"The Transactions [comprise] the papers read at general meetings of the Federated institutes [Manchester Geological and Mining Society. Midland Counties Institution of Engineers. Midland Institute of Mining, Civil, and Mechanical Engineers. Mining Institute of Scotland. North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers. North Staffordshire Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers. South Staffordshire and Warwickshire Institute of Mining Engineers] and of the Institution of Mining Engineers; together with "Notes of papers on the working of mines, metallurgy, etc., from the Transactions of colonial and foreign societies etc."

Transactions include brief accounts of the activities of member societies.