pretty close together, and varying each in thickness from 3 to 5 feet or so. The author tabulates 16 analyses, wherein the percentage of ash varies from 25 to 12-25; that of hygroscopic water from 1 to 65 (exceptional); that of volatile substances from 29 to 526; and that of coke from 474 to 71. The ash has a generally characteristic pale-grey colour.

The Amasra district forms the easternmost extremity of the Heraklea coal-field, so far as at present known. Here at least five coal-seams have been proved, varying respectively in thickness from 3 to 8 feet or so. The average percentage of three analyses is as follows:-Ash, 6·05; hygroscopic water, 6·1; volatile substances, 392; coke produced, 60′7.

Among the obstacles which stand in the way of the full development of this magnificent coal-field, are the inherent apathy and conservatism of the Turks, and the unreliability of the labouring classes, who will only work uninterruptedly for a fortnight or so at the mines, and then go back to their native villages, careless whether others are ready to take their places or not.

The paper is illustrated by a map and detailed vertical sections of the coal-seams. L. L. B.

METALLIFEROUS ORE- AND COAL-OCCURRENCES IN SOUTHEASTERN ASIA MINOR.

Geologische Studien im Südöstlichen Kleinasien. By DR. FRANZ SCHAFFER. Sitzungsberichte der Mathematisch-naturwissenshaftlichen Classe der kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften [Vienna], 1900, vol. cix., abtheilung I., pages 498-525, with 2 maps in the text.

From this account of a journey of, natural-history exploration undertaken by the author in Cilicia and Cappadocia in the spring of 1900, the following references to ore-deposits, etc., may be extracted. (He points out in the first place that, even now, the region is from the geological point of view but little known.)

The serpentine which underlies the Miocene limestones near the headwaters of the Sunturaz-Chai contains chrome-iron-ore at Kairak-Keslik. Farther north, in the Allah-Dagh are veins of hæmatite.

Journeying from Tarsus, along the course of the Chakyt-Chai, up towards the Cilician Gates (vλai Kiλikins), older Tertiary limestones are met with at Koerli, containing iron-ores.

At Aiwabé-Han, in the river-bed of the Aiwabé, occur thin seams of a deep black brown coal," with a pitchy lustre. This occurrence, however, is not considered to be of industrial importance. The coal-bearing marls are traced for 6 miles or more as far as Bozanti, and at Belemedyk (on the middle course of the Chakyt-Chai) they contain rather thicker seams.

The grey freshwater marls on the plateau between Nemrun and Zibil contain thick seams of "brown coal "; the author estimated a workable thickness of 5 feet. The coal is of a lustrous black, very brittle, laminated, and after some exposure to the atmospheric agencies disintegrates into a crumbly mass. Although the lie of the seams is much disturbed, there is reason to believe that they extend over a considerable area. They are probably of the same age as those of the Aiwabé valley, and one may conclude that there is a continuous belt of these older Tertiary land- and freshwater-formations along the base of the main mountain-range from Zibil up to the Ak-Dagh. Similar coal-bearing marls are also found at Kara-Sis. L. L. B.

THE MINERAL RESOURCES OF THE PORTUGUESE COLONIES. As nossas Riquezas Coloniaes. By JOSÉ DE MACEDO. Boletin da Sociedade de

Geographia de Lisboa, 1901 [1900], series 18, pages 411-610.

The fourth chapter of this exhaustive memoir on the oversea possessions of Portugal gives in some 22 pages a compilation of all the available facts and opinions (more or less speculative) in regard to their mineral wealth. Concerning ourselves with the facts alone, we note in the first place that trustworthy scientific information as to these Portuguese colonies is somewhat scanty. The Cape Verde Islands, for instance, are said to contain " deposits of iron- and copper-ores, silver- and gold-bearing ores, native sulphur, etc. Ferruginous springs are abundant there; salt has been exported in large quantities from Boa Vista and the Ilha do Sal, but the author gives no clear explanation as to how the salt is got.

