The voyage of the Vega round Asia and Europe; with a historical review of previous journeys along the north coast of the Old World (1882) (14596306010)

Identifier: voyageofvegaroun00nord (find matches)
Title: The voyage of the Vega round Asia and Europe; with a historical review of previous journeys along the north coast of the Old World
Year: 1882 (1880s)
Authors: Nordenskiöld, A. E. (Adolf Erik), 1832-1901 Leslie, Alexander
Subjects: Vega (Ship)
Publisher: New York, Macmillan and Co.
Contributing Library: MBLWHOI Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MBLWHOI Library



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matical find. Forseveral years back I have been zealous for the examina-tion of all substances of the nature of dust which fall to thesurface of the earth with rain or snow, and I have proved that aportion of them is of cosmic origin. This inconsiderable fall ofdust is thus of immense importance for the history of the de-velopment of our globe, and we regard it, besides, with theintense interest which we inevitably cherish for all that bringsus an actual experience regarding the material world beyondour globe. The inhabited countries of the earth, however, areless suitable for such investigations, as the particles of cosmicdust falling down here in very limited quantity can only withdifficulty be distinguished from the dust of civilization, arisingfrom human dwellings, from the offal of industry, from furnacesand the chimneys of steam-engines. The case is quite differenton the snow and ice-fields of the High North, remote fromhuman habitations and the tracks of steamers. Every foreign
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HAIR3TAR FROM THE TAIMUR COAST. Antedon EschricMii, J. Muller.Three-fifths of the natural size. CHAP. VII.) CURIOUS CRYSTALS. 249 grain of dust can here be easily distinguished and removed,and there is a strong probability that the offal of civilizationis here nearly wholly wanting. It is self-evident from thisthat I would not be disposed to neglect the first opportunityfor renewed investigations in the direction indicated, whichour involuntary rest at the drift-ice field offered. Immediately after the Vega lay-to, I therefore went down onthe ice in order to see whether here too some such metalliferousdust, as I had before found north of Spitzbergen, was not to befound on the surface of the ice. Nothing of the kind, however,was to be seen. On the other hand. Lieutenant Nordquistobserved small yellow spjcks in the snow, which I asked him tocollect and hand oxev for investigation to Dr. Kjellman. For Isupposed that the specks consisted of diatom ooze. After exa-mining them Dr. Kjellman