K. Aoki, B. F. Windley, S. Maruyama & S. Omori reply: First, we thank Viete, Oliver & Wilde for their interesting and thought-provoking comments on the timing of the high-pressure granulite facies (HGR) metamorphism recorded in metamorphic rocks at Cairn Leuchan, Scotland, published by Aoki et al. (2013). Based on new metamorphic data of garnetites and garnet-amphibolites at Cairn Leuchan and new zircon U–Pb ages of amphibolitized eclogite at Tomatin, we suggested in our publication that the HGR metamorphism was retrograde after eclogite facies before the c. 470 Ma ‘Barrovian metamorphism’. Viete, Oliver & Wilde however speculate that the HGR metamorphism at Cairn Leuchan may have occurred at c. 1000 Ma, as a result of their new U–Pb zircon age of the Cowhythe Gneiss at Portsoy and from previous studies of the geological structure and geochronology. We are grateful for this opportunity to describe, albeit in a preliminary manner, our new understanding and tectonic model of the Caledonian orogen in Scotland and western Ireland of which the Barrovian metamorphism is a key component. A reply to a comment is not the correct place to propose an entirely new paradigm for such a classic orogen, but we will present our model more fully in a future publication.

The southern Great Xing’an Range (SGXR), located in the eastern segment of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB), is one of the most economically important Cu–Mo–Fe–Sn–Pb–Zn–Ag metallogenic provinces in China. The newly discovered Panjiaduan Cu–Pb–Zn deposit (9.3 Mt; at 1.36% Cu, 2.90% Pb, 3.80% Zn and 38.12 g/t Ag), located in the SE segment of the SGXR, is primarily hosted in fracture zones in volcanic rocks and granodiorite of the Manitu Formation. Four paragenetic stages of metallic mineralization are identified: (I) quartz-pyrite-arsenopyrite; (II) quartz-polymetallic sulphide; (III) quartz-galena-sphalerite-argentite; and (IV) quartz-calcite-minor sulphide. The hydrothermal quartz contains three types of primary fluid inclusion (FIs): vapour-rich two-phase liquid-vapour (LV-type), liquid-rich two-phase liquid-vapour (VL-type) and three-phase liquid-vapour-solid FIs (SL-type). Stages I and II contain all types with homogenization temperatures (Th) of 324–386 °C and 276–334 °C as well as salinities of 0.7–38.0 wt% and 0.9–34.7 wt%, respectively, whereas stage III is composed of VL- and LV-type FIs with Th of 210–269 °C and salinities of 0.5–7.2 wt%. Only VL-type FIs occur in stage IV, with Th of 139–185 °C and salinities of 1.6–4.2 wt%. The δ18OH2O and δD values vary from −15.7 to 2.6‰ and −132.7 to −110.2‰, respectively, indicating predominant meteoric water with an initial magmatic source. The He–Ar isotopic compositions of the pyrite inclusions from the Panjiaduan Cu–Pb–Zn veins suggest that fluids were derived from the crust.

A small mass consisting of three intrusions of fine-textured acid rocks occurs within the basaltic agglomerates of the Kilchrist Vent of Tertiary age. One of the intrusions comprises flow-layered rhyolite and ignimbrite. It is thought that the rock-types represent two distinctive eruptive waves. A form of ovoidal structure not seen elsewhere in the Kilchrist area occurs in another rhyolite intrusion.

Study of the punctation mosaics of Moorellina granulosa (Moore) and Moorellina ornata (Davidson), revealed by serial sectioning and stereoscan photomicrographs, shows that the apparent random distribution of punctae may be reconciled to two superimposed regular insertion patterns. Careful plotting of the endopunctae of M. granulosa from serial, cellulose acetate peels, reveals the presence of impersistent punctae. A new model is proposed, based on superimposed insertion patterns and offering an explanation for impersistence of punctae.

The excavations for the foundations of the new Infirmary in the grounds of Watson's Hospital, Edinburgh, have disclosed several Boulders, which appear lying in the Diluvial-clay. This is a marly clay, and has been dug to the depth of about five feet, in several horizontal terraces, down the slope from north to south. These Boulders were of sufficient size to be left behind in situ by the labourers, and about six large ones were found in the north and twelve in the south area of the grounds. They were of trappean rock chiefly, being rounded on the angles and sides, and of a dark green crystalline structure internally, A large one in the north area was of a metamorphic granitic character; one in the same area of a buff-coloured sandstone; and another in the south was composed of the same rock, and grooved also.

The specimen herein described was sent me by Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A., of Melbourne University. It was found by Mr. F. P. Spry in a rock of supposed Silurian age, at the Yarra Improvement Works, near Prince's Bridge, Melbourne, in November, 1896. The matrix is a fine-grained micaceous sandstone, of a dark purplegrey, weathering yellowish. It often contains crinoid columnals, such as were long ago noticed by the Geological Survey of Victoria, and were figured by W. Blandowski as “Cyatocrinites (probably)pinnatus”; but neither from here, nor from any other Silurian rock of Australia, has a crinoid crown hitherto been recoi-ded. The remains of the crinoid are in the form of an impression, coloured red by iron-oxide; all calcareous matter has been dissolved away. The counterpart of the impression has not been preserved. The specimen was studied by means of wax squeezes; the drawing (Plate XV) represents such a squeeze; and the description follows the drawing.

A few species of Lamellibranchs were recorded by Messrs. Marr and Koberts from the Trinucleus seticornis Beds of Haverfordwest; and though some new species may now be added to their number with the aid of the numerous specimens collected by Mr. V. M. Turnbull, yet a complete list of the species is at present impossible owing partly to the imperfect condition of many of the fossils and partly to the unsatisfactory state of our knowledge of this class as developed in British Ordovician rocks.

Recent considerations of health having induced me to spend from five to six months on the continent, I beg to submit tothe readers of the Geological Magazine the result of my notesmade during my journey, which may perhaps prove not entirely uninteresting.