;U2 2'he Ameiucan Geoloyist. November, 1897 
structure in tho hand specimen. Considerable epidote has been de- 
veloped. This effusive is accompanied by beds of tuff. The youngest 
formation of the island, the quartz-porphyry, includes fragments of 
the iabrador-porphyrite and the other rocks. It is sometimes raicro- 
granitic in structure but becomes felsitic and even vitreous in contact 
with the older rocks. Like the other formations, it has been subjected 
to movement, which is shown by a line of friction breccia along the east 
coast of the island. 
The formations of Hogland are thus pre-Cambrian iu age and separa- 
ted by two discordances into three groups. The geology of the island 
has been worked out by Dr. Ramsay and to him the geologists were in- 
debted for a delightful and profitable day. 
Finland presents many of the problems of pre-Cambrian geology 
which are under discussion in America. Dr. Sederholm has just 
(August) brought out a brochure, which appears in the form of a 
Bulletin of the Geological Commission of Finland, on "The Archsean 
Sedimentary Formations of Southwestern Finland." In this brochure 
is discussed the petrographical character of the formations. 
It is to be followed by a second brochure' in which the age of these 
pre-Cambrian sediments is treated. This will be anticipated with 
interest by the American students of Pre-Cambrian rocks. 
One of the pleasant features of a trip that was full of pleasure and 
profit, was the cordial good will and most generous hospitality man- 
ifested toward the visiting geologists by the citizens of Finland. Both 
public and private hospitality were shown the geologists with lavish 
generosity. 
At the opening banquet of the excursion, given to the geologists by 
the citizens of Helsingfors, Senator Mechelin, Prof. Hjelt (Proctor of 
the University of Helsingfors) and Baron von Willebrand welcomed the 
guests. Responses were made by M. Barrois, M. Vellain, M. Costin- 
Vellea, Prof. Brogger, Prof. Cohen, Prof. Iddings and Dr. Sederholm. 
That the Finland excursion was remarkably successful in every par- 
ticular is due to the untiring efforts of the able guides, Drs. J. J. 
Sederholm and Wilhelm Ramsay. 
St. Petersbourg. r. b. 
[Note. — In the foregoing excursion the following American geologists 
participated: Bascom, Daly, Emei-son, Hobbs, Iddings, Neat, Penfield, 
Pirsson; the total number being 115, Ed.] 
PERSONAL AND SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 
West Virginia Geological Survey. At the last meeting 
(►f the legislature a bill was passed providing for a geological 
survey of the state. The survey was put under a board com- 
posed or the governor of the state, the state treasurer, the pres- 
ident of the State University, the president of the State Board 
of Agriculture and the director of the West Virginia Ag- 
ricultural Experiment Station. This board held its first 
