52 COL. H. W. FEILDEN ON KOLGUEV ISLAND. [Peb. 1896, 



4. Notes on the Glacial Geology of Arctic Europe and its Islands, 

 Part I. : Kolguev Island. By Colonel H. W. Peilden, P.G.S, 

 With an Appendix by Prof. T. G. Bonnet, D.Sc, P.P.S. (Pead 

 November 20th, 1895.) 



During the month of July 1895, after two ineffectual attempts 

 to reach Novaya Zemlya, owing to the great accumulation of ice 

 in Barents Sea, we ran down the edge of the ice-pack, which ex- 

 tended intact from Novaya Zemlya to the northern end of the 

 island of Kolguev. We were fortunate enough to meet with a day 

 so fine and a sea so smooth that our party of five persons landed 

 without difficulty at the mouth of the Gobista Piver, on the south- 

 western side of Kolguev. Our yacht was sent back to Yardo for 

 coal, and we remained on Kolguev for ten days, encountering very 

 inclement weather. A most opportune break in an almost con- 

 tinuous series of gales and fogs enabled us to leave Kolguev on the 

 return of our vessel, without difficulty or danger. 



The island of Kolguev lies in Barents Sea, distant some 50 miles 

 from the mainland of Arctic Pussia, and about 130 miles south- 

 west from the nearest part of Novaya Zemlya. Its greatest breadth 

 is about 50 miles, and its extreme length 40 miles ; the general 

 shape is oval. The superficial area may be roughly estimated at 

 2000 square miles. As a familiar comparison, we might liken it 

 in extent to our East Anglian county of Norfolk. 



The soundings between Kolguev and the mainland of Europe do 

 not exceed 30 fathoms, while, in all probability, 70 fathoms is the 

 extreme depth between it and Novaya Zemlya. Kolguev, how- 

 ever, differs completely in geological structure from the mountainous 

 islands of Novaya Zemlya, and equally so from the ice-worn rock- 

 area of Pussian Lapland, as throughout its entire extent no ex- 

 posure of basement-rock has been anywhere observed. It is wholly 

 and entirely a vast accumulation of glacio-marine beds. 



Let us take a glance at the only geographical map of the island 

 of Kolguev we possess, namely that published by Mr. Trevor-Battye 

 in his valuable book. 1 His stay on the island during 1894 was ten 

 times as long as mine in 1895, and his opportunities of travelling 

 about with the aid of the Samoyeds and their reindeer far 

 exceeded my rambles on foot. He traversed the greater part of the 

 island, while my experiences were confined to its western coast- 

 line. I am pleased, however, to find that my observations agree 

 in the main with Mr. Trevor-Battye's remarks on the geological 

 structure of Kolguev ; and though I hope to add somewhat to our 

 information regarding the geology of this little-known island, his 

 valuable researches have greatly aided me in verifying my own. 

 Since my return to England I have had the further advantage of con- 

 sulting Mr. Trevor-Battye on certain points regarding the structure 



1 ' Icebound on Kolguev,' Constable & Co.. London, 1895. 



