IX 



Copenhagen, April 15, 1898. 



Notes regarding the geological observation to be made during 

 the Expedition to the East Coast of Greenland in 1898. 



The member of the Expedition who in particular will have to 

 make geological observations, Mr, Chr. Kruuse, will undoubtedly make 

 himself acquainted — at any rate in some measure — with the 

 literature treating of the adjacent regions which have been already 

 investigated, and from which he may consequently draw fairly 

 correct conclusions as to what he may expect to find on the stretch 

 of land he will have an opportunity of traversing. As he, being 

 a botanist, will have enough to do with living nature, he cannot 

 be asked or expected to bestow any considerable time on geological 

 investigations. He will, however, be expected, as far as he has 

 time and opportunity, to collect minerals as well as specimens of 

 rocks and fossils, when these appear to him to be of special 

 importance. By fossils are understood also sub-fossil shells of 

 mollusks from the latest strata. He will note whether the shells of 

 mollusks occur in the moraines, since such are found at several 

 places on the west coast, and even at very considerable heights. 

 They probably originate from unknown strata which have been 

 eroded by the ice. 



The geological observations which will presumably be more 

 easily made in connection лvith the botanical investigations are: 

 observations regarding the extent of the land-ice; how far up the 

 ice-striated surfaces and transported blocks reach on the hills, also 

 whether any peculiarly characteristic moraine and ridge-formations 

 are to be met ivith. Farther, observations are required regarding 

 any possible change in the height of the water; whether there are 

 any raised strata with animal and plant-remains, or any indications 

 that the water is rising. If the water since the period of the ice- 

 covering has stood at a higher level than at the present time, the 

 moraines and the scattered stones, which otherwise characterize the 

 area whence the ice has retired, will be either washed away or 

 water-worn and gathered on raised beaches, as pointed out by 

 Mr. Pjetursson with regard to the Bay of Disko. The striations 

 in such areas will also be more or less effaced. Does the land- 

 ice carry characteristic species of stones such as lava and plant- 

 remains (also diatoms) which could help to solve the question of 

 the drift of the ice in the Arctic Ocean? 



