30 J. SCHETELIG. M.-N. Kl. 



The rocks collected from Scott's Nimataks, King Edivard VII Land 

 show, that the kiioivn part of this land, not covered ivith snozv, consists of 

 a pre- Cambrian rock-complex of gneisses atid crystalline schists, and of 

 gra/n'tes, younger than the gneisses, of undecided age, but possibly post- 

 Cambrian and pre-Gondwana. The resemblance of the rock-complex from 

 Scott's Nunataks to the pre-Gondwana basement rock-complex of South 

 Victoria Land with gneisses and intrusive granites seems to show the 

 close connection of King Edward VII Land to South Victoria Land. 



O. NoRDExsKiöLD ^ in his excellent account of the geology of the 

 Antarctica includes King Edward VII Land under Westantarctica. From a 

 geographical point of viuw this designation is perhaps right; but geologic- 

 ally King Edward VII Land is closely connected with South Victoria 

 Land and forms a part of the great Antarctic plateau-land (Gondwana 

 plateau). By the kindness of Mr. O. Nordenskiöld I obtained from him a 

 few characteristic specimens of the intrusive igneous rocks (granite, grano- 

 diorite and diorite) from Graham Land; and an examination of thin slices 

 of these rocks has shown, that the intrusive rocks of Andes-type from the 

 folding area of Graham Land are not connected with the rocks from Scott's 

 Nunataks. 



On his journey to the South Pole Roald Amundsen determined the 

 apex of the Ross Ice Barrier, about 85° 30' S and 160° LW Gr. The then 

 discovered Carmen Land forms the termination of the Ice Barrier to SE. 

 The indication of land seen to E on 81° 30' S and the NE direction of 

 the coast-line of Carmen Land suggest a probable direct land-connection 

 of King Edward Land and South Victoria Land. On the sketch-map 

 Fig. 12 is indicated with dotted line the probable coast-line between Carmen 

 Land and King Edward Land. The subsidence area of the Ross Sea is 

 probably also to E bordered by fault-lines along the coast, as stated for 

 the coast-line to W ^. The high Antarctic plateau-land has a probable 

 continuation on the east side of the Ross Ice Barrier from Queen Maud's 

 Mountain Ranges at about 86° S and 160° LW Gr. northwards to King 

 Edward VII Land, which at a short distance from the sea rises to a 

 height of above 1000 feet. 



