This report summerises the kinds, sources, and handlers or processors of asbestos in Australia, 1944.

The presence of foraminifera in the Permian sediments of Australia was recorded as early as 1882. Some systematic work was done up to 1905, but there was no further investigation into these micro-fossils until 1937. A considerable amount of research is still necessary before it can be stated whether or not a definite system of zoning, based on micro-faunas, can be applied to the Permian rocks of Australia. It seems possible, however, that certain species may be characteristic of the Upper and Middle Permian deposits. In the extensive collections of Permian rocks examined from the Hunter River District in New South Wales, assemblages of foraminifera rather than restricted species have proved useful for zonal purposes and this method of zoning should prove valuable when more material is examined from the Permian deposits of other States.

"Greisen Lode" is the name given locally to the foot-wall section of a wider mineralised zone, which will be referred to as the Greisen Orebody in this report. Mining operations have been carried out by tributers in recent years on several portions of the orebody, namely, stoping from the Main Tunnel, stoping from an adit-crosscut driven from the No. 4 Gossan Bench, and some stoping operations from a level above the latter bench. During the past three months a level has been driven for 260 feet westwards from the Main Tunnel to prospect the orebody at this level and develop it for mining. Over the past few weeks a detailed geological examination of the orebody has been made and the area involved mapped on a scale of 20 feet to an inch by means of plane table and alidade.

A report on the Lake Cargellico magnesite deposit following a visit on 30th May, 1944.

During the period August 1942 - August 1943, a boring campaign was conducted in the Coorabin section of the coalfield by the Commonwealth Coal Commission. The boring was done by the Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission of New South Wales under the supervision of the Mineral Resources Survey Branch of the Department of Supply and Shipping. When the Coal Commission withdrew, and before the plant was removed from the field, an additional bore was put down by the Department of Supply and Shipping in the Oaklands section of the field. This report contains the results of analyses of the bores.

This sample of bryozoal marl from Montagu, Tasmania, was collected by Mr. F. Canavan. It contains a faunal assemblage typical of the Balcombian Stage of the Middle Miocene as found in Victoria and can be referred to Longford substage of the Balcombian.

Gibsonvale tin field is situated approximately three miles southeast of the village of Kikoira. This preliminary report was prepared following an examination of the tin field by the writer. Aspects of the general and economic geology of the field are discussed herein.

Results of a micro-faunal examination of samples from bores Nos. 188, 195, 208, and 213, parish of Maryvale, Victoria.

This report deals with the results obtained in tests with the electrical resistivity method on the brown coalfields at Morwell and Traralgon, Victoria, in an attempt to develop a rapid method of determining the presence of the coal and its depth below the surface. These tests were carried out in the latter part of 1943 by the Geophysical Section of the Mineral Resources Survey at the request of the Victorian Electricity Commission. Thirty-four resistivity-electrode separation tests were made over a wide variety of geological sections in the parishes of Maryvale, Hazelwood and Loy Yang. These tests were preceded by a number of tests by specific resistivity made on various types of overburden and on coal exposed in the open cuts at Yallourn. This report discusses the results of these tests although verbal information concerning them has already been made available to the Commission's officers. It will be shown that under certain conditions, the predictions of the depth to coal are reliable within fairly narrow limits while under other conditions the predictions are misleading. It is proposed in the first instance to outline the method and apparatus used in these tests. In addition, it is considered advisable to outline the methods of interpretation employed in order that the conclusions reached will by fully appreciated. In addition to discussing the resistivity results, the report deals briefly with the possibility of using gravity methods on the same prospecting problem. Calculations have been made of gravity anomalies to be expected from certain coal sections and it is shown that under favourable conditions this might prove of value in determining the presence and position of the coal.

Red ochre of high quality has been produced from deposits in Ophthalmia Range since 1937. The bulk of the production has been derived from one lease, No. 37OH, the deposits on which are the subject of this report. The locality was visited in June, 1944. This reports comprises notes on access, topography, geology, economic geology, and production. A geological plan of the vicinty of the ochre deposits accompanies this report.