REPORT OX THE DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY, 

 ]»y George P. Merrill, ][<<i<! Curator. 



The period covered by this report has been one of very consider- 

 able activity, although the visible results are not great owing to the 

 fact that a large portion of the time was devoted to the study series 

 and perfection of records. 



Changes in organisation or staff. — With the exception of the resig- 

 nation of Dr. W. T. Schaller, there have been no changes of im- 

 portance in the organization or personnel of the department during 

 the year. Although Doctor Fchaller's position was that of miner- 

 alogist and chemist of the United States Geological Survey, he had 

 for seme years served as honorary custodian of the collection of 

 gems and precious stones, and in this way had rendered great service 

 in securing much new material. ITis resignation is, therefore, to be 

 greatly deplored. 



Accessions. — Reports from all divisions of the department show 

 a marked increase in the amount of material received during the 

 time covered by this report. The total number of accessions is 180 

 against 135 for the year previous, with a very decided increase in the 

 number of specimens and their scientific value. Of these accessions, 

 111 were gifts, 32 transfers, 2."» received through exchanges, 2 by 

 collection, 1 as a deposit, and but 9 by purchase. The actual number 

 of specimens received cannot be given for reasons repeatedly stated 

 in previous reports. Much of the material has not, as yet, been 

 unpacked, and moreover, a very considerable amount of that which 

 is received is discarded without record, and in many instances the 

 individual specimens are small, perhaps of microscopic proportions, 

 and their exact number it is not practical to estimate. 



Among the accessions of greatest importance mention may be made 

 of gifts comprising ores of the rare metals, particularly of tungsten 

 and molybdenum, secured chiefly through the intervention of Mr. 

 F. L. Hess, honorary custodian of these collections. A sample of 

 wolframite fromBukuka, Siberia, was presented by Mr. C. W. 

 Purington, Vladivostok; a fine, large specimen of gold- tungsten ore 

 showing ferberite associated with sylvanite, by Mr. J. Gillingham 

 Hibbs, Denver, Colorado; two specimens of wolframite embedded in 

 dolomitic limestone, by the Homestake Mining Company, Lead, South 

 Dakota ; a large exhibition specimen of high grade molybdenum ore 

 from Questa, New Mexico, by the R. and S. Mol} T bdenum Company; 



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