The occurrence of ferruginous laterite in the vicinity of Moss Vale, Bundanoon and Wingello, County of Camden, has long been known. In order to define any zones enriched in alumina, a subsurface prospecting campaign was undertaken by the Australian Aluminium Production Commission at Wingello during July and August, 1948 and at Ellsmore in the early part of 1949. The results of this investigation and previous work are summarized in this report. Detailed descriptions of the laterite and of the individual deposits are given.

In January 1949 a brief examination was made of the area bounded by the Port Moresby - Rouna Road, the Rigo Road and the coastline between Port Moresby and Bogora Inlet, with the object of determining whether supplies of water and raw materials for the manufacture of cement were available. Possible quarry sites were chosen and specimens of the likely raw clay materials, of the limestone at Boatless Inlet, of reef limestone and limestone from the Main Road (or "Nine Mile") Quarry collected. Fourteen of these specimens are being analysed for silica, alumina, lime, iron, magnesia, carbon dioxide and water and total alkalies. As the suitability of the various raw materials examined depends largely on their chemical composition, this report must be regarded as only a preliminary one until these results are received. In this report the availability of raw materials and the general geology of the area are discussed, and a description given of the deposits of raw materials examined in the course of the visit.

This report describes the results of a micropalaeontological examination of three rock samples from the Poole Range area.

An inspection of radioactive minerals was conducted in the Marble Bar area. The localities of Wodgina, Mount Francisco, Pilgangoora, Alisa Downs, Trig Hill and Cooglegong were visited. Occurrences of monazite, yttrotantalite, pilbarite and radio-active columbite were investigated and samples collected for further examination. An account of the inspection and subsequent findings is given in this report.

This report describes the results of a micropalaeontological examination of rock samples from Pidinga.

This report describes the results of a micropalaeontological examination of rock samples from the Northwest Basin, Western Australia.

This report describes the results of a micropalaeontological examination of rock samples from the Lesi and Oiapu structures, Papua.

The possibilities of finding evaporite deposits in Queensland were investigated by C.L. Knight and E.K. Sturmfels on a reconnaissance trip from 10th July until 5th August, 1949. The localities where indications of evaporite deposits were found or from which they are reported, are classified on the following pages according to the geological formations, and their position is shown on the accompanying map.

The Great Cobar ore deposit was discovered in 1870. Production commenced in 1871 and since that date mining at Cobar has been more or less continuous. The field has produced copper, gold, and silver to the value of approximately £A27,000,000. Cobar has been the most important producer of copper in New South Wales, and in recent years, has also been the most important gold-mining centre. The Zinc Corporation Limited is carrying out, with the aid of the Bureau, an extensive geological and geophysical examination of the area, with the hope of finding other orebodies. The Bureau itself has extended geological mapping over an area of approximately 2,000 square miles in the Cobar-Nymagee-Canbelego district with the ultimate aim of discovering other ore deposits, or even fields of the Cobar type. In the Nymagee district, North Broken Hill Limited is also carrying out, in co-operation with the Bureau, an extensive exploration programme. The history, production, reserves and prospects of the New Occidental, Chesney, and New Cobar mines are discussed in this report.

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