In November, 1947, at the joint request of the Queensland Government and four companies which are associated with the search for oil in the area, the Bureau commenced geophysical work in the Roma district of Central Queensland. During the first phase of the geophysical operations, gravity and magnetic methods were applied in the reconnaissance of a large area. The object of these operations was to disclose gravity or magnetic anomalies which might be related to geological structures, indicate the broader structural elements of the sedimentary basin in which the oil and gas occur, and enable areas to be selected for investigation by more exact methods. The purpose of this report is to state clearly the geological problem and the geophysical methods adopted in the attempt to solve it. The geology of the area, possible oil-bearing structures, and the application of geophysical methods to date, are discussed. A sketch map and geological section plan are included.

This report describes the results of an examination of six samples taken from a cutting approximately 40 miles north of Injune.

This report describes the fossils collected by D.M. Traves early in 1948 from the Barkly Tableland and adjacent areas in Queensland and the Northern Territory. The sequence of Cambrian faunas as far as it can be recognised in the present collection corresponds to the revised sequence given by F.W. Whitehouse in "The Cambrian Faunas of North-East Australia". This report comprises stratigraphical and palaeontological notes, and a preliminary list of fossils with notes on the lithology of the rocks in which they occur.

The deposits of heavy-mineral sands which are at present being exploited along the East Coast occur on or within a few hundred feet of the ocean beaches. The occurrence of this deposit at a distance of nearly 1.5 miles from the beach suggests the possibility that other deposits may be found at some distance from the coast line. Of incidental interest is the possibility that the deposit, which presumably was formed by wave or surf action, may be at slightly higher level than the deposits adjacent to present day beaches. The locality, examination process, origin, and nature of the deposits are discussed in this report. The results, including estimates of the quantities of heavy mineral concentrates and the grades of the mineral bearing sands, are tabulated here.

Samples of "glauconite" were collected from the glauconitic sandstone at Lakes Entrance and the glauconitic fossiliferous Miocene limestone of Maslin's Beach and Hackham. The refractive indices of the samples were measured. The results were compared against the range of refractive indices for glauconite, as given by A.N. Winchell. The composition of the samples and the observed results are discussed in this report.

This report describes the results of a microexamination of rock samples collected from Dampier Downs, Mt. Clarkson, and Mt. Anderson.

This report describes the results of a microexamination of four rock samples from the Kimberley area.

In 1943, an investigation was carried out on portions of the Latrobe Valley Brown Coalfield, using the electrical resistivity method, to see whether or not this method could prove useful in determining the depth to coal. At this time, the possibility of a gravity survey was discussed, and in January, 1948, gravity tests were commenced using a Humble-Truman gravimeter. Later, a substantial number of the readings were repeated with a more modern type of gravity meter, and a few new stations established. The results were subjected to a preliminary investigation soon after the completion of field work, but it was evident that a much more detailed study would be required before an interpretation could be completed. Prior to these tests, discussions took place between technical officers with a view to selecting an area for testing on which the results could be related to some of the known geological structures, and, subsequently, an area was selected in the Parish of Hazelwood for this purpose. The geology of the area, survey method, and results are discussed in this report. Accompanying geological plans are included.

The area under review in this report comprises a large territory located in south-western Victoria and south-eastern South Australia. The scope of direct geological information in the areas underlain by marine Tertiary rocks is severely limited, by very poor exposure of the underlying rocks at the surface. Under such conditions, once the scattered exposures have been examined and recorded on the map, little more can be done by surface work; the geologist is thrown back on a study of well and bore records and of the results of geophysical measurements. Considerable literature has been read and records of the principal bores in the area have been examined in detail. It has been recommended that a geophysical survey of the area be conducted, to determine, if possible, any structural features which might exist at depth in this southern-most extension of the Murray River Artesian Basin, which is made up of Tertiary to Recent formations, resting, in the area under review, on a basement of Pre-Cambrian or Jurassic Rocks. This report comprises an overview of the general geology, geological history, stratigraphy and topography of the area under consideration. Geological, bore-hole and well data has been compiled and tabulated. A geological sketch map is included.

In the Preliminary Report on Cambrian Fossils (1948/073) collected in the Northern Territory, locality B.68, 20.4 miles west of Djarra, was placed among the localities with the western development of the Middle Cambrian Xystridura-fauna. Mr. P.B. Nye has drawn the writer's attention to the fact that the Djarra locality is in Queensland 90 miles east from the Northern Territory border; i.e. far away from those localities with a typical "western fauna" and near those with an "eastern fauna". A re-examination of the fossils and palaeogeographical interpretation of the locality near Djarra therefore becomes necessary.