i. 



PREVIOUS LITERATURE REFERRING TO THE JURA OF 



FRANZ JOSEF LAND. 



From what we know at present about the geology of the arctic archi- 

 pelago, known by the name of Franz Josef Land, strata of Jurassic age have 

 only been observed in the southern parts of these islands. 



On Northbrook Island, at least on its narrow southwestern peninsula, 

 Jurassic deposits have a considerable share in the geological structure of the 

 country. Owing to the researches and collections of the Jackson-Harmsworth 

 Expedition and Prof. Nansen, this part of Northbrook Island may be con- 

 sidered the best known district of the Franz Josef Land Archipelago with re- 

 gard to its geological structure. Except on Northbrook Island, Jurassic strata 

 have probably only been found in the neighbourhood of Eira Harbour, situ- 

 ated between Mabel and Bell Islands. In other more westerly and easterly 

 parts of the archipelago, the occurrence of Jurassic strata is not yet proved 

 with certainty. 



The following examination of the publications referring to the Jura of 

 Franz Josef Land shows that the successful expeditions of recent years have 

 contributed very considerably to the extension of our knowledge of the geology 

 of this archipelago. 



1876 (1873). It cannot be positively ascertained whether Julius Payer, 

 the discoverer of Franz Josef Land, found Jurassic sediments in the south- 

 eastern and eastern parts of the archipelago, which were visited by him. 

 Payer uses the following expressions 1 concerning the sedimentary rocks 

 which he found on Franz Josef Land : 



1 J. Payer, 'Die Oesterreichisch-ungurische Nordpol Expedition in den Jahren 1872 

 1874'. Wien 1876, p. 268. 

 English edition, 'New Lands within the Arctic Circle'. London 1876, vol. II, p. 82. 



