Middle Triassic radiolarian bedded cherts in the Mino Belt, central Japan, include a sequence showing an abrupt facies change from the lower to the upper, where grey–black bedded cherts enriched in carbonaceous matter and framboidal pyrite are overlain by brick-red hematitic bedded cherts. Brownish-yellow chert enriched in goethite and purple-red chert occur at the boundary between the grey–black bedded cherts and the brick-red bedded cherts. This facies change is in accordance with stratigraphic variations of geochemical characteristics; the lower section grey–black bedded cherts, compared with the upper section brick-red bedded cherts, are enriched in Ctot and Stot, and are characterized by lower MnO/TiO2, higher FeO/Fe2O3* (total iron as Fe2O3) and more variable Fe2O3*/TiO2 values. Some of the lower section samples, in addition, are characterized by an enrichment in some transition metals (Ni, Cu, and Zn). The covariation of mineralogical and geochemical characteristics indicates that sedimentary environments and diagenetic processes were different between the lower and the upper section bedded cherts. During the deposition of the lower section bedded cherts, the sedimentary environment was anoxic and bacterial sulphate reduction occurred during the early diagenetic stage. In contrast, the upper section bedded cherts were subjected to less reducing diagenetic processes; active sulphate reduction did not occur. The change of sedimentary environment and diagenetic process at the site of deposition is likely to be attributed to the fluctuated concentration of dissolved oxygen in the water mass of a semi-closed marginal ocean basin, which was potentially caused by sea-level change that occurred during Middle Triassic time.

The Lilljeborgfjellet Conglomerate Formation composes the lower part of the alluvial Siktefjellet Group of northwestern Spitsbergen's Old Red Sandstone succession. Siktefjellet strata are of late Silurian or early Devonian age, but lack precise age-diagnostic fossils. They are unconformably overlain by conglomerates and sandstones of the Red Bay Group, which contain a well established fish fauna of Lochkovian age. The Lilljeborgfjellet Conglomerate rests with a major unconformity on high-grade (with eclogites) schists and gneisses, with associated corona gabbros and granitic gneisses. Previous isotope-age studies have shown that these igneous rocks yield U/Pb ages of c. 950 Ma, and that the eclogite facies metamorphism may be of Caledonian or late Neoproterozoic age. The high P/high T rocks are intercalated with and overlain by schists affected only by Caledonian amphibolite facies metamorphism, recorded by 40Ar/39Ar and Rb/Sr cooling ages of 400–430 Ma.

In the Lochkovian Red Bay Group of the Raudfjorden Graben, two horizons of tuffites occur, interbedded with sandstones. New studies of eight zircons from these volcanic rocks have provided single-zircon lead-evaporation ages of c. 950 and c. 1350 Ma; one yielded 440 Ma. All these zircons are probably derived from the underlying basement rocks, the ages being significantly older than the Devonian host strata (c. 410 Ma).

The clasts in the Lilljeborgfjellet Conglomerate are generally angular to subrounded and derived locally from the underlying high-grade metamorphic complex. A subordinate (usually less than 1%, but up to about 10%) component of the clasts is a quartz porphyry that is not known in the exposed bedrock anywhere in northwestern Spitsbergen. The quartz porphyries are better rounded than the other clasts; however, the maximum diameter reaches 1.5 metres, indicating that transport distances are unlikely to have exceeded a few kilometres. Three quartz porphyry boulders have been dated by the single-zircon lead-evaporation method and shown to be of Palaeoproterozoic age, yielding ages of 1735±4, 1736±5 and 1739±5 Ma that have not previously been detected in the northwestern part of Svalbard's Caledonides.

The quartz porphyry clasts show no evidence of the widespread high-grade tectonothermal activity of Mesoproterozoic and early Palaeozoic age that influenced northwestern Spitsbergen. It is therefore concluded that the most probable source of these clasts lies to the east in the unexposed basement beneath the Old Red Sandstones of the Andrèeland–Dicksonland Graben. The Lilljeborgfjellet quartz porphyry clasts are closely similar in age to the granitic rocks of Ny Friesland. Whereas the latter were subject to Caledonian high amphibolite facies metamorphism, the quartz porphyry clasts have only been affected by a low greenschist facies overprint. Nevertheless, the similarity in age suggests an affinity to Ny Friesland and it is proposed here that the Breibogen–Bockfjorden Fault defines the most important boundary between Svalbard's Caledonian terranes.

