Notes on Cambro-Ordovician fossils collected by the Oxford University Ellesmere Land Expedition 1934-5

Abstract

<h3>Summary</h3> To a description of the fossils collected by Mr. Bentham on the Oxford University expedition to Ellesmere Land, the author has added a re-determination and description of some fossils from the same area collected in 1898-9 by Per Schei on the second Norwegian Arctic Expedition in the Fram. All these specimens, mainly brachiopods and trilobites, are from Cambrian and Lower Ordovician sediments exposed along the western side of Kane Basin from Bache Peninsula (latitude 79° N.) to Scoresby Bay (latitude 80° N.). Lower and Middle Cambrian rocks rest upon a peneplaned Archaean surface on the south shore of Bache Peninsula, and Middle Cambrian rocks are represented in Per Schei9s collection from a locality at the south-east tip of the peninsula. Collections from the remaining seven of Mr. Bentham9s localities, and other of Per Schei9s specimens, indicate rocks of Lower Ordovician age. The sequence for North-West Greenland as developed on the opposite side of Kane Basin (in Washington Land and Inglefield Land) is more completely known and includes formations not yet recognized in Ellesmere Land and Grinnefi Land, and the lowest Cambrian horizon of Ellesmere Land (Bache Peninsula) has not yet been found in Greenland; but the two columns correspond perfectly in most respects. In the palaeontological section, descriptions are given of four new genera and 10 new species of trilobites, and of two new brachiopod species. The thanks of the Society were unanimously voted to Prof. A. E. True-man, retiring from the office of Vice-President and from the Council; to Mr. W. N. Edwards, retiring from the office of Secretary; and to Dr. L. R. Cox, Prof. H. P. Lewis, Dr. F. J. North and Dr. J. Phemister, retiring from the Council.