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At the request of the Geological Survey of Western Australia, the Bureau of Mineral Resources, Geology and Geophysics provided geophysical staff and equipment to assist in the search for underground water supplies in certain areas of Western Australia where additional supplies are required for further development of the farming 'industry. The main objects of the survey were to test several -types of resistivity equipment and to determine their limitations and optimum working conditions, to estimate the accuracy of depth determinations to formation discontinuities, to determine, the nature of the discontinuities, and to estimate the degree of salinity of the ground water. Results show that in 75 per cent of the measurements made, errors in depth determinations were within ± 20 per cent. Although limited control data were available, it was often possible to recognize limestones, cementation zones in limestone, sands and ground-water levels, and in granite areas, the transition from weathered to fresh granite was readily recognized. Where conditions were favourable, a satisfactory correlation was obtained between resistivity values and the salt content of solutions in a formation, provided the porosity of the formation was known. Although the main object of the survey was not, the finding of new underground water supplies, this WJ.S one of the aims in the Cue area, and a location was found where conditions for a large supply of good-quality water appeared to be favourable. The resistivity meter which was used in the tests was developed by the Bureau of Mineral Resources, and operated very satisfactorily. The Megger earth tester was reliable up to electrode spacings of 100 feet. The value of future test surveys for underground water would be greatly enhanced if more comprehensive bore information were available for correlation and combination with geophysical and geological observations. Such information should include the porosity and permeability of formations, screen analyses of samples, and salt content and resistivity of bore water.

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A seismic survey extending over the Poole Range and Price's Creek areas and the Pinnacle Fault, near the north-eastern boundary of the Fitzroy Basin was corducted during the winter of 1953. The Poole Range Dome has been mapped in outcropping rocks of Permian age, but its western closure is not certain. It is at the south-eastern end of a line of anticlinal folding which includes the St. George Range Dome and Nerrima Dome. The target beds for an oil test bore would be the Devonian and/or Ordovician rocks, which crop out on the north-eastern side of the Pinracle Fault, and over which the Permian rocks of the Poole Range are believed to lie unconformably. The seismic results indicate a thick section of sediments on the south-western side of the Pinnacle Fault and show a fair degree of conformity between shallow and deep reflections on the northern flank of the dome. Further investigatioll was made in 1954 around the flanks of the dome to determine whether or not the domal structure persists at depth, but the interpretation of the results of the 1954 survey is not yet complete. The Ordovician rocks on tbe north-eastern side of the Pinnacle fault are shown to have a probable unexposed thickness of about 900 feet.

Legacy product - no abstract available

This report deals with the volcanic activity at Tuluman Volcano in St .Andrew Strait, 25 miles south of Lorengau in the Admiralty group. In the first of the three papers, which constitute the report, a description is given of the activity from June 1953, when the eruption began, to the end of July-1954. Part II describes further submarine activity in October and November 1954, and the condition of the active centres at that time. In Part III a more detailed description of the eruptive activity is given and the eruption and the associated phenomena are reviewed at some length. Volcanic activity in the St. Andrew Strait has originated from at least five, separate centres, from one of which another cone has been formed by a branching-off from the main conduit. As a result, three islands, two of which have been subsequently joined, have been built up above sea level. The name Tuluman Islands is proposed for these islands, and individual cones are numbered according to the chronological order in which they have been formed. The geographical position of the Tuluman Islands and their topography are also discussed.

A test survey was made with a Radore Equipment over three mineralised areas in Tasmanian. The investigations were made in January, 1955 for the purpose of comparing the performance of the Radore equipment with that of lower-frequency electromagnetic equipment previously used successfully over the same areas. The results show that although some very weak indications were recorded by the Radore equipment, it has not been possible to correlate these satisfactorily with the know mineralisation. Moreover, it is difficult to distinguish indications that may possibly be due to mineralisation from apparent indications that are undoubtedly due to irregularities in topography.

During a recent visit to Portland with Dr. N. Boutakoff and Mr. Spencer Jones of the Geological Survey of Victoria, samples were collected systematically at localities along Dutton Way which skirts the eastern shores of Portland Bay and along the foreshore below the station. Locality 2 on Dutton Way represents the type of Maritemo Formation and is approximately eight feet thick. These beds overlie the white deposits of the Portland Limestone and are overlain by basalt. The monument section shows portion of the Maritemo Beds and portion of the topmost unit of the Formation, the Werriko Beds. This section is also overlain by basalt and underlain by Portland Limestone.

This paper provides a Micropalaeontological examination of samples from Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia. Samples of six cores from this bore were forwarded for palaeontological examination by West Australian Petroleum Pty. Ltd. The fauna from each core, with notes on the age and correlation is provided in this paper.

The monthly vulcanological report for January, 1955, from Kieta contained details of an increase in the size of one of the thermal areas in the vicinity of Lake Loloru. The writer left Rabaul with assistant Leslie Topue on 23rd February for Kieta, and reached Lake Loloru, accompanied by Cadet Patrol Officer B. O'Farrell, on 28th. After spending two days in the area, the party returned to Kieat, due to weather and transport issues, the writer and his assistant were not able to return to Rabaul until 15 March. The first report of volcanic activity in this area was given by Father W.P. Fingleton, and an aerial inspection was conducted in May 1951 by G.A. Taylor who stated in a report, dated 17/5/51, to the Government Secretary: These areas showed no evidence of recent extensions or rises of temperature. There were no indications of recent explosive activity. (reported earlier by Father Fingleton.) Reports of patrols to Lake Loloru, dated 18/5/51 and 27/5/51 by Cadet Patrol Officer B.B. Butcher and Patrol Officer A.K Jackson respectively, had conclusions similar to those in Taylor's report, although Jackson suggested that volcanic activity had increased slightly. The area was visited during June 1951 by J.G. Best, whose report (6/7/51) concluded: In the light of existing conditions it is considered that this volcano is in a dormant state, also that the possibility of an imminent eruption is remote. However, it must be borne in mind that this area is a potential danger point, and if an eruption should occur it is likely to be of the Pelean type."