262 REPORTS ON THE STATE OF SCIENCE, ETC. 



requires only a few minutes and the crew consists of only two men, one to 

 drill the holes and one observer to take the readings. 



Thermal Conductivities of Rocks. 



By H. A. Nancarrow. 



Physical Society of London, Proceedings, vol. 45, May 1, 1933, 



pp. 447-461. 



The rock specimens are turned as circular cylinders 5 cm. in diameter 

 and 2 cm. high and are bisected by a cut made perpendicular to the base 

 along one diameter. The top of the cylinder is heated and the temperature 

 gradient in the specimen is measured by means of thermocouples held in a 

 mica holder inserted in the cut. The temperature distribution and heat 

 flow in the specimen are each shown to be represented by a series containing 

 Bessel and hyperbolic functions. Constants involved in the arguments of 

 these functions are shown to be dependent upon the loss of heat from the 

 hot surfaces exposed to the air in the apparatus. The determination of 

 these surface heat losses is described. Observations and results are given 

 for four specimens. 



Geothermal Methods (on the Determination of the Temperature 

 in the Immediate Proximity of the Earth's Surface in con- 

 sideration of Tectonic Investigations). 



By W. C. Salm. 

 Beitrdge zur angewandten Geophysik, Leipzig, vol. 4, no. 1, 1933, pp. 1 16-1 18. 



Salm reviews in this article the paper concerning the measurements of 

 the horizontal temperature over the southern border of the Winterswijk 

 horst in Holland, published by Dr. van den Bouwhuijsen. 



The nine chapters deal with : measurements of the temperature 

 near the surface ; description of the instrument ; methods of measure- 

 ment ; the conditions of the area under investigation ; the results of 

 measurements ; the correlation of the observations ; considerations on the 

 temperature of the ground ; the theory of the distribution of the tempera- 

 ture on both ends of the horst ; the determination of the internal 

 conductivity of heat in various rocks ; and finally with the verification of 

 the theoretical conclusions by observations. 



According to the author, the results obtained agree well with the gravi- 

 metric gradients known for this region, as well as with the geological 

 profiles determined by drilling. 



Some Possible Applications of Geothermics to Geology. 



By C. E. van Orstrand. 



Bulletin of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Tulsa, vol. 18, 



no. 1, I934> PP- 13-38. 

 The generation and dissipation of heat are important factors in earth 

 history. The present distribution of temperature down to the level of 

 isostatic compensation can probably be determined with more accuracy 

 than has heretofore been obtained by making use of the observations of 

 temperature in tunnels or across mountain ranges. 



