18g1. REPORT OF GEOLOGICAL SECTION. 12 
9 5 
April 1, 1890. The topic for the evening was Petroleum, Coal, 
Graphite, Etc. Various specimens were brought in for identification. 
April 22, 1890. Mr. Preston exhibited the largest gold nugget 
ever found in South Africa. 
The topic was, The Formation of Coral Reefs. Mr. S. G. Crump 
discussed the topic, and gave several theories of the formation of coral 
reefs. Professor Fairchild illustrated the subject with lantern views. 
Various minerals were presented by Mr. Walker and Miss Beckwith for 
identification. 
May 6, 1890. Various fossils from the phosphate bed of Charles- 
ton were exhibited. 
The Chairman of the Section, Mr. Howell, described an interest- 
ing example of jointing in gneiss on the Potomac River, which in form 
resembled the basaltic colurmns in the Rhine Valley. 
The topic of the evening was Geographic Distribution of Animals. 
Miss A. M. King and Mr. Walker presented various minerals for 
identification. 
May 20, 1890. Professor A. L. Arey exhibited a specimen of 
micaceous hematite, aiso Mexican onyx. 
Mr. Howell, the Chairman, exhibited several aerolites that fell 
May 2, 1890, near Forest City, Iowa. He also spoke of the recent 
discovery of some twenty pieces of meteorites in Kiowa County, 
Kansas. He also exhibited a polished and etched slice of the Puquios, 
Chili, meteorite, which showed a definite fault-plane running through 
its mass; this being the first fault recorded as occuring in iron 
meteorites. 
The difficulty of working and cutting meteoric iron was com- 
mented on by the Chairman. 
The topic of the meeting was, The General Formation and 
Structure of the Earth. 
June 3, 1890. Mr. Walker presented to the Section a nearly com- 
plete specimen of the Hadysites catenulates, which he obtained at a lime- 
stone quarry on Brown Ave. 
Specimens of rock were exhibited by Mr. Howell and Professor 
Fairchild, which had been obtained at Stony: brook Glen, Steuben Co., 
on the occasion of the geological excursion of the Academy, May 3oth. 
These rocks were calcerous and contained large rounded masses that 
were either boulders or concretions. 
