ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS. 
IX. 
Demonstrations included the results of experiments carried out on 
subjects under tropical conditions, instruments used in measuring 
climatic conditions, an apparatus for testing efficiency under various 
conditions, the effects of different clothing materials on evaporation of 
sweat, the electrometric titration of chlorides in sweat, and the 
extraction and testing of alkaloids from plants. 
Abstract of Proceedings, 26th June, 1944. 
The Ordinary Monthly Meeting of the Society was held in the 
Department of Geology of the University on Monday, 26th June, at 
8 p.m., with the President (Mr. P. A. Perkins) in the chair. Forty- 
three members and friends were present. The minutes of the previous 
meeting were read and confirmed. Mr. D. G. Bieske and Mr. W. 
Roulston were elected to Ordinary Membership. A medal received 
from the Royal Society of Tasmania in celebration of its centenary 
was on exhibit. 
In a lecture entitled “The Geology of Central Australia/’ Dr. 
H. I. Jensen emphasised that unfossiliferous formations cannot be 
correlated with one another if separated by wide unexamined areas. 
The geology of the Territory must be understood before it is possible 
to correlate archseozoic and palaeozoic formations in Queensland with 
those in Western Australia. He paid tribute to Dr. Madigan’s 
excellent work in the Macdonnell Ranges. He outlined the physio- 
graphy, stratigraphy and petrography of the Central Australian 
Massif, dealing particularly with the Harts Range, Strangway Range 
and the country north of these ranges as far as Barrow Creek. He 
contended that subsequent to the era of gneissification of the Arunta 
Complex, the oldest of the formations in Central Australia, there 
were two periods of volcanic action, igneous intrusion and minerali- 
sation, the earlier of which occurred in the close of the Pertaknurra 
or Mosquito Creek period, and the later, which has been generally 
regarded as of Nullagine age, in the early Cambrian. The minerali- 
sation which occurs in many places in the Cambrian series was 
considered evidence of this. He claimed that the so-called Nullagine 
would probably be found with more detailed investigation to be 
largely Lower Cambrian. He described the economic minerals found 
in the Central Australian Massif and in a wide region north of it 
and outlined the reasons why the working of so many of these 
minerals was not an economic proposition under present conditions. 
The soils of the Territory are essentially of windblown origin, fertile 
if water could be brought to them. There is, however, no true 
artesian or subterranean water in the area dealt with. The only 
ground water obtainable is in faults or in broken strata hemmed in 
by dykes. It needs a geologist to guide water boring in such areas 
to obviate waste of money. In conclusion he described the present 
condition of Alice Springs and the region around it and pointed out 
that unless pastoral country was periodically rested for a number of 
years there was some danger of the cattle areas becoming desert 
since the cattle for half the year feed on the arboreal vegetation. 
They break down the trees and eat down all young trees, thus giving 
shifting sand a chance to take the place of timber. Organisation to 
enforce the resting of pastoral areas is badly needed. 
