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The geology of Kong Karls Land, Svalbard

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 May 2009

D. G. Smith ,
W. B. Harland ,
N. F. Hughes  and
C. A. G. Pickton
D. G. Smith
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, Trinity College, Dublin 2
W. B. Harland
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EQ
N. F. Hughes
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EQ
C. A. G. Pickton
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EQ
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Summary

The only substantial descriptions of the small, generally ice-bound archipelago in eastern Svalbard were from an expedition led by Nathorst in 1898 which landed in Kong Karls Land for fourteen days. Our paper amplifies those findings, from work with a helicopter-borne expedition in 1969. The easternmost of the three main islands, and all the small islands, are formed of basic igneous rocks of Cretaceous age. Two of the main islands, Svenskøya and Kongsøya, are formed of latest Triassic to early Cretaceous strata, protected by caps of Cretaceous lava that determine their shape and the general topography. The third, Abeløya, is basaltic throughout.

Type
Articles
Information
Geological Magazine , Volume 113 , Issue 3 , May 1976 , pp. 193 - 232
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1976

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