THE 
AMERICAN 
JOURNAL OF SCIENCE, &c. 
Ant. L—Sketch of the Geology of the Arctic Regions, and the Step- 
pes of Russia, with notices of Siberia, Kamschatka, and the Ku- 
rile Islands. 
Prepared and communicated for this Journal. 
To scientific research, the Arctic regions have been, until within a 
few years, a terra incogmta, seldom approached, except by a few 
persevering missionaries, or adventurous whalemen, who accomplish- 
ed little for science, beyond pioneering the way for future investiga- 
tors. ‘To their diligence, and the observations of a few travellers, 
but still more to the exploring expeditions under Parry and Frank- 
lin, this age is indebted for whatever is known of the high northern 
latitudes in this hemisphere. ‘These examinations were made under 
circumstances, little favorable to geological science. No mechanical 
facilities were at hand—no deep mines disclosed the secrets of their 
formation, or developed their mineral and metallic treasures—the frost 
bound rocks, and sterile earth, with here and there a ravine, or a 
rifted mountain, peering above the icy desolation, were the only in- 
dices of what lay shrouded beneath. 
To give a comprehensive view of the rocky formations, and the 
minerals of the arctic regions, the materials furnished by McKenzie, 
Crantz, Egede, Von Troil, and other travellers, with the facts ascer- 
tained by the naturalists in the exploring expeditions, under Parry 
and Franklin, will be arranged in consecutive order, beginning on 
the North West with 
I. The Northern bluffs of the Rocky Mountains, and the Me- 
Kenzie River, from Great Bear Lake, in 65° North lat. 
to the Northern Ocean. - 
Il. From Slave Lake to the Arctic Ocean, by the Copper sae 
River. : 
Vor. XVIL.—No. 1. 1 
