20-1 
The geological features of those portions of Franz- Josef Land 
visited by the Austrians have been laid down with considerable 
accuracy by Payer, himself an accomplished geologist. I briefly 
recapitulate his account. 
“ h ranz- Josef Land has all the severity of the higher Arctic 
lands; it appears, especially in spring, to be denuded of life of 
every kind. Enormous glaciers extend from the lofty solitudes 
of the mountains, which rise in bold conical forms. A covering 
of dazzling whiteness is spread over everything. The rows of 
basaltic columns, rising tier above tier, stand out as if crystallized. 
The natural colour of the rocks was not visible, as is usually the 
case ; even the steej^est walls of rocks were covered with ice, the 
consequence of incessant precipitation. 
* * -X- * * At At * 
“Isolated groups of conical mountains and table-lands, wliich 
are peculiar to the basaltic formation, constitute the mountain- 
system of Iranz-Josef Land; chains of mountains were nowhere 
seen. Ihese mountain forms are the results of erosion and denuda- 
tion ; there were no isolated volcanic cones. The mountains, as a 
rule, are about 2000 or 3000 feet high, except in the south-west, 
where they attain the height of about 6000 feet. 
■X- * * -A- ■» * A- A^ 
“ The tertiary brown- coal sandstone of East Greenland is 
also found in Eranz-Josef Land, though brown-coal itself is met 
witli only in small beds, which, nevertheless, may be reckoned 
among the many indications that the climate of polar lands must 
once have been as genial as the climate of Central Europe at the 
present day. The kind of rock Avhich predominates is a crystalline 
aggregation, called by the Swedes ‘ Hyperstenite,’ identical with 
the Dolerite of Greenland ; but the Dolerite of Eranz-Josef Land is 
of a coarser grained texture, and of a dark yellowish-green colour. 
According to Professor Tschermak it consists of Plagioclasc, Augite, 
Olivine, titaniferoiis Iron, and ferruginous Chlorite.” 
Amygdaloids, so common in Greenland, Avere not found by 
I\iyer in Eranz-Josef Land. lie mentions that the other rocks 
observed consisted of a whitish (|uartzose sandstone, Avith a clayey 
cement, and of another flnely grained sandstone, containing small 
granules of quartz and green i.sh-grey particles of chlorite, and also 
* ‘ NeAv Lands Avithin the Arctic Circle,’ vol. ii. p. 79— bb 