In Portuguese Guinea are petroleum-springs, as yet, untapped. Gold is, of course, the best-known mineral product of that region; nothing positive can be stated as to other metals there. In San Thomé and Principe there are deposits of mercury and manganese-ores, rock-salt, petroleum, etc.

Angola has long been known as possessing considerable mineral resources, among which are the coal, rock-salt, hæmatite and copper-ores of Mossamedes, etc., the magnetite of Gambos, and the native sulphur of Benguella. Petroleum of excellent quality occurs, chiefly in the Dondo district.

Turning then to East Africa, the author is unable entirely to resist the temptation which besets most of those who have lately written on that part of the world, to share in the controversy regarding the original site of the land of Ophir. He appears to think that it embraced most of the country northward from the Cape up, and including Mozambique.

Concerning Mozambique, it is pointed out that in 1899 the following mining concessions were granted:-6 for working coal, and 10 for working copper- and silver-ores, gold- and diamond-reefs. At present 61 mining concessions are in force in the province. That part of Manicaland which has remained Portuguese territory is "incomparably richer" in gold, silver, copper, iron, etc., than the portion which now belongs to the British Empire; and it is asserted that a certain gold-mine in Portuguese Manicaland obtains yields which are superior to anything ever got in the Transvaal. The districts of Lourenço Marques and Cabo Delgado are also said to be rich in coal and other minerals.

The little Portuguese possessions in India contain coal, iron- and copperores, but not in sufficient quantity to found a great industry upon them. In the island of Timor, five petroleum-springs are known on the southern coast, in close proximity one to the other. There is also native sulphur of excellent quality, coal, a little gold, iron-, copper- and silver-ores.

L. L. B.

THE BORACIC DEPOSITS OF THE SALINAS GRANDES, ARGENTINA. Gisements de Borate des "Salinas Grandes " de la République Argentine. By H. BUTTGENBACH. Annales de la Société géologique de Belgique, 1901, vol. xxviii., Mémoires, pages 99-116, with 4 figures in the text.

The Salinas Grandes are vast salt-marshes, situated on a high desertplateau in the region where the frontiers of Argentina march with those of Chile and Bolivia. They are bounded on the east and on the west by lofty

VOL. XXIV.-1902-1903.

49

snow-capped mountain-ranges, and they are in 23 degrees south latitude and 68 degrees west longitude of the meridian of Paris.

In the centre of these basin-like marshes, the ground is perfectly flat, and is covered by a deposit of rock-salt which reaches a maximum thickness of 13 inches or so. The water which floods these marshes from December to March runs off or percolates through them very rapidly, and they dry up quickly, thanks to the generally high temperature of the air during the daytime, thanks also to the action of the winds which sweep resistless across the plateau. Vegetation is of the scantiest description-mere desert-scrub, and sand-storms are frequent.

The upper portion of the rock-salt bed is grey, but the lower portion is white, very pure, with good cleavage. It is got out in blocks, the sides of which measure about 16 inches, and finds a ready market in the neighbouring provinces of Salta and Jujuy. The salt-bed diminishes in thickness from the centre of the basin towards the periphery, and where it dies out the borate-deposits come in: these are now being worked, for the most part by the International Borax Company.

The mineral is a hydrated borate of lime and soda, containing a little magnesia, calcium carbonate and sodium sulphate, and highly impregnated with common salt, the elimination of which, however, is easy. The author discusses in some detail the question as to the exact species to which the mineral can be referred, and finally decides in favour of ulexite, the chemical formula of which is CaNa,Bo,10018(H2O)16" Moreover, the results of a crystallographic examination under the microscope point in the same direction, the distinctive characters of ulexite being very marked.

