Prof. A. E. Nordenskibld — Geology of Spitzhergen, 69 



1. (Lowermost) Sandstone and conglomerate of very starp-cornered pieces of 

 quartz, above which — 



Clay-slate containing coal, mixed with sand, with Lepidodendron^ Stiffmaria, and 

 Calamites, etc., and uppermost, 



Eed sandstone and conglomerate, containing fragments of Liefde Bay strata. The 

 conglomerate is much weathered and broken down, in the bottom red, then green, then 

 yellow. These strata probably belong to the lower Mountain Limestone (Ursa-stage). 



2. Lowermost Russian Island dolomite, above which Cyathophyllum strata. 



3. Stratum of gypsum, 150 to 200 feet thick. 



4. Mountain Limestone with Spirifer and Froductus, In these strata occur flint 

 beds of great thickness. 



5. Places covered by debris. 



6. Snow-fields which, on the highest part of the mountain, are not melted during 

 summer. 



Of the fossils found in these strata, our distinguished palaeontolo- 

 gist Dr. G. Lindstrom, of Wisby, has given the following sketch, but 

 with the reservation that it is only a provisional statement. An 

 exhaustive dissertation on them will be communicated to the 

 Academy of Science at a future period. The material for examina- 

 tion which Dr. Lindstrom had at his disposal forms, however, only 

 the lesser part of the collections brought home by the Swedish 

 Expeditions. The principal part has been handed over upwards of 

 ten years ago to the Superintendent of the Palseontological Division 

 of the Eiks Museum. 



" The number of Mountain Limestone fossils collected during the 

 Expedition of 1868 and since amounts to 63, besides undetermined 

 fragments of several others. Of this number 

 2 species belong to Crustacea 



2 

 11 





, Gasteropoda 



, LamelUhrancMw 



34 



7 

 2 





, Brachiopoda 

 ,. Folyzoa 

 , Crinoidea 



4 





, Anthozoa 



1 



5 3' 1 



, Sjiongia. 



631 



The great preponderance in the number of species, their well- 

 preserved condition and the greater certainty arising therefrom 

 in determining them, serve to make the Brachiopoda better fitted 

 than any other group for a comparison of the Mountain Limestone 

 fauna of Spitzbergen with that of other lands. What first strikes 

 one with surprise in doing so is that this fauna contains several 

 species which have been hitherto known only as Permian. There 

 can no longer be the slightest doubt that these, which have been 

 considered exclusively Permian, and consequently in a high degree 

 characteristic of that formation, rest in Spitzbergen and Bear Island 

 in beds which contain a larger number of species exclusively cha- 

 racteristic of the Mountain Limestone. Such ^ Permian^ species are 

 CamaropJioria Humhletonensis, Howse ; Productus cancrini, Verneuil ; 

 Productus Leplayi, Vern. ; Productus Jwrridus, Sow. ; Strophalosia 

 lamellosa, Geinitz. 



1 To this number might be added several, as Spirifer Keilhaui, Buch, etc., if I 

 were not doubtful of their identity, as they are absent in the collections formed by 

 NordenskiiJld, and I have not otherwise had opportunity to see them. — G. Lindstrom. 



