Geology. 383 



of the physical geography of this portion of the Prairie Plains 

 Province. 



5. Annual Progress Report of the Geological Survey of West 

 Australia for the year 1910. Pp. 31; 2 maps, 2 figures. Perth, 

 1911. — The active staff of the Western Australia Survey includes 

 the following officers in addition to A. Gibb Maitland, the Govern- 

 ment Geologist : H. P. Woodward, Charles G. Gibson, II. W. B. 

 Talbot, L. Glauerfc, and E. S. Simpson, the latter in charge of the 

 Survey Laboratory. Four Bulletins were issued during the year, 

 viz., Bulletin 36, Palseontological Contributions to the Geology 

 of Western Australia, III (this Journal, xxxi, p. 239, 1911) ; 

 Bulletin 38, The Irwin River Coalfield and the adjacent Districts 

 from Arrino to Northampton (this Journal, xxxi, p. 239, 1911); 

 Bulletin 39, Geological Observations in the Country between 

 Wiluna, Hall's Creek and Tanami (this Journal, xxxi, 574); 

 Bulletin 41, Geology and Ore Deposits of the West Pilbara 

 Goldfield (in press). 



The annual report for 1910 contains an interesting history of 

 the Surve}^ from its informal organization in 1847. Since 1887 

 the work has been carried on continually by a small but active 

 group of geologists. The nature of the work undertaken may be 

 judged from the list of publications which comprises 58 reports 

 on gold deposits, 10 on copper and lead, 7 on tin, 3 on iron ores, 

 10 on coal and oil, 3 on phosphates, 12 on miscellaneous mineral 

 deposits, 10 on general geologic subjects, 1 on petrography, 1 

 on paleontology, 23 on ground water. Besides preliminary reports 

 on various phases of geologic work (chiefly economic) the Annual 

 Progress Report for 1910 includes a discussion by Mr. Gibson of 

 the "Principal Geological Features of the Kalgoorlie Goldfield," 

 together with a geological map of this region, which has con- 

 tributed more than half of the total production of gold in the 

 state. h. e. g. 



6. The Uses of Peat. — Bulletin 16 of the Bureau of Mines 

 (pp. 214) contains an account by Charles A. Davis of the uses 

 of peat for fuel and other purposes. The subject is one of 

 importance, for thus far this country has made little progress in 

 this direction, as compared with what has been done abroad. As 

 fuel it has its highest value and is most efficient as a source of 

 producer gas ; but it is useful also, in place of wood, in brick 

 manufacture, ceramic firing, and lime burning. This whole sub- 

 ject is discussed in much detail and many important facts brought 

 out. Peat is also available in a variety of manufacturing pur- 

 poses, as those calling for a fibrous vegetable product ; the 

 comparative abundance of wood has, however, prevented the 

 development of this in the United States, as compared with 

 Europe, where wood is much more scarce. Agriculturally peat 

 lands may be cultivated with profit, if the right crops are chosen, 

 and sufficient care is used to put the lands in the best condition 

 by draining, decomposing, and fertilizing the peat. 



