IS SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 



special trip was made to Leningrad to visit the museums and institu- 

 tions. The delegates were well entertained and extended many cour- 

 tesies not ordinarily given to tourists. To me, even more interesting 

 than the meetings, were the museums and other special exhibits pre- 

 pared for us. A certain similarity exists among mineral collections in 

 whatever part of the world they are found, but when one first enters a 

 Russian museum he is at once impressed by the many new occurrences 

 of minerals with which the rest of the world is altogether too un- 

 familiar. The Soviets have been very active geologically and have 

 many prospecting parties out each year. It is only natural, therefore, 

 that such activity should bring to light many fine mineral specimens 

 and new localities. 



Of the post-congress excursions, that to the Ural Mountains was 

 the most interesting. The Urals for years have been known as a highly 

 mineralized area, and today their mineral resources are being de- 

 veloped at a greatly accelerated rate. These mountains are not high, 

 nor did we see many peaks, but here is some of the finest scenery of 

 Russia. One approaches the Urals by crossing a long plateau about 

 1,000 feet in elevation, on which are many vast wheat fields and 

 abundant timber. 



The Ilmen Mountains were visited and our respects paid to some 

 of the old classical mineral localities. Chrome, asbestos, talc, mag- 

 nesite, iron, nickel, coal, and platinum deposits were examined, as well 

 as many local quarry outcrops, and at every locality members of the 

 congress were permitted to collect mineral specimens. 



Geologically Russia is the most active country I have ever seen, 

 thousands of geologists and prospectors being in the field each year. 

 It is therefore logical to expect that many new discoveries will be 

 made, as the Soviet Union is one of the largest unexplored and unde- 

 veloped areas in the world. The Soviets will consume most of their 

 mineral production in developing their own country and will possibly 

 need to supplement some of their metalliferous production with im- 

 ports from abroad. Today, however, Russia has asbestos, phosphates, 

 and magnesite in huge quantities to export, as well as some petroleum. 



Returning to Moscow from the Ural Mountains, I turned over my 

 collections to the officials for shipment to America and departed for 

 Odessa on the Black Sea. Thence my journey led across the Black 

 Sea, through the beautiful Bosphorus, and on to the Island of Ceylon, 

 where a week was spent visiting the sapphire districts and graphite 

 mines. Finally, before returning to America, I visited Japan, where ' 

 several weeks were spent in the scientific laboratories and institutions. 