Integrated graptolite, conodont and chitinozoan biostratigraphical data are presented from the lower Silurian of the Ohesaare core, Saaremaa, Estonia. A precise correlation of graptolite and conodont biozonations for much of the Telychian and Sheinwoodian is presented; this differs significantly from correlations suggested previously, which were based on inadequate graptolite data. The boundary between the celloni and amorphognathoides conodont biozones lies close to that between the spiralis and lapworthi graptolite biozones. The boundary between the bicornis and procerus conodont superzones lies mid-way through the murchisoni graptolite Biozone. The top of the procerus conodont Superzone lies at or very close to the boundary between the murchisoni and firmus graptolite biozones. The boundary between the Lower and Upper ranuliformis conodont biozones lies close to the boundary between the firmus and riccartonensis graptolite biozones. The precise position of the Llandovery–Wenlock boundary cannot be identified in the core. The newly demonstrated biozonal correlations are significant for studies of Silurian chronostratigraphy (previous estimates of the duration of the epochs and ages of the Silurian were based on inaccurate correlations) and sea-level changes. Palaeogeographically, the setting of Ohesaare is considered to be relatively deep shelf. Perhaps surprisingly, there is a major unconformity in the Llandovery of the core: much, if not all, of the Aeronian is missing, as is the lower part of the Telychian.

One of the major metamorphic terranes of the Bohemian Massif, the Erzgebirge, is interpreted to record a subducted part of a Palaeozoic margin of Gondwana. A geochemical study on non-calcareous metasediments from the various metamorphic units from lower greenschist to granulite facies metamorphism supports a recently established thrust model. Geochemical discrimination and correlation from the metasediments of the Erzgebirge suggest repetition of an early Palaeozoic metasedimentary sequence in metamorphic thrust units. This new finding is in line with recent radiometric dating of intercalated metarhyolitic rocks, which yielded ages of around 480 Ma. It is furthermore supported by correlation with a low-grade standard section in Thuringia, which represents the transition from an orogenic belt to a passive margin setting, with highly mature sediments. Significant geochemical signatures have been identified in three different lithotypes, which reappear in at least three metamorphic units of the Erzgebirge. Geochemical correlation of these units was established using simple comparison of averages and with statistical techniques. The identification of significant geochemical signatures from different lithotypes in metamorphic suites has important implications for terrane analysis and reconstruction of ancient tectonic settings.

The repetition of lithologies and their distinct chemical compositions in progressively metamorphosed units is useful for examining element mobility during Barrovian metamorphism. Statistical comparison implies that Li is progressively depleted from the greenschist to amphibolite facies, whereas Ca exhibits some enrichment. All the other elements studied are considered to be immobile.

Spot sampling of the Red Crag Formation at Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex (= Walton Cray) has revealed a diverse record of dinoflagellates, pollen, and other palynomorphs. Pollen from a basal horizon is dominated by Pinus, but also contains high values of Sciadopitys and a small but diverse component of deciduous mesothermal trees. Taxodium is more common at 2 m above the base of the Red Crag and may represent a different part of a climate cycle. A mild- to warm-temperate climate is inferred for the Walton assemblages and a correlation with the Reuverian B pollen substage (Late Pliocene, 3.0 to >2.6 Ma) is demonstrated, thereby constraining the timing of an important marine transgression in eastern England.

Dinoflagellates from the basal horizon and from 2 m above the base of the Red Crag generally indicate a restricted marine environment, but outer neritic to oceanic dinoflagellates are occasionally present, and imply the penetration of more saline North Atlantic water masses into the southern North Sea basin. Mild- to warm-temperate conditions are indicated by the presence of several thermophilic species. The Walton assemblages have strong similarities with those of the mid-Pliocene Coralline Crag Formation of eastern England, but differ in the presence of Bitectatodinium tepikiense, which, along with an apparently reduced species richness, gives evidence