ABSTRACTS 



Authors of scientific papers are requested to see that abstracts, preferably- 

 prepared and signed by themselves, are forwarded promptly to the editors. Each 

 of the scientific bureaus in Washington has a representative authorized to for- 

 ward such material to this journal and abstracts of official publications should 

 be transmitted through the representative of the bureau in which they originate. 

 The abstracts should conform in length and general style to those appearing in 

 this issue. 



CHEMISTRY. — Sodium oxalate as a standard in volumetric analysis. 



Circular No. 40, Bureau of Standards. 1912. 



This circular gives a resume of the work done on sodium oxalate at 

 the Bureau of Standards and elsewhere, which has led to its selection 

 by this Bureau as a primary standard, which is now issued in a form 

 similar to other standard analyzed samples. The methods of prepa- 

 ration, testing and use of sodium oxalate are described and discussed. 

 This salt is recommended especially as an oxidimetric standard, tho 

 directions for its use in acidimetry are also given. W. Blum. 



GEOLOGY.- — The Alatna-Noatak region, Alaska. Philip S. Smith. 



Bulletin U. S. Geological Survey No. 520 L. Pp. 26, with map. 1912. 



The Alatna-Noatak region in northwestern Alaska receives its name 

 from the two streams, the Alatna, which flows southward into the Koyu- 

 kuk and thence into the Yukon, and the Noatak, which flows westward 

 into Kotzebue Sound north of the Arctic Circle. Valley glaciers occur 

 in the basins of both streams. 



The geologic sequence from the base up is as follows: (1) Highly meta- 

 morphic schists of early Paleozoic age; (2) unconformably overlying 

 them, intensely deformed limestones of undetermined age, in part 

 probably Carboniferous, (3) a considerable thickness of complexly folded 

 and faulted Mississippian sandstones, quartzites, and thin limestones 

 containing molluscan remains; (4) a group of massive limestones over- 

 lying the sandstones and correlated with the Lisburne limestone of 

 Mississippian age; (5) float of a cherty limestone containing Upper 

 Triassic fossils; (6) Upper Cretaceous sandstones and conglomerates; 

 and (7) unconsolidated deposits of marine, glacial, and fluviatile origin 



438 



