32 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 



REPORT ON THE GEOLOGICAL COLLECTION. 



By Robert W. Sayles. 



During the past year, almost all the accessions pertain to 

 economic geology. By purchase, specimens of copper ore from 

 Mansfeld, Germany; native iron from Greenland; platinum ore 

 from Westphalia, Germany; 5 specimens of uranium ores from 

 Colorado; 3 specimens of uranium ore from Australia. Mrs. 

 August R. Meyer of Kansas City has very kindly given a splendid 

 collection of about 300 specimens of ores from the Cripple Creek 

 region of Colorado. This collection contains about 40 valuable 

 and interesting specimens of cerargyrite and other silver chlorides; 

 about 50 of argentiferous galena; 20 rich, free, and roasted gold 

 ores; 10 native silver specimens; one ruby silver specimen; 10 

 cerussite specimens; over 50 miscellaneous gold and silver ores; 

 and a large number of furnace products. At least 150 of the 

 specimens of the Meyer collection can be placed on exhibition to 

 advantage. Prof. E. C. Jeffrey has given a unique collection of 

 55 colored photomicrographs, illustrating the origin of coal accord- 

 ing to the results of his researches. The photographs show the 

 microscopic structure of coals in various parts of the earth and 

 from nearly every geological age in which coal has been formed. 

 In addition to the photographs of coals, there are a number of 

 photo-micrographs of oil shales which show an origin similar to that 

 of the coals. The Mineralogical Department has given a large 

 cube of granite from North Carolina for the building stone exhibit. 



To the collections in the room devoted to Dynamical and Struc- 

 tural Geology, there have been added specimens of lava from 

 Lassens Peak, the gift of Mr. W. G. Reed, Jr. A manganese 

 nodule dredged from the Pacific Ocean by the Albatross has 

 been placed on exhibition. Thanks are due to Professors Palache 

 and Raymond and to Dr. C. L. Whittle for specimens. Some large 

 specimens of slate exhibiting folding were collected at Crow Point, 

 Hingham, and at Squantum. Several large descriptive placards 

 have been placed in the spaces under the windows. 



The average number of visitors to the collections open to the 

 Public for the nine months, August, 1915 -April, 1916, as noted 

 by the Watchman, was more than 81,000; the largest number, 

 (August, 1915), was 16,411, the smallest, (February, 1916), 4,943. 



