In November, 1947, at the joint request of the Queensland Government and four companies which are associated with the search for oil in the area, the Bureau commenced geophysical work in the Roma district of Central Queensland. During the first phase of the geophysical operations, gravity and magnetic methods were applied in the reconnaissance of a large area. The object of these operations was to disclose gravity or magnetic anomalies which might be related to geological structures, indicate the broader structural elements of the sedimentary basin in which the oil and gas occur, and enable areas to be selected for investigation by more exact methods. The purpose of this report is to state clearly the geological problem and the geophysical methods adopted in the attempt to solve it. The geology of the area, possible oil-bearing structures, and the application of geophysical methods to date, are discussed. A sketch map and geological section plan are included.

This report describes the results of an examination of six samples taken from a cutting approximately 40 miles north of Injune.

This report describes the fossils collected by D.M. Traves early in 1948 from the Barkly Tableland and adjacent areas in Queensland and the Northern Territory. The sequence of Cambrian faunas as far as it can be recognised in the present collection corresponds to the revised sequence given by F.W. Whitehouse in "The Cambrian Faunas of North-East Australia". This report comprises stratigraphical and palaeontological notes, and a preliminary list of fossils with notes on the lithology of the rocks in which they occur.

The deposits of heavy-mineral sands which are at present being exploited along the East Coast occur on or within a few hundred feet of the ocean beaches. The occurrence of this deposit at a distance of nearly 1.5 miles from the beach suggests the possibility that other deposits may be found at some distance from the coast line. Of incidental interest is the possibility that the deposit, which presumably was formed by wave or surf action, may be at slightly higher level than the deposits adjacent to present day beaches. The locality, examination process, origin, and nature of the deposits are discussed in this report. The results, including estimates of the quantities of heavy mineral concentrates and the grades of the mineral bearing sands, are tabulated here.

This report describes the results of a microexamination of four rock samples from the Kimberley area.

This report describes the results of a microexamination of rock samples collected from Dampier Downs, Mt. Clarkson, and Mt. Anderson.

At the request of the South Australian Government a gravity survey to investigate the possibility of further coal basins to the north of the Leigh Creek coalfield was commenced by officers of this Bureau in October, 1947. This survey was suspended in December, and a report was prepared dealing with the work carried out to that date (1948/004 and 1948/048). The area covered, however, was only a small part of a much larger area covered by a superficial layer of Tertiary rocks, beneath which a coal basin could exist. The work was resumed in May, 1948, and was continued until September, when the party was withdrawn. In additional to the geophysical field work carried out on the covered area to the north of the known coal deposits, some work was done on the Center or Telford basin. A number of traverses was read on the western edge of the basin, with a view to determining places where shallow coal might be found. The geology of the area, technical matters, results, and recommendations are discussed in this report. Accompanying plans are included.

The Pilbara gold field area contains many other minerals besides gold. It has long been known that the radio-active minerals, including monazite and certain rare-earth tentalates, occur in portions of the Pilbara field. There is also one known highly radio-active deposit of pilbarite at Wodgina. A survey to determine the position and extent of radio-active occurrences in the Pilbara area was carried out in 1947. In the report on this survey a number of recommendations was made, and subsequently a further field party was sent to the area during the period September - October, 1948. This report is an account of the geophysical work done by this second party. Investigations were carried out at Mount Francisco, Wodgina, Eastern Creek, Pilgangoora, Abydos, Trig Hill, Cooglegong, and Eley's Well. The main part of the work consisted of testing known or suspected rare-earth tantalate deposits. Also, a further search was made for monazite in areas on and near the Cooglegong tin fields. The technical procedure and results of the survey work are discussed in this report.

In 1943, an investigation was carried out on portions of the Latrobe Valley Brown Coalfield, using the electrical resistivity method, to see whether or not this method could prove useful in determining the depth to coal. At this time, the possibility of a gravity survey was discussed, and in January, 1948, gravity tests were commenced using a Humble-Truman gravimeter. Later, a substantial number of the readings were repeated with a more modern type of gravity meter, and a few new stations established. The results were subjected to a preliminary investigation soon after the completion of field work, but it was evident that a much more detailed study would be required before an interpretation could be completed. Prior to these tests, discussions took place between technical officers with a view to selecting an area for testing on which the results could be related to some of the known geological structures, and, subsequently, an area was selected in the Parish of Hazelwood for this purpose. The geology of the area, survey method, and results are discussed in this report. Accompanying geological plans are included.

The area under review in this report comprises a large territory located in south-western Victoria and south-eastern South Australia. The scope of direct geological information in the areas underlain by marine Tertiary rocks is severely limited, by very poor exposure of the underlying rocks at the surface. Under such conditions, once the scattered exposures have been examined and recorded on the map, little more can be done by surface work; the geologist is thrown back on a study of well and bore records and of the results of geophysical measurements. Considerable literature has been read and records of the principal bores in the area have been examined in detail. It has been recommended that a geophysical survey of the area be conducted, to determine, if possible, any structural features which might exist at depth in this southern-most extension of the Murray River Artesian Basin, which is made up of Tertiary to Recent formations, resting, in the area under review, on a basement of Pre-Cambrian or Jurassic Rocks. This report comprises an overview of the general geology, geological history, stratigraphy and topography of the area under consideration. Geological, bore-hole and well data has been compiled and tabulated. A geological sketch map is included.