[ 442 ] 



LV1. Proceedings of Learned Societies. 



GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



[Continued from p. 368.] 



June 23rd, 1897.— Dr. Henry Hicks, F.R.S., President, 

 in the Chair. 



rfTEE following communications were read : — 

 -"- 1. 'Notes on a Collection of Rocks and Fossils from Franz 

 Josef Land, made* by the Jackson-Harmsworth Expedition during 

 1894-96.' By E. T. Newton, Esq., F.R.S., F.G.S., and J. J. H. Teall, 

 Esq., M.A., F.R.S., V.P.G.S. 



A large collection of rocks and fossils, obtained by the members 

 of the Jackson-Harmsworth Expedition, chiefly from the neigh- 

 bourhood of Cape Flora, on the south-west of Northbrook Island, 

 but also from more distant localities visited during boat- and 

 sledge-journeys, have been sent to the Director-General of the 

 Geological Survey, and examined by the authors. 



After a summary of what was previously known of the geology 

 of Franz Josef Land, an account of the new specimens is given. 

 The rocks are for the most part basalts, and are described in 

 detail ; they are usually formed of labradorite, augite, and inter- 

 stitial matter which is sometimes represented by palagonite con- 

 taining a large percentage of iron-oxide. This palagonite is regarded 

 as the hydrated representative of the residual magma left after 

 the separation of labradorite and augite ; and the conclusion is 

 reached that in this case progressive crystallization has resulted 

 in the concentration of iron-oxide in the mother liquor. 



Most of the fossils have been collected around Cape Flora. The 

 presence of Ammonites macrocejyhalus, A. modiolaris, and Belemnites 

 Panderi indicate the presence of rocks of Lower Oxfordian or 

 Callovian age ; while, apparently above these, a plant-bed was met 

 with in which the genus Ginkgo is conspicuous, and this is believed 

 to be of Upper Jurassic age. 



The oldest fossiliferous bed yet found occurs about 20 miles 

 to the west of Cape Flora, and also contains plant-remains, which, 

 it is thought, may be Lower Jurassic and possibly of the age of the 

 Great Oolite. 



These plant-beds and numerous indications of layers of lignite 

 seem to show that these Jurassic strata are to a great extent of 

 estuarine or freshwater origin. 



The general structure of the country appears to be typified 

 by what occurs at Cape Flora, where cliffs of sedimentary strata 

 some 600 feet high (for the most part hidden by talus) are overlain 

 by 500 feet of basalt. At some other localities, however, the basalt 

 is found at the sea-level. 



