Rock sample from six localities in northern Australia were submitted for macropalaeontological examination. The rock samples and their fossil contents are described in this report.

A sample of diatomite was submitted for palaeontological examination. The results are of the examination are recorded in this report.

The discovery of the radioactive minerals carnotite and torbernite, in the vicinity of Rum jungle, was reported by Mr. Jack White on the 7th September 1949 in a letter to the Director of Mines, Alice Springs. Officers of the Department of Mines, Alice Springs confirmed his conclusions. The area was visited by J. Daly, J.F. Ivanac of the Bureau of Mineral Resources, and M. Sneddon of the Mines Department, Alice Springs late in September. They suggested that detailed geophysical and geological work should be carried out. H.J. Ward and G.F. Joklik made a detailed geological investigation in October and prepared a map which covers an area approximately half a mile by a quarter of a mile. A general reconnaissance of the country in the vicinity of Rum Jungle was also carried out. In conjunction with the geological work D.F. Dyson made a Geiger-Muller survey of the torbernite-carnotite deposit. An account of this investigation and its findings is set down in this report.

Consequent upon instructions received from the Superintending Geologist, Mr. C.J. Sullivan, the copper-gold deposit at Yeuralba was visited and inspected on the 9th, 10th, and 11th May, 1950. This geological report gives an overview of the inspection and its findings. The situation, history, workings, general geology, orebody, mineralisation, and production history of the deposit are briefly described.

Two methods are outlined in this report. The first, is a method intended for the determination of porosity of consolidated sediments. The method is applicable to those sediments included in rotary drill cores and hand specimens of rock collected in the field. The second, is a method intended for the determination of permeability. It is applicable to suitably sized samples of rocks and any other substances whose constitutions permit of their being treated by the procedure set out in this method, subject to their own inherent limitations relative to this method. This report provides a detailed description of each of these methods.

Following a report by Mr. McDougall of the existence of sulphur deposits, possibly of large dimensions, on New Britain, deposits at Lolobau, Pangalu and Kasolali were examined in the early part of June, 1950, by the Chief Geologist, accompanied by A.K.M. Edwards, Senior Geologist, Port Moresby and G.A. Taylor, Vulcanologist, Rabaul. This report gives an account of the examination and its findings.

The deposits of heavy mineral sands along the East Coast of Australia are being investigated primarily to determine their content of monazite. These deposits contain most of the known world reserves of zircon and rutile for which they are being exploited at various localities. Monazite, a phosphate of cerium, lanthanum, praseodymium and other rare earths, with thorium silicate, is utilised commercially as a source of cerium and of thorium. In this investigation, the thorium content on the monazite is being determined on the basis of its radioactivity. A principal deposit, and two smaller deposits, in the Fingal-Cudgen area were investigated. The geology of the area, methods of testing, and the results of the investigation are discussed in this report.

This collection of fossils from the Portland area consists chiefly from mollusca, but where a small portion of sediment was attached to the fossils, it was removed and washed down for micro-examination. The number given to each sample refers to the registered number in the Victorian Geological Survey Collection. The results of the examination are recorded in this report.

For the first time the hypostoma of an eodiscid trilobite, Pagetia bootes Walcott, is described. The presence of a doublure with terraced lines, and schizochroal eyes as observed on Australian Pagetiae, is mentioned. Obviously the trilobite nature of the Eodiscidae is no longer in question.

This report comprises descriptions of certain rocks collected by Dr. H.G. Raggatt in the Torquay - Airey's Inlet area, Victoria. The rocks are isolated specimens and no general conclusions applicable to the group as a whole have been drawn.