Arthur Lennox Coulson obtained his DSc degree (1933) from the University of Melbourne, Australia. His area of specialization was economic geology. He was Assistant Superintendent (1922); Curator (1927-29); Assistant Director (1932-34) and Palaeontologist, Superintending Geologist (1936), Geological Survey of India.

Academic and Research Achievements: Coulson carried out extensive geological investigations, mainly mapping in Bundi and Sirohi states, Rajputana, North-West Frontier Province and Kashmir. He examined basic rocks from Sirohi, and their metamorphism led him to conclude Sirohi and Ajabgarh series as contemporaneous lava flows. His best-known works on economic geology are his memoirs on barytes and asbestos deposits in the ceded district of Madras and on the mineral resources of North-West Frontier Province. He also carried out systematic investigations of barytes in Cuddapah, Anantpur and Kurnool districts in Andhra Pradesh and recorded 55 new important deposits. Most of these deposits are found as either replacements of fissure veins in Vempalle limestones, or in intrusive dolerite and basalt sills. His interest in minerals ranged over a wide field such as asbestos, coal, chromite, dolomite, gold, limestone, lollingite, oil shales, pyrite, zinc, and spinel. Much of his work was, however, concerned with engineering geology and groundwater supply.

Other Contributions: As a Major in the Australian Engineers, Coulson advised on ground water supply for military forces in Australia and New Guinea. A born geologist, he gave his best to India.

Awards and Honours: Coulson was a Fellow of Geological Society of London; Geological Institute (sometime President); and Presidency College, Kolkata. He was Member of Mining, Geological and Metallurgical Institute of India (sometime Honorary Secretary).