38 T- G. ANDERSSON, (Schwed. Südpolar-Exp. 
In a detailed investigation of the phenomena of solifluction the following points 
ought to be taken into consideration: 
1°. The fineness of the material, how much of the mass in finer than 0,02 and 
0,002 mm. diameter. 
2°. The occurrence or absence of soluble salts produced by rock-weathering. 
3°. The amount of water in the soils during the process of flowage. 
The comparisons made by Dr. J. G. AnderSSON in his paper on solifluction 
betw^een the present conditions on Bear Island and on the Falkland Islands evoke a 
fourth question: 
Has water of 0° — 4° centigrade higher capacity than warmer water to form 
flowing masses of fine-grained soils?» 
The tw^o specimens of flowflng soil sent by me to Dr. Atterberg for examina- 
tion derive, a from the stratum c »clay with small stones» in the coast-section at 
Seal Cove (see above P. 28 — 29), b from underneath a large boulder carried on the 
top of a recent mud-stream on the slope of Stephens Peak (see P. 23). Dr. Atter- 
BERG’s combined mechanical and chemical analyses gave the following results: 
a. b. 
Gravel (dim. of grains > 2 mm.) 1.3 
Sand ( » » » 2 — 0.2 mm.) .... 2.7 37.0 
Mo ' ( » » » 0.2 — 0.02 mm.) . . . 22.5 14.8 
Mjuna * ( » » 0.02 — 0.002 mm.) . . 20.2 9.3 
(unsoluble in HCl 18. i| 12.3I 
Clay 1 1 42.0 } 29.1 
(soluble » » 23. 9J 16.8J 
Lost by ignition 5.9 4.4 
Lost at 100° centigrade 5.1 4.9 
99-7 99-5 
Alumina soluble in HCL 7.80 5.23 
Iron oxide » » » . .* 5.1 1 3.85 
The loss by ignition includes a certain amount of organic matters, which appears 
from the fact that the extract with soda after the treatment with hydrocloric acid 
was dark-coloured, rather strongly in the sample a, less strongly in b. 
Of sulphates and carbonate of lime there were no traces, of sodium chloride 
only very faint indications. 
The sample b was found to be not homogenous but consisting of a mixture of 
more or less fine-grained parts. 
' For the coarsenesses between sand and clay (0.2 — 0.002 mm.) are used the Swedish denominations 
Mo and Mjuna as I have not been able to find any corresponding English terms. .See Dr. Atterberg’s 
paper on the terminology of clastic sediments in Geol. Foren, i Stackholm Fdrh. 1905. P. 225 — 232. 
^ Spec, gravity of the hydrocloric acid 1.12. Duration of digestion one hour by 100° cent. 
