ORGANIZATION 77 



The Section of Glacial Geology is engaged in the study of 

 the glaciated area, the mode of action and the results of the 

 action of glaciers, the glacial and interglacial deposits and the 

 contemporary deposits of the regions bordering the glaciated 

 area, as well as the geologic history of the continent during the 

 Quaternary period. 



The Section of Paleontology and Stratigraphy investigates 

 and determines the relative age and equivalence of the strata 

 in different areas, and refers the formations to a geologic 

 time scale. 



The Section of Geology of Metalliferous Deposits studies 

 metalliferous deposits and minerals and investigates the con- 

 ditions and modes of ore deposits; while the Section of Geol- 

 ogy of Non-Metalliferous Deposits studies non-metallic de- 

 posits and minerals, exclusive of fuels. The Sections of Geol- 

 ogy of Eastern Coal Fields and Geology of Western Coal 

 Fields investigate coal deposits east and west of the one- 

 hundredth meridian, respectively, and the Section of the 

 Geology of Oil and Gas Fields makes examinations of oil 

 and gas fields. 



The Committee on Geologic Names is a standing commit- 

 tee organized to insure uniformity in geologic classification 

 and nomenclature in Survey publications, to prevent unneces- 

 sary duplication of geologic names, and to reduce if possible 

 the number of names employed. Under the instructions of 

 the Director this committee considers all geologic names used 

 in manuscripts prepared by members of the Geological Survey 

 for both official and unofficial publication. The chiefs of the 

 sections in the Division of Geology and the chief of the Divi- 

 sion of Alaskan Mineral Resources serve as associate mem- 

 bers of this committee and attend meetings at which matters 

 pertaining to their respective sections or divisions are under 

 consideration. 



The Committee on Physiography, as stated in the report of 

 the Director for the year 1916, is charged with the following 

 duties : 



