The Geographical Journal (Journal of the Royal Geographical Society): Volume XVI, No. 6 [‎381v] (115/232)

G88
THE MONTHLY RECORD.
width, and interrupted by frequent bars. The Indian river is much smaller, being
very shallow, while the channel is filled for long stretches with large angular
boulders. The forest trees consist of the white and black spruces, the aspen and
balsam poplars, and a species of birch ; the white spruce (which, especially on the
Klondike, is of surprising size and quality, considering the latitude, and can be
easily floated down to Dawson) being the most important tree for general purposes.
The ridges are, except on the higher points, covered with an open forest of small
trees. The geology of the district is complicated, but four series of stratified and
foliated rocks, mostly palseozoic, can be distinguished, as well as granite and other
eruptives of tertiary age. Of the former, the Klondike river series, which occupies
a zone from north-west to south-east between the Klondike and Indian rivers,
without, however, touching either, is the most important, as it constitutes the
country rock along the productive portion of all the richer creeks, and is apparently
genetically connected with the occurrence of the gold. The rocks are mainly light-
coloured and greenish micaceous schists, greatly crushed and altered, and almost
certainly derived originally from eruptives. The gravels are classed by Mr. McConnell
under four heads, viz., stream gravels (present), terrace gravels, river gravels, and old
valley gravels, the last-named including the remarkable deposit, very uniform from
top to bottom, known as the quartz drift. It is formed of a compact mixture of
small clear quartz grains, minute scales of sericite, and rounded or wedge-shaped
boulders of quartz. Gold in paying quantities occurs in the stream gravels, the
terrace gravels, and the quartz drift, and the aggregate length of the paying portion
of the creeks, as at present known, is estimated at some 50 miles, while a moderate
estimate of the gold included gives a value of about £19,000,000. Other sources
will, however, in time be utilized. The report is accompanied by a map on the
scale of 2 miles to 1 inch.
POLAR RESIGNS.
Work of the Russian and Swedish Parties in Spitsbergen. —Further
details are now to hand respecting the scientific work carried out in connection
with the degree measurement in Spitsbergen, especially that of the Russian party,
which met with’ a cordial recejition from the Academy of Sciences on its return to
St. Petersburg on October 21. Some account of the operations during the winter,
in which the observers were for nine months isolated from the rest of the world, is
giv en in the Deutsche Rundschau (vol. 23, p. 45). Their work included astronomical,
pendulum, and hourly meteorological observations, as well as a careful study of the
aurora borealis, with photographs of the same and of its spectra, the latter of which
had never before been obtained. After November, snow-storms of great violence
became frequent and caused much annoyance. In December the temperature was
comparatively high the mean being 23° Fahr., or higher than at St. Peters
burg. Ihe coldest day (—25'6 Fahr.) was March 4, while on April 13 the
temperature was still —18’4 Fahr. Geodetic operations were commenced on
March 31, and were continued with great activity in spite of unfavourable con
ditions. The work accomplished, which is of much value from a geographical point
of view, is summarized in the tenth number of Petermanns Mitteilungen. The
southern part of Spitsbergen was crossed in a variety of directions, the connection
between the two coasts being established by way of Mounts Hedgehog and
Keibau,. on which the signals necessary for the triangulation A surveying technique in which the position of a network of points is determined by creating a series of triangles between them and measuring at least two of the internal angles and one side length. were erected. It
proved impossible to proceed north up the Stor fjord, but Mount Chydenius and
the Svenberg were readied from the west coast, and the necessary signals erected.
As has already been announced, the work remained incomplete, owing to the im
possibility of effecting a junction with that of the Swedish party. Details of the