New ammonite finds indicate that the sea transgressed over the crystalline basement of Milne Land, East Greenland, in Boreal Bathonian time and not in Middle Oxfordian as previously thought. A coral (Enallocoenia callomoni Beauvais) occurring in the transgressive Upper Bathonian deposits is the first hermatypic coral known from the Boreal Middle Jurassic. The unusually complete Boreal Upper Callovian–Oxfordian–Kimmeridgian ammonite succession is described; the faunas include remarkable occurrences of submediterranean genera (Hibolithes, Pachypictonia, Streblites). Finally, the sedimentary and tectonic evolution of Milne Land and adjacent areas in Jurassic time is outlined. It is shown that the area was characterized by gentle block-faulting.

Boreholes drilled at Sandnes, SW Norway penetrated Quaternary (Weichselian) marine interstadial sediments which contained ostracods. The ostracods, which are analysed and discussed, were found to be indicative of cool, probably sub-arctic, shallow-water conditions. Some evidence of faunal mixing is attributed to the effects of glacial meltwater input into a shallow marine environment.

A set of sub-vertical curving fissures in a Pennine-derived lodgement till of Wolstonian age is described from Church Wilne near Derby. The fissures are at least 5 m long and curved (radius of curvature c. 3 m) in both vertical and horizontal planes, the concavity facing SE in the direction of regional ice movement. The origin of the structures is considered in the light of a review of modes of formation of structural discontinuities in till. Origins due to stress relief following excavation, desiccation, frost action, direct ice push, ice-core meltout, compaction of the substrate and shear failure are rejected. It is proposed that the fissures were produced by point loading of a frozen till surface by englacial (basal) boulders which provided periodically high compressive stresses and induced tensional failure. Analogous fissures occur in a Devensian lodgement till in the Wirral peninsula in Cheshire. It is concluded that curved fissure sets are localized features of lodgement tills but that they may be quite widely distributed.

Two new camerate crinoids from the Henryhouse (Ludlow) of Oklahoma are evolutionarily convergent on monocyclic inadunates. The prokopicrinid Nanicrinus (new) has a calyx consisting only of three basals (small basal in EA interrary) and five radials. The anal opening is bordered by two radials. Praedicticrinus (new) is a hirneacrinid with anal X as the sole interradial plate participating in the calyx and small basal located in DE interray. Assignment to the Camerata is based largely on presumed phylogenetic relationships. The similar-appearing Permian genera Plesiocrinus, Eutelecrinus, Metaeutelecrinus (new) and Paraeutelecrinus (new) are probable prokopicrinid homeomorphs derived from platycrinitid ancestors. They are assigned to the new family Eutelecrinidae. Adaptation of the definition of homeomorphy utilized by Chauff & Klapper (1978) is advocated for supposed paleontologic cases.

A total of 111 major element analyses have been made of impure calcareous rocks from the Late Precambrian Moinian sequence in NW Scotland. Samples were collected along a 36 km traverse from three stratigraphic horizons which are repeated by folding and vary in metamorphic grade from lower to upper amphibolite facies. Anorthite content of the plagioclase, which increases progressively from albite to anorthite, was assessed by X-ray diffraction measurement of 2θ (131–11); this value is used as a ‘metamorphic index’ for rocks with a CaO/Al2O3 (wt. %) ration of 0.3–0.7 and Na2O/Al2O3, < 0.35. Na2O/Al2O3 and K2O/Al2O3 ratios plotted against this index, together with the spatial relationship between metamorphic/chemical isograds and stratigraphic boundaries show that both Na (0.24–4.82% Na2O) and K (0.01–3.28% K2O) are lost from the calc-silicate rocks during prograde metamorphism. These chemical changes result in a variation of the stable mineralogy with increasing metamorphic grade and take place through the medium of the intergranular fluid.

Recent ideas on evolution in the graptolites have been based upon an assumption either of passive flotation and passive feeding, or of active and co-ordinated ciliary feeding resulting in automobility. These ideas are compared and a possible evolutionary consequence of automobility is suggested.

The Newania carbonatite is mainly ferruginous rauhaugite with subordinate ankeritic carbonatite and dykelets of sovite. In a zone of fenitization the surrounding granite-gneiss country rock has been converted into syenitic fenite, composed mainly of feldspar and ferri-eckermannite with small amounts of albite, anorthoclase and accessory apatite.

A phenomenon similar to the sand tube fulgurite has been observed in experimental work carried out to compact and sinter metal powders using high voltage discharges. The sand tube fulgurite is a fused quartz tube formed by the passage of a lightning discharge. Further experiments, in which a high voltage discharge was passed from a pointed electrode held above a large volume of copper powder, through to an earthed plate, give a copper product with the characteristic fulgurite morphology. This result suggests that the quartz sand can behave as a good conductor in the lightning discharge, perhaps due to conducting coatings on the surface of the sand particles.