This report presents the results of a gravity reconnaissance survey which was carried out under the writer's supervision during the last quarter of 1950. The report describes in some detail the methods adopted in carrying out the field work and the errors to which the results are subject. The results are discussed only briefly and the interpretation given must be regarded as a preliminary one subject to modification as further data are accumulated in extending or otherwise adding to the reconnaissance.

Four days were spent in the area, observations being severely limited, firstly by lack of knowledge, on the part of the observer, of overall topography such as could be obtained from aerial photos or viewing the area from an aircraft and secondly by the dense fog which covered the area for the greater portion of the time spent there. Captain Fox of Q.E.A. had previously informed me that during the aerial inspection made by Mr. G.A. Taylor, three areas of "burnt" ground had been observed. Mr. Jones during his stay in the area had located two of those and in addition, two more minor areas. During my stay in the area those fumarolic areas were inspected and in addition, the third area located and inspected. The three major areas shall be referred to as the lower, middle and upper fumarolic areas.

At the request of the Government Geologist of Western Australia some gravity observations were made near Bullsbrook, a small township on the Perth-Geraldton road, 27 miles from Perth. It was thought that the gravity observations would help resolve a problem connected with the water supply of the township on which the advice of the Geological Survey of Western Australian had been sought. Because the gravity method had proved successful elsewhere in determining the thickness of sediments overlying dense basement rocks, it was though that some estimate of the thickness of sediments underlying Bullsbrook could be made by using the method. This report gives an account of the operations and their results.

This report describes the results of a micropalaeontological examination of samples from bore No. 8253. Results are given for samples taken from the depth of 50 to 1000 feet down.

The material described in this report was collected and forwarded for examination by Mr. M.R. Banks of the Geology Department, University of Tasmania. The report comprises notes on the lithology, fossil content, state of preservation, and correlation, of the samples.

A sample of lignite from a new water bore on the Freud River was sent for micropalaeontological examination. The results of the examination are described in this report.

Nine samples of clays from Western Australia were received from R.S. Matheson for micropalaeontological examination. No microfossils were found in these clays. A description of these samples is given in this report.

A magnetic survey of the Kunimo creek area near Kuta in the Central Highlands of New Guinea was carried out between July 17th and July 28th, 1950. It was hoped that the survey would trace the course of the auriferous wash originally laid down in the bed of a former creek but now concealed by overburden of soil and unconsolidated volcanic ash. This report gives an account of the magnetic survey and its results.

Three samples of limestone were collected during a geological survey of the Rigo area. One sample is of Upper Cretaceous age and the others of Lower Middle Miocene age. The samples were submitted for micropalaeontological examination. The results of this examination are described here.

Attention has been directed to the cobalt workings at Carcoar as a possible source of radioactive minerals in two ways. During testing of museum specimens for radioactivity, it was found that cobalt ore from Carcoar was strongly radioactive. Also, the occurrence of uranium in the cobalt ores was reported by Mr. McKillop, formerly a land holder in the area, who submitted a copy of a report signed by Professor T.H. Laby, certifying the presence of uranium in samples examined by him, and at a later date, a sample containing an uranium mineral. A brief visit was paid to the area in 1948, and the presence of strong radioactivity on dumps was confirmed. A more extensive survey of the area was, therefore, undertaken by geophysicists during 1949-50 and 1950-51. This report gives an account of the geophysical operations carried out in the vicinity of the Carcoar cobalt workings and describes the results of these investigations.