Svalbard 
of labor. While coal is widely distributed in the 
archipelago, the most extensive beds are on the 
shores of Ice Fiord; large amounts are also found 
in Lowe Sound and at Kings Bay. 
As far as determined there are more than ten 
thousand million tons, in situ, of which nearly 
three quarters is of the tertiary formation, — an 
excellent steam coal of high quality. About one 
sixth are carboniferous beds, mainly good coking 
coal. The remainder is cretaceous coal, an inferior 
grade with much ash (Rudmose Brown: “Polar 
Regions.” 1927). 
Mining activities are practically centered in 
Ice Fiord, where the following mines have been 
operated: Cape Boheman, Dutch-Norwegian, 
abandoned ;: Barentsburg, Dutch at Green Harbor; 
Grumant, Anglo-Russian, at Coles Bay; Hjort- 
hamn, Norwegian, east side of Advent Bay; 
Longyear, Norwegian, west side Advent Bay. 
At Kings Bay is the Ny-Aalesund Norwegian 
mine, and at the head of Lowe Sound is Sveagruvan, 
a Swedish mine on Braganza Bay. There is also 
to be mentioned Bruce City, Klaas Billen Bay, 
Ice Fiord, a Scotch mine which is soon to be 
worked. There are nearly a dozen other pre- 
empted coal beds, some abandoned as unprofitable. 
others in preparation for mining. 
Work continues throughout the year, and storage 
bins of a capacity of about two hundred thousand 
tons hold the winter product, since freight boats 
[135]