Legacy product - no abstract available

In January, 1951, samples of radioactive minerals stated to have been collected in the Mt. Kavanagh (Cavenagh) area, Central Australia, were submitted to the Bureau by Mr. Norman Ashmore. Two radioactive minerals were present, one apparently allanite, and the other a strongly radioactive mineral of composition similar to betafite. The opportunity was taken of the presence in Alice Springs of the geophysical party destined for Rum Jungle and the geological party destined for Maranboy to make a brief inspection of the area. Two days were spent in the area. This report gives an account of the investigations and their results.

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.

At the invitation of Prof. S.W. Carey, the author visited Tasmania during the period 15th November to 2nd December, 1950, to take part in discussions on Cambrian geology in Tasmania and to learn in the field the results of recent investigations on Tasmanian older Palaeozoic rocks. During the visit the author had the opportunity of expressing his opinions both on newly discovered fossils and on the age of some Palaeozoic units, and the main object of this report is to record these opinions.

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.

Field work at Rum Jungle commenced on 18th May and terminated 15th November. The greater part of the field season was spent in detailed geological and geophysical examination and testing of White's Deposit, Dyson's Find, Mt. Fitch Radioactive Area, Brown's Workings, and Brown's Extended. The results of these investigations are summarised in this report.

The Nunyerrie Asbestos Deposits are associated with a remnant of metamorphosed ultrabasic rocks in granite country, which is part of a group of Pre-Cambrian rocks of Archaean age. The ultrabasics form an east northeast trending ridge about 1 mile long and 250 feet average width, which rises to a maximum elevation of 300 feet above the general level of the surrounding country. The belt of ultrabasics is highly sheared and jointed and consists chiefly of serpentines, but talcose rocks, chlorite schists, authophyllite rock and what appear to be hydro-biotite schists also occur. The ultrabasics have an intrusive junction with the surrounding granite rocks, and they are intruded by quartz veins and granitic dykes. The deposits were investigated by the author. This report gives an overview of the deposits. Workings, production figures, reserves, grades, and prices are described.

These deposits were visited between the 3rd and 5th July, 1951. The investigations were carried out in order to obtain a first hand knowledge of the extent and mode of occurrence of the deposits, and to select a number of diamond drill hole sites to test the continuity of the deposits at depth. This report gives an account of the investigations and their findings.

A number of fossils were sent in for examination by the Director of Mines, Tasmania. The results of the examination are recorded in this report. Two different horizons are represented.

An earlier report (Record 1950/041) has described the geophysical survey carried out early in 1950 on the Renison Bell tin field. The present report deals with the work of a second field season which commenced in November 1950 and continued until June 1951. The methods used were again the magnetic and self-potential. The 1950 survey was extended to the south and east by continuing along the Renison Bell Hill base-line a further 1000 feet south and reading stations on both sides of this base-line along traverses extending from the main quartz-porphyry dyke to the headwaters of the Montana Creek. In addition, some of the traverses were extended over the saddle between Dreadnought and Stebbins Hills as far as the Boulder tramway. The report gives an account of the survey work and its results, and provides recommendations for future testing. The geological features of the area covered by the present geophysical survey are briefly described.