1818.] M'merahgical Remarks on Greenland. 3S9 



Article XII. 



Some Minerahgical Remarks on Greenland. By Thomas Allan, 



Esq. F.R.S.E. 



(To Dr. Thomson.) 



SIR, 



In your second Number you were so obliging as to insert some 

 remarks on a collection of Greenland minerals which fell into 

 my hands a few years ago. i then mentioned, that the Gentle- 

 man who collected them would be here this season ; and 1 have 

 now the pleasure to announce to you the safe arrival of Mr. 

 Geiseck ; , after a residence of seven years and a half in Green- 

 land, where he has been occupied in examining the coast and 

 numerous islands* from Cape Farewell, in lat. 59.}°, all along 

 the west side of the peninsula, to 76°. 



It is with much satisfaction that I find the losses, which he 

 sustained in consequence of the war, have, in a great measure, 

 been repaired by his industry and perseverance, although they 

 added one year more to his detention in the country. Mr. 

 Geiseck ■ is possessed of a great deal of interesting intelligence, 

 not only with regard to the mineralogy and geology, but also the 

 zoology and botany, of the country : the former were his prin- 

 cipal objects ; and from his accurate knowledge of every part of 

 the science, we have reason to expect a great deal of most usi Jul 

 and interesting information, as he is about to publish an account 

 of his travels in Greenland. 



W itli his permission, 1 am now enabled to give you some 

 information respecting cryolite, and the other new minerals 

 mentioned in the note 1 formerly sent you. Cryolite is found 

 only in one place, in a very remote and unfrequented quarter, in 

 a fiord, or arm of the sea, distinguished by the name of Arksut, 

 situated about 30 leagues from the colony of Juliana Hope, in 

 South Greenland. It occurs imbedded in gneiss, in two thin 

 if regular seams : one of these contains the pure white cryolite, 

 ami is entirely uncontaminated with any admixture; tint other is 

 wholly composed of the brown discoloured variety, mixed with 

 galena, pyrites, &c. They are situated very near each other : 

 the first i> washed, at high water, by the tide, and a considerable 

 portion of it is exposed, the superincumbent gneiss being re- 

 moved. It varies from one foot to '.' ' in thickness. From the 

 ee of decomposition which it has undergone, this curious 

 I could not be procured attached to the matrix, particularly 



separated by a thin Layer of mica in a stat? of 



■ration. 



