The Northern Australia Development Committee (a Committee composed of representatives of the Commonwealth and the States of Queensland and Western Australia) has recommended that a series of regional surveys be made in Northern Australia with the object of providing data which will enable development of the region to be planned on a scientific basis. These surveys are being made under the direction of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization. From June to September 1946 the writer accompanied the C.S.I.R.O. party which was engaged in a reconnaissance survey of the Katherine-Darwin region. Christian, ecologist and leader of the party; Mr. G. A. Stewart, soil surveyor; and Mr. S. T. Blake, botanist. The area examined consists of 27,000 square miles in the north-western portion of the Northern Territory, west of longitude 133° east and between latitude 12° and 15° south. (See Plate 1 for locality map and reference to Australian map grid.) The primary object of the survey was to determine pastoral and agricultural possibilities. A geologist was attached to the party mainly because the area to be surveyed had been very incompletely mapped and the existing geological records did not provide an adequate background for the soil and pastoral work to be undertaken. The primary function of the geologist was, therefore, to provide this background for soil interpretation, but it was also intended that he should gather as much information as possible on the stratigraphy and mineral possibilities of the area. During the course of the investigation it was found, that geological mapping provided the essential framework into which much of the other scientific data could be fitted, and a fairly complete investigation of the stratigraphy and geomorphology of the area became essential. An account of the stratigraphy and geomorphology are submitted in this report with a reconnaissance geological map of the region. This geological map is the result of the combined work of the party and could not have been completed without the full co-operation of the other members and particularly of Mr. G. A. Stewart. An area of approximately 27,000 square miles had to be mapped by a series of traverses in a period of approximately four months, and the geology of the areas between these traverses had then to be filled in from available geological maps and records, and from aerial photographs which covered only parts of the region investigated. (See Plate 2.)

This report describes the results of a micropalaeontological examination of samples taken from bores at Bond Springs, Northern Territory.

The field season in the Kimberley Division of Western Australia for the year 1948 extended from May 2nd to October 15th. It is estimated that about four weeks of this time was spent in activities not directly related to geological work. Three distinct areas were covered during the season, these being Dampier Land, Mt. Ramsay Area, and Nerrima Structure. An account is given of the personnel involved and the work completed within each area.

This report describes the results of a micropalaeontological examination of samples from the Kopperamanna bore.

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

Legacy product - no abstract available

In March of this year Mr. A.E. Hawker, of Jindare, forwarded to Canberra a small bottle containing water and a yellowish, oily substance which had formed a coating on the inside of the bottle. Microscopic examination of part of the coating proved the presence of globules of oil and also revealed Desmid algae. It seemed probable that the oil had been derived from the decomposition of algae or other recently dead plants. However, as the locality from which the sample was taken lies within a belt of Cambrian limestone, it was possible that the oil had its origin in this rock. While recently engaged in field work in the Northern Territory, Mr. C.J. Sullivan and the writer examined the localities where oil was said to occur. This report comprises an account of the field observations and geological notes made during the examination.

A deposit of heavy minerals on a beach near Cape Everard was reported by Mr. H. Smith of Noorinbee, and it was examined by Dr. D.E. Thomas, Chief geologist, Victorian Mines Department, and the writer on 5th and 6th January, 1949. The beach sand deposits were examined, and samples were taken for analysis. The results of these investigations, and subsequent conclusions, are described in this report.

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

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.