620 DR. K. K(ETTLITZ ON THE [NoV. 1 898, 



41. Obseevations on the Geology of Franz Josef Land. By 

 Dr. Reginald Kgettlitz. (Communicated by E. T. Newton, 

 Esq., E.R.S., E.G.S. Read June 22nd, 1898.) 



[Abridged.] 



Contents. 



Page 



I. General Features of the Archipelago 620 



11. The Basaltic Rocks 633 



III. The Jurassic Eocks 636 



IV. The Eaised Beaches 638 



V, Ice-cap and ' Grlaciers ' 641 



VI. Glacial and other Denudation 643 



It is with great diffidence that I venture to communicate some 

 observations on Franz Josef Land to the Geological Society because 

 active labours in other fields of science have, until recently, prevented 

 me from giving much attention to geology. A residence of three 

 years in Franz Josef Land has, however, given me exceptional 

 opportunities for geological investigation in that little-known region, 

 and I venture, therefore, to hope that the following observations 

 may not be without interest. 



But, in the first place, I must take this opportunity to express 

 my great indebtedness to Messrs. Newton & Teall for much kind- 

 ness and most valuable help received by me from them ; my thanks 

 are also due to my comrades Messrs. A. B. Armitage, H. Fisher, 

 W. S. Bruce, D. W. Wilton, J. F. Child, and J. W. Heyward, for the 

 valuable information and assistance which they have ungrudgingly 

 afforded me. 



I. General Features op the Archipelago. 



On approaching Franz Josef Land the observer is struck by the 

 flat-topped, plateau-like aspect which is well known to be a leading 

 feature of all districts largely composed of horizontal sheets of 

 basaltic rock. Even at a distance of 40 miles the nearl}'- horizontal 

 upper edge of the basalt can be seen in the few exposures of rock 

 which protrude through the widespread mantle of snow and ice. A 

 nearer approach reveals the fact that the exposed headlands and rocky 

 masses are formed of successive, sharply defined tiers of basalt. The 

 horizontal line of the upper sheet, though occasionally reaching a 

 height of 1000 feet, is not, however, the highest part of the land. 

 Behind the basalt-cliffs, on a clear day, a rounded surface or dome 

 of snow and ice is seen to rise to a higher level — rarely, perhaps, to 

 2000 feet — forming a background which shows up distinctly the 

 horizontal arrangement of the rocks below. Snow and ice fill the 

 depressions between the headlands and rocky masses, covering the 



