendix to Roald Amutcdsen's book on his 

 expedition to the South Pole. 



During my work with the rock-specimens it was clear that chemical 

 anal^'ses of some of the rocks from both localities were highly desirable. 

 On my applying to the trustees of the "Fridtjof Nansen Fund" they 

 defrayed the expenses of four complete rock-analyses. I take this oppor- 

 tunity of tendering to the trustees of the "Fridtjof Nansen Fund" my best 

 thanks for their practical interest in this work. 



During a visit to London in the spring of 191 3 Mr. G. T. Prior, 

 keeper of minerals at the British Museum of Natural History, South Kensing- 

 ton, gave me the opportunity of looking over the rocks collected in South 

 Victoria Land during Scott's and Shackleton's famous expeditions, and 

 I desire to express to Mr. Prior my sincere thanks for his great kindness. 



Vid.-Selsk. Skrifter. I. M.-N. Kl. 191 5. No. 4. 



