Legacy product - no abstract available

Legacy product - no abstract available

No product available. Removed from website 25/01/2019

At the request of the Minister for Works and Housing, a geological survey of the Canberra Brickyards was commenced in October 1949, to determine present reserves of brick making materials. This interim report contains a description of the strata and structures exposed in the brick pits, and details of estimates of shale reserves. A full geological report will be prepared when the extended survey is complete.

At the end of the 1949 field season A.A. Opik, accompanied by D.M. Traves, collected fossils and made stratigraphical observations in the area between the lower reaches of the Ord River and the Victoria River. This report gives a preliminary summary of the results of the journey.

The Zeehan silver-lead-zinc field is in the West Coast Region of Tasmania. Following on the geophysical work carried out for Zeehan Explorations in 1947-1948, the Bureau was requested to carry out a survey on the Mariposa lease held by North Broken Hill Ltd. The purpose of the survey was to examine the Mariposa area for possible magnetic and gravity effects associated with the known mineralization and thence to determine the extent of this mineralization; and also to investigate the swamp covered limestone area for hidden mineralization. Further, it was considered that the results of the survey and behaviour of the instruments in the difficult terrain would serve as a guide to the usefulness of the magnetic and gravity methods in other similar prospecting areas in the Zeehan field. An account of the geophysical work and its results is given in this report.

A visit of one month was paid by the writer to the North-West Basin and the Fitzroy area of the Desert Basin. It is largely due to the careful planning of the excursions by the Senior Geologists in charge that a coherent picture of the stratigraphical and tectonical conditions was obtained within the comparatively short time at disposal. This note contains a few remarks on the stratigraphy and tectonics of both areas in connection with oil prospects.

During the period 29th September to 2nd October 1950, the writer and geologist N. McKay, investigated the area near Wyndham, in which Mr. N. Orchard claims to have obtained a pitchblende sample in 1919. Following the examination of the area referred to by Mr. Orchard, an examination was made of a supposed radioactive deposit reported by Mr. E. Crocker of Wyndham. The observations made during these investigations are described in this report.

The Walloway Artesian Basin is approximately 160 miles north of Adelaide and is traversed by the main road from Adelaide to Maree via Orroroo and Hawker. The town of Orroroo lies on its western margin in the south-western corner of the Hundred of Walloway and the village of Johnburgh is situated in its northern part. The geophysical survey was carried out at the request of the Director of Mines for South Australia to assist his Department in the selection of sites for boring for artesian water and to delineate more precisely the limitations of the basin with regard to artesian flows. The gravity method was used as this method has proved successful elsewhere in determining the dimensions and form of sedimentary basins. This report gives an account of the survey and its results.

At the request of the Defence Supply Planning Branch of the Department of Supply an investigation of the Australian graphite industry was undertaken early in 1950. The particular aspects to be considered in this investigation were listed by the Planning Branch as follows: the specific defence significance of graphite and an estimate of peace and probable wartime demands, the experiences during World War II where applicable, the present and future supple position, alternative methods of ensuring that demands are met in an emergency, and the method recommended to meet demands in an emergency. This report should be considered an interim report containing recommendations for early consideration by the Planning Branch.