470 Revieics — Geological Survey of Western Australia. 



Charles Moore in 1870. 1 Moore then remarked on the striking 

 similarity between the matrix of the Australian specimens and the 

 Lower Oolitic rocks of England with which he was so familiar ; 

 and he recognized twenty species of fossils as common to the two 

 countries. 



A few of the Carboniferous and Devonian fossils from Western 

 Australia, lately described in the Geological Magazine (for the 

 present year) by Mr. A. H. Foord, Prof. Nicholson, and Dr. Hinde, 

 are identified as belonging to European species ; other Carboniferous 

 forms were also described by Mr. Hudleston in 1883, 2 at which date 

 there was no proof of the presence of Devonian strata in Western 

 Australia. Indeed, in his Eeport, Mr. Woodward states that no 

 fossils are known from the Devonian rocks, but we must not anticipate 

 his remarks on the species so recently described from rocks of this 

 age in the Colony. The subject of the sequence of organic remains 

 in a tract so distant from us is of great interest, and especially 

 when we find many facts corresponding with those known in 

 Europe. The absolute identity of species in the two areas may be 

 questioned by some specialists : but minute differences cannot affect 

 the general question, although it is important to note them. What 

 is of first importance is that the stratigraphical sequence in Australia 

 be made clear with the aid of sections, and we trust the Government 

 Geologist will supply these in future Reports. It will also be 

 interesting to learn more of the Serpentine, which is placed among 

 the ArchaBan (Metamorphic) rocks. 



The subject that is of most concern to the Colonists is that of the 

 Mineral Wealth, and this necessarily has occupied the chief share of 

 Mr. Woodward's attention. Gold, and ores of Lead, Copper, and Tin, 

 are to be had in profitable quantities, but the difficulties of access, 

 the scarcity of water in some areas, and the cost of labour, have 

 combined to arrest enterprise. There is Iron-ore " enough to supply 

 the whole world," and there are ores of Antimony and Manganese, 

 as well as large and very pure deposits of Kaolin. The Coal at 

 present found appears to be of inferior character, and " where wood 

 is so abundant and always close at hand, there is no demand for 

 any, except a first-class steam coal." It is stated, however, that 

 " Coal has recently been found at Wyndham, but though the sample 

 sent down was of very fair quality, the size and extent of the seams 

 have not yet been tested." 



With regard to the Soils, it is observed that they are as good and 

 as varied as in any part of the world, but large tracts of the best 

 land are still heavily timbered. Some interesting remarks ax*e made 

 on the work of the White Ants, whose nests contain so much iron 

 that "when a tree has been burnt in which they have built a nest, 

 there will be found at its base a mass of iron clinker, looking just 

 as if it had come out of a furnace." 



It is interesting to learn that the south-west coast is rapidly rising, 

 and indeed " many old colonists remember when land at Fremantle, 

 now quite above the water-level, used daily to be covered by the 

 tide." 



1 Q.J.G.S. vol. xxvi. pp. 229, 231. 2 Ibid. vol. xxxix. p. 582. 



