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.

The following report contains descriptions of thin sections and handspecimens of 21 rocks collected from cores in the Muswellbrook area. Rocks numbered 1 to 18 inclusive have previously been described (Records 1953/79) and the following rocks are numbered 19 to 35 inclusive. Locality and depth are also given.

A geological investigation, directed mainly towards the assessment of oil potentialities of the Basin, was commenced in 1948 by the Bureau of Mineral Resources, Geology and Geophysics when a small geological party carried out a reconnaissance of the Minilya River area. Since then up to seven geologists of the Bureau under the direction of M. A. Condon have been mapping the area in some detail each year in order to determine the stratigraphical sequence and its variations, regional structure, and the anticlinal structures and their extent. In addition to the regional mapping the two largest anticlines were mapped in detail. Geophysical work (gravity and seismic) has been carried out by the Geophysical section of the Bureau (see Record 1954/44). More recently, Seismograph Services Ltd. carried out a seismic survey for West Australian Petroleum Pty. Ltd. - mainly for the purpose of checking on the location of its first deep test, which is now being drilled on the Rough Range Anticline with some encouraging results to date. Palaeontological, petrographical and chemical examinations of specimens collected in the field are still continuing by specialists of the Bureau and outside.

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.