El Institute* Geologica de Mexico. — Guild. 293 
EL INSTITUTO GEOLOGICA DE MEXICO. 
By F. N. Guild. Tuscon, A.BIZ. 
PLATE XV. 
Since the International Congress of Geologists is to 
convene in the city of Mexico during the coming summer 
of 1906, it may be interesting to the readers of the Ameri 
can Geologist and especially to those who expect to attend 
the congress, to learn something of the work of the Institute 
in Mexico which corresponds to our national geological sur- 
vey. Such a description seems especially opportune at the 
present time when the Institute has taken up its quarters 
in an excellent new building expressly designed for its pur- 
poses, and is now busily engaged in sending invitations to 
all parts of the world and making other preparations for the 
congress which is to be held within its walls. 
The first step which led to definite results in the forma- 
tion of a geological survey in Mexico was made in 1886 and 
through the efforts of Antonio del Castillo, then professor 
of mineralogy and geology in the School of Mines, an au- 
thorization was obtained two years later for the formation 
of a Comision Geologica de Mexico. The first publication 
issued in 1895 appeared under the title of Boletin de la 
Comision Geologica de Mexico. Later, however, the name 
was changed to Instituto Geologico National de Mexico and 
the publications appeared under that name. Castillo, who 
may be considered as the founder of the Institute, was 
chosen director which position he held until his death in 
1895. One of the first objects of the Institute seems to have 
been the preparation of sketches (bosquejos) on the gen- 
eral geology of the country. These appear in bulletins No. 
4. 5, and 6. They are accounts of scientific expeditions by 
various members of the staff into different parts of the re- 
public. 
The Institute was first housed in the School of Mines 
building, later however, removed to temporary quarters in 
the Calle de Paseo Nuevo Num. 2, and finally into its pres- 
ent building on 5a Calle del Cipres. It is equipped with 
excellent chemical laboratories For the analysis of rocks and 
minerals, museums for geological and mineralogical collec- 
tions, drafting rooms, libraries, laboratories for microscopic 
