Rit (Vísindafélag Íslendinga) - 01.06.1923, Page 115

The shell strata in the clay banks by Akranes, (Langi-
sandur, 1—5 m. above sea-Ievel, No. 2 on fig. 6), Heynes,
(1 — 10 m. above sea-Ievel) and the lower fossiliferous
clay strata in the terraces at Oröf (1 — 10 m. above sea-
level, No. 4 on fig. 7) are probably the oldest. The species
have without doubt lived in water of rather a low temper-
ature, under similar conditions to those now obtaining
on the west coast of Greenland (Sipho togatus, Astarte
Banksii, var. Warhami, Saxicava rugosa, larger and thicker
shells than those now found off Iceland, but similar to
those now found off Greenland 50-52 mm; Pecten island-
icus, a large specimen; Mya truncata, var. uddevallensis,
thick shells).
The shell deposits at Melabakkar, Ásbakkar, Súlueyri,
Laxá and Urriðaá resemble present day shells on the north
and east coasts of Iceland, and seem to answer to the shells
in the lowest strata in the terraces in Borgarfirði (Neðra-
nes).
At the top af the terraces at Gröf there are clay strata
(15-17 m. above sea-level, No. 2 on fig. 7) with One boreal
species (Anomia squamula), divided from the underlying clay
strata at the bottom of the terraces (with the arctic fauna,
No. 4 on fig. 7), by gravel and sand layers. This stratum was
without doubt formed in sea of a warmer temperature than
the lower strata, and seems to correspond to the boreal
fauna in the terraces in Borgarfjörður. It was probably de-
posited when the sea was receding from the 40 — 50 m.
level (No. 5 on fig. 8).
The shell strata at Brekkuhöfði (4-6 m. above sea-Ievel)
are probably somewhat more recent, being formed as the
sea continued to recede, when it stood about 20 m. higher
than at present, (2 boreal species: Cyprina islandica and
Anomia squamula).
The shell strata at Kutanes (abóut 2 m. above sea-level)
is a beach formation, formed very late in the period dur-
ing which the sea was receding, when the water had at-
tained a considerably milder temperature and when it stood