5 
1916 - 17 .] Opening Address by the President. 
In Scotland, part of the Ayrshire coalfield is overlain by volcanic rocks 
and red sandstones of Permian age. Special interest is centred in this area, 
because doubt had been cast on the existence of the Coal-measures beneath 
this Permian basin owing to a supposed unconformability near the top of 
the Carboniferous system. The problem has been solved by bores which 
have been put down through the Permian sandstones and lavas and 
through a succession of workable coals. As the work advanced the cores 
were examined from time to time by the officers of the Geological Survey 
in order to identify particular seams, and to determine points in the 
geological structure of the area. 
Such co-operation is of the highest value, because it enables the 
Geological Survey to preserve permanent records of boring operations 
which have an important bearing on the future development of the 
mining industry. In the Scottish office of the Geological Survey this 
department is well organised, for the number of bore journals recorded is 
approximately about fourteen thousand, and the number of graphic vertical 
sections of the more important bores is about five thousand. Part of this 
material is confidential, and is not published without the written consent of 
the parties who gave it — an arrangement which is faithfully kept. In this 
manner the Geological Survey is accumulating a vast amount of economic 
detail of great value to the country. 
Since the war began the Geological Survey has produced a series of 
reports on certain minerals of economic value occurring in Great Britain, 
which deserve special mention. Owing to the war, supplies of some 
minerals could not be obtained, and inquiries were made at the Department 
regarding the available home resources. Members of the staff were at once 
detailed to re-examine mines and quarries that had been abandoned, as well 
as those still in operation. In 1915 and 1916 five reports have been issued, 
relating to (1) Tungsten and Manganese Ores, (2) Barytes and Witherite, 
(3) Gypsum and Anhydrite, (4) Fluorspar, (5) Potash Felspar and other 
minerals. The method of treatment is excellent. In each report a 
description is given of the characters, sources, uses, and methods of 
preparation of the minerals, which is followed by an account of each of 
the mines or quarries from which the minerals have been obtained. 
In his introduction to the series of reports, Dr Strahan, the Director, 
says that " one result of the work has been to bring into prominence the 
fact that what has been a waste-product has often become the most 
valuable asset of a mine under changed conditions as regards demand. 
Tin-mines closed on account of the prevalence of wolfram, and lead-mines 
closed through the prevalence of zinc-blende, have been re-opened to work 