This ulexite of Salines Grandes occurs in nodules which, from their resemblance in form to potatoes, are called papas by the workmen. As a rule, they are about the size of a man's fist, but are sometimes as big as a child's head. They are agglomerated together into beds varying from 4 to 28 inches in thickness, and lie in a matrix which varies from a slightly clayey loam to a sticky clay. This boracic deposit is never found at a greater depth than 5 feet below the surface, and rests upon a barren bluish clay of unknown thickness. There appears to be no sort of regularity in the number, thickness, or relative position of the masses of borate within the limits just indicated, and on the whole the deposit is fairly comparable with that of Columbus Marsh in California.

When the boracic nodules are dug out they are damp, plastic, and highly saline. If left exposed, however, to the sun and air for not less than 5 and not more than 20 days they become hard, lose about 20 per cent. of their weight, and when they are shaken up in a basket the earthy matter clinging to them crumbles away. They then contain at most 2 per cent. of common salt. Sometimes the nodules are cemented together by (and impregnated with) a hard material called caliche by the workmen: this consists largely of sodium nitrate, gypsum, glauberite, pickeringite and rock-salt.

The author discusses in some detail the various explanations that can be given to account for the origin of these deposits, and points out that the intervention of volcanic phenomena is, in any case, necessary to account for the presence of boric acid. Further, he believes that the formation of ulexite-nodules is still going on, and that this formation is conditioned by the annual flooding of the marshes during the rainy season.

L. L. B.

II.-REPORT OF THE CORRESPONDING SOCIETIES' COMMITTEE OF THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE, BELFAST, 1902.*

The following Corresponding Societies nominated delegates to represent them at the Conferences: -The Institution of Mining Engineers, Prof. Henry Louis; the Midland Counties Institution of Engineers, Prof. Henry Louis; Midland Institute of Mining, Civil and Mechanical Engineers, Mr. James Barrowman; the North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers, Mr. J. H. Merivale ; The Mining Institute of Scotland, Mr. James Barrowman; and the South Staffordshire and East Worcestershire Institute of Mining Engineers, Prof. Henry Louis.

First Conference, September 11th, 1902.

Second Conference, September 16th, 1902.

Mr. MARK BARR attended as a representative of Section G (Engineering) and called attention to the Committee for Investigating the Resistance of Roadvehicles to Traction.

COMMITTEES APPOINTED BY THE GENERAL COMMITTEE AT THE BELFAST MEETING IN SEPTEMBER, 1902.

1.-NOT RECEIVING GRANTS OF MONEY.

Subject for Investigation or Purpose.

The rate of increase of underground temperature downwards in various localities of dry land and under water.

The nature of alloys.

To consider the best methods for the registration
of all type-specimens of fossils in the British
Isles, and to report on the same.

Members of the Committee.

Chairman and Secretary.-Prof. J. D. Everett.
Lord Kelvin, Sir Archibald Geikie, Mr. James
Glaisher, Prof. Edward Hull, Dr. C. Le Neve
Foster, Prof. A. S. Herschel, Prof. G. A.
Lebour, Mr. A. B. Wynne, Mr. W. Galloway,
Mr. Joseph Dickinson, Mr. G. F. Deacon, Mr.
E. Wethered, Mr A. Strahan, Prof. Michie
Smith, Prof. H. L. Callendar and Mr. B. H.
Brough.

Chairman and Secretary.—Mr. F. H. Neville.
Mr. C. T. Heycock and Mr. E. H. Griffiths
Chairman-Dr. H. Woodward.
Secretary-Mr. A. Smith Woodward.

Rev G. F. Whidborne, Mr. R. Kidston, Prof. H.
G. Seeley, Mr. H. Woods and Rev. J. F.
Blake.

* Reprinted by permission of the Council of the British Association for the Advancement of Science,

2. RECEIVING GRANTS OF MONEY.

To co-operate with the Committee of the Falmouth Observatory in their magnetic observations.

To investigate the erratic blocks of the British Isles, and to take measures for their preservation.

£ s. d

40 0 0