Acta naturalia Islandica - 01.02.1946, Page 11

INTRODUCTION
Some Critical Remarks on the Development and Present State of
the Geology of Iceland.
The study of the geology of Iceland was opened with the well-
known travels of Eggert Ólafsson and Bjarni Pálsson during the
years 1750 — 1757.
In the following one and a quarter centuries the accumulation
of knowledge went on very slowly. The country was visited at long
intervals by scientists who mostly spent only a few weeks or months
in the island, and owing to the great difficulties of travelling could
visit only a few limited areas.
When considering the achievements of this period, the general
state of affairs in Geology must naturally also be borne in mind.
But at the close of this period eonsiderable knowledge had neverthe-
less been gathered relating to the geology of the country. There was
above all the recognition of the country being almost entirely built
up of volcanic rocks, and a realization of a great number of inter-
esting problems which are represented by the wealth of volcanic
phenomena of the country.
But systematic research was entirely wanting. Such work was
begun by the Icelander Þorvalduf Thoroddsen with the financial
support of the Icelandic Parliament.
Thoroddsen made systematic travels through most of the country
during the years 1882 — 1898 with the aim of a pioneer geographical
and geological survey.
His work has been an invaluable foundation for later, more specia-
lized work, the more so as this indefatigable worker put all emphasis
on the collection of data.
Thoroddsen described the distribution and mutual relations of what