The fauna, mainly small gastropods and lamellibranchs, of the sands and silts (the Hammar Formation) occurring near the surface in various borings in the Basrah area is shown to be marine and of Recent age. It is suggested that the Persian Gulf sea in Recent times extended a considerable distance north of its present shoreline: its silting-up is considered to be due to cessation of subsidence. The subsequent geography of the area, with its fluviatile, lacustrine, and estuarine sediments, is possibly due to localized subsidence and elevation.

The north-eastern area of Dartmoor is traversed by a series of straight valleys which follow fault lines. One fault-system, which crosses the granite from near Lustleigh north-westwards to Stickle-path, is described in detail, and its relationships to structures in a wider area are briefly discussed.

Antidune wavecrests preserved in mud by contemporaneous currents carrying silt are discussed with reference to some recent criticism. In turbidity currents, at slow rates of directional flow, turbulent eddies may be operative in keeping sediment in suspension. Torose structures and flow marks from the Gala-Tarannon of Southern Scotland are compared with structures probably eroded by turbulent currents in the Gronigel Flysch of the Pre-Alps.

A survey of brachiopod genera along lines currently adopted by students of evolution suggests that for this phylum at least the raw data can change significantly from year to year dependent upon systematic opinion and regional influences, and that even if such data are accepted as reasonable reflections of brachiopod evolution they lead to conclusions different from those published for other phyla.

The molluscan fauna of the deposits infilling the Ebbsfleet Channel is listed; it comprises forty-one species and demonstrates the existence of an interglacial phase.

The new approach to quantitative morphometry, initiated by Horton (1945), has resulted in the recognition, measurement and comparison of the basic units of landscape geometry; the application to them of the principles governing the behaviour of open physical systems; and the testing and quantifying of the Davisian principles of landscape evolution. The laws of morphometry are here illustrated from three regions of maturely dissected sandstone terrain, lacking in differential gross structural control, and it is discovered that uniform, dimensionless ratios hold for their geometry.

Plate atrophy (“plate crushing”) giving rise to interambulacral plates analogous to demi-plates immediately above the ambitus is described in the Miocene spatangoid Lovenia woodsi, from Beaumaris, Victoria. It appears to be caused by the development of large primary tubercles on the aboral surface, which causes the expansion of the lowest tubercle-bearing plates during ontogeny, so that the more ventral interambulacral plates are squeezed against the ambitus.

The form and distribution of load-casts suggests a genetic connection with structures previously formed on the upper surface of the underlying bed. On analogy with salt-dome development, the growth of load-casts and associated flame-structures is attributed to the density contrast between upper and lower bands and differential loading caused by the projections and depressions formed by the upper-surface features. This hypothesis is the basis of a new classification of load-cast structures.

The antipathetic relation between chloritoid and biotite in the lower metamorphic grades of the Barrovian zones and the genesis of the index minerals in the higher metamorphic grades are briefly discussed. The observed mineral assemblages of 13 new analyses of peltic schists are compared with the assemblage required by the mineralogical phase rule; good agreement exists provided allowance is made for magnesia acting as a separate component. Six new biotite analyses covering all of the Barrovian zones show an increase in the degree of replacement of Si**** by Al*** with increase in metamorphic grade. The ratio of FeO: MgO varies according to the associated ferromagnesian minerals and shows no regular relation to metamorphic grade.

Quarrying activity adjacent to the well-known intrusion of monchiquite cutting Old Red Sandstone near Usk, in Monmouthshire (originally described by W. S. Boulton, in 1911), shows that the monchiquite proper is associated with an agglomerate-filled vent. Fossiliferous blocks contained within the agglomerate (first recorded by C. R. K. Blundell) show that the volcanic activity took place not earlier than in Lower Carboniferous time; and throw light on the former extension of the Carboniferous Limestone in this area.

A prominent shell bed from the Middle Coal Measures of the Midgeholme Coalfield, Cumberland, is here recorded for the first time. The fauna, consisting of non-marine lamellibranchs is listed and briefly described. It establishes that the horizon of the Cannel Seam at which the shell bed occurs is within the C. pseudorobusta Sub-zone of the upper part of the C. communis Zone.

Goniatite faunas characteristic of the principal Namurian stages are reported in many areas of the U.S.S.R. The faunas are listed, and a brief account of some recent systematic work is given.

Growth of the glabella of the trilobite Dalmanitina olini is studied by plotting various dimensions y against the length of the glabellar stalk x which is taken to represent absolute size. The relations are fitted best by linear equations y = a(x + b/a), and for several dimensions the value of b/a appears to be constant. The concepts of absolute and specific growth-rates are discussed in relation to the glabella of D. olini.

Aspidiscus cristatus (Lamarck) is recorded from Western Sinai and a full description of the species is given. This includes the first recognition of the calicular pits in the coral, which is thus shown to be a compound form.

An unusual variety of quartzite is associated with Dalradian limestone and dark schist at two localities in Upper Glen Fender, near Blair Atholl. The appearance and texture of this quartzite suggest that it is derived from a chert or jasper, and not from a sandstone.

The term “granite” could be usefully reserved for massive or weakly oriented plutonic rocks of colour index less than 20 per cent and quartz content between 20 per cent and 40 per cent by volume. A symbolic classification of rocks meeting these requirements is presented. The various classes are based on the relative proportions of plagioclase and alkali feldspar, and sub-classes based on the ternary dominance ratio quartz-alkali feldsparplagioclase are also proposed. The symbols are simple and easily remembered. A few of the common names now in use are retained for class designations.

The ammonite species Cymbites laevigatus (J. de C. Sowerby) is fully described and illustrated for the first time. Nomenclatural problems are discussed. The interpretation of the genus Cymbites, and of its type species, Amm. globosus, is reviewed.

The Fuller's Earth Clay of the Whatley district nowhere rests directly on the Palaeozoic rocks, but is always underlain by Inferior Oolite. The Fuller's Earth Rock of the district contains two distinctive and successive faunas, the upper of which bears a suite of ammonites hitherto unknown from rocks of this age. It is correlated with the Wattonensis Beds of the Dorset Fuller's Earth.

In certain Pacific island chains, characterized by feldspathoids in their volcanic rocks, the arrangement of the different types of islands conforms to a pattern which suggests that yulcanicity began at one end and moved progressively along the chain, erecting a series of volcanoes, each of which passed through a succession of stages, ending as an atoll. The origin of coral reefs is discussed in the light of these observations.

The granite consisted chiefly of albite, quartz, muscovite, microperthite, fluorite, and topaz; zircon was very rare. The low to high quartz transition enhanced thermal expansion and porosity. Heating was continued step-wise to 1,300°C. and caused an irreversible increase in porosity at all temperatures investigated. The changes undergone by the various minerals, separately or through interaction, were noted. Fluorite began to melt against muscovite or alkali-feldspar between 800° and 900°C. Muscovite developed brownish pleochroism at the lower, and was replaced by mullite at the higher, temperatures. The gradual melting of feldspar, the development of cleavages and cracks in quartz, and the invasion of these cracks by feldspathic glass resembled phenomena in certain xenoliths.

The conditions that produced glass when powdered granite was heated unconfined or in a bomb are described.