Development of geological research in U.S.S.R Academy of Sciences and U.S.S.R. Ministry of Geology and Mineral Reserves

On October 12, 1962, a joint session of the Presidium of the U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences and the Collegium of the U.S.S.R. Ministry of Geology and Mineral Reserves adopted a resolution “On the present state of the geological sciences in the U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences and the U. S. S. R. Ministry of Geology and Mineral Reserves and their prospects for the future.” Important contributions of Russian geologists are acknowledged, but attention is drawn to many shortcomings. Future goals of geological study and work are given in detail. Twenty-one lines of research to be concentrated on are given, covering all phases of geology, geophysics, and geochemistry. In discussing the failings of the geological profession in Russia, it is of interest to note the following comment: “Geological research in other countries is still insufficiently studied and applied, and we are not making adequate use of geologic information from abroad.” The list of the Russian geologists' shortcomings sounds vaguely familiar. —J. R. Hayes     

Carbonatite occurrences of the world: map and database, by A. R. Woolley and B. A. Kjarsgaard.

Labour of love For those of us who do not have the genes needed for sorting,cataloguing, and pigeon-holing, we need those who do. This open-filereport (5796) from the Geological Survey of Canada entitledCarbonatite occurrences of the world: map and database includesa CD brimming, perhaps overflowing, with information about carbonatites.Woolley started listing alkaline rocks and carbonatites alongwith their ages, spatial distribution, and associated rockstypes in his volume on the carbonatites of North and South Americathat appeared in 1987. Since then, other volumes have appearedwith Woolley acting as the main     

Regional development and the natural resources of the U.S.S.R.

The recent experience of the rising cost of exploiting new material resources in the U.S.S.R. has led to exploration of alternative methods, particularly greater intensification of exploitation. The regional variations in the balance between intensive and extensive methods is considerable and is consequently an important aspect of Soviet geographical research. This paper discusses the criteria and methodology for this crucial economic/resource regionalization of the U.S.S.R.     

Thermoluminescence of meteorites and their terrestrial ages: reply to comments by S. W. S. McKeever and P. D. Townsend

The usefulness of an “effective” trap depth to approximate the group of closely spaced trap depths responsible for the low temperature thermoluminescence in meteorites is evaluated on the basis of its success when used with the TL equivalent dose method to determine terrestrial ages of Antarctic meteorites. The ages determined in this way agree in every instance with terrestrial age determinations based on ¹⁴C, ²⁶Al, ³⁶Cl, and ⁵³Mn. The application of an “effective” trap depth in this TL dating technique in no way implies that the TL signal actually arises from a single trap depth.     

Phosphorus and ChlorinE Content of Eight New U.S.G.S. Standard Rocks

Data on the content of phosphorus and chlorine in eight new U.S.G.S. standard rooks obtained by radiochemical neutron activation analysis are presented and discussed.     

Decisions of the Standing Stratigraphic Commission on Ordovician and Silurian of U.S.S.R.

The Committee on Ordovician and Silurian Stratigraphy of the U. S. S. R. defines a number of time-stratigraphic subdivisions of the Russian Ordovician and Silurian Systems. — C.G. Tillman.