Page:The Journal of geology (IA journalofgeology21894univers).pdf/253

Dr. Drygalski describes in detail a valley on the west coast of Greenland, one peculiarity of which is that there are three considerable depressions along its axis. These are occupied by lakes, some of which certainly, and all of which probably, have rock basins. Another peculiarity of the valley is that it crosses a narrow highland between two fjords. One end lies at the sea level, the other 211 m. above it, the slight drainage through the valley having a fall of this amount at the end of the valley. This latter point is nearly 100 m. below the divide in the valley, from which drainage flows in opposite directions. The valley is about 5½ km. long, about 1 km. wide, and has an average depth of about 336 m. While the valley is well above sea level, and therefore no fjord, it is pointed out that, with a relatively higher sea, it would become a fairly typical fjord. In the judgment of the author, the situation is such as to preclude the idea that the valley is a river valley, or that it is a river valley modified by ice action, and the author is "very much inclined to extend this conclusion to the fjords" he has seen. Dr. Drygalski advocates the view that this valley owes its origin primarily to the weathering of the gneiss in which it lies, and suggests that joint-planes, by determining the position of greatest weathering, determined also the position of the valley. Subsequently, after the valley had come into existence by weathering, the ice removed the weathered products, and an undetermined depth of solid rock below. The author leaves it to be understood that this is, in his judgment, a principal, if not the principal method by which the fjords with which he is familiar have originated.

This report presents the results of investigation conducted by Professor Clark and his assistants during the year 1892 upon the coastal plain formations of New Jersey. The report, with a new geological map, covers the area of the U. S. Geological Survey atlas sheets of New Brunswick and Sandy