On 4th December, 1953 the discovery of oil in West Australian Petroleum Company's first exploration bore, Rough Range, No. 1, was announced. It was stated that the tested flow was 500 barrels a day. This is the first significant flow of oil in Australia, although small flows of oil and some flows of gas have occurred in other parts of the continent. Despite the fact that this is the first exploration bore for oil in this basin, the stratigraphy and structure of the basin is moderately well established. The main new fact that has so far come out of this bore is the indubitable presence of oil in a basin where no seepage or other direct sign of petroleum has been found. The following short statement of the stratigraphy, structure and palaeogeography of the Carnarvon Basin as at present known will indicate the geological background on which the West Australian Petroleum Company decided to test.

A review of volcanic activity in the Territory of Papua-New Guinea, and the Solomon and New Hebrides Islands, 1951-53. Observations are recorded for each of the individual localities under review.

On the 12th July the writer was informed by signal originated by the A.D.O. Baluan Island, that explosive activity had recommenced at the St. Andrew Strait vents. The writer departed Rabaul by air from Momote on the 14th July and arrived at Baluan per Administration work boat on the evening of the 15th July. En route to Momote on the evening of the 14th a brief aerial inspection was made of the active area. Two small craters were visible above sea level and some minor explosions originated from the western crater during this inspection. The writer spent one week in the area and departed Baluan on the 21st July. During this period, as no further explosive activity was manifest, two ground inspections were made of the western crater. The day after the writer departed Baluan mild activity (mainly effusive) recommenced at the eastern crater. The name Tuluman (Tuluman being the word for hot in the Manus language) has been proposed for this new volcano. The name embraces the whole of the structure, that is, the two small cones above sea level as well as the submarine portion of the structure. The two small structures above sea level are referred to as east and west Tuluman craters respectively.

Report on the activities of the administrative and technical sections in the Katherine-Darwin area, to October, 1954. A brief account is given of geological and geophysical operations. The results of prospecting and development work are summarised.

The 1954 investigation was primarily concerned with examination of as many of the thermal areas as possible in the short time available, and to record temperatures which could be used as a basis for comparison in future investigations. The writer arrived at Talasea on the "Theresa May" on the 28th August after completing investigations in the Langila Crater area and on Vitu Island. Over the next three days thermal areas near Talasea and west of Pangala village on the north coast of Garua Harbour were visited and temperatures taken.

During the reconnaissance survey carried out in 1952 by Mr. J.E. Thompson, Senior Geologist of the Bureau of Mineral Resources, four traverses were made across the Island and established the following sequence: [see record for detail]. Because of the lack of good exposures, and unreliable dips, no stratigraphic thicknesses could be obtained. Samples of the limestones and tuffaceous siltstones were subsequently sent to Canberra and their microfauna examined by the authors. Following is the list of the faunal determinations.

The results of the first detailed survey of the Cotter River and Uriarra Area are recorded. This work was undertaken to provide a detailed geological map of the Cotter River Uriarra area. Certain problems arising from a previous regional survey of the area were investigated in detail. These were: (a) determination of the nature and extent of the Cotter "porphyry"; (b) division of "undifferentiated" Silurian lavas, tuffs and porphyries into units; (c) the location of the continuation of the Murrumbidgee Fault, if present, in the lower Cotter River area.

This report deals with the application of geophysical methods (other than radiometric) to the Coronation Hill Radioactive Deposit. Results of radiometric gridding of the surface and costeans, field sludge assays, and radiometric drill hole logging are not treated as these are included in entirety in R.B. Allen's report "The Coronation Hill Uranium Prospect," Bureau of Mineral Resources Record 1954/17. Structural indications from magnetic evidence are discussed. These comprise several faults, or zones of weakness, one of which may coincide with the axis of the surface radio-activity. Several interesting magnetic features for which no cause can be proposed are also noted. The highly uncertain nature of the deductions made is emphasised. The method of approach to geophysical applications at Coronation Hill is detailed, and recommendations are made for possible future work.

Report on the activities of the administrative and technical sections in the Katherine-Darwin area, to May, 1954. A brief account is given of geophysical operations. The results of prospecting and development work are summarised.

A geophysical survey, comprising self-potential and electromagnetic methods, was made during the 1952 and 1953 field seasons at the Labour Victory Copper Mine, about 7 miles north-north-west of the Mt. Elliott Copper Mine, near Selwyn, Northern Queensland. The self-potential survey covered an area of 2,400 feet x 900 feet, but owing to other operational commitments during the 1953 season, the electromagnetic survey was confined to the southern part of the area. The primary object of the work was to determine the extent of the mineralisation associated with the known lode, which strikes north-south through the centre of the surveyed area. The self-potential survey revealed a well-defined anomaly nearly 1,000 feet long, in the northern part of the area. The axis of this anomaly is parallel to, but about 75 feet west of, the known lode. The disused main shaft of the now idle mine is at the southern end of the anomaly, which in this vicinity deviates slightly towards the south-east, i.e. towards the known lode. No workings exist in the area of the indication, and no outcrops were found, the rock formations being hidden for the most part by alluvium. The electromagnetic results confirmed those of the self-potential survey, but the electromagnetic indication extends farther to the south. The results suggest that the indication may be caused by lenticular bodies and that these are disturbed by cross faults. No mineralised deposits were indicated by the electrical results in the southern part of the area. It is recommended that some trenching and geological and geochemical work be done in the area of the strong electrical indication. If the results of the testing show that the indication is not due to graphitic or pyritic schists, it is recommended that a number of diamond drill holes be put down. Suggested locations for five such drill holes are given. If the anomaly is due to ore the geophysical results suggest an ore body of considerable size.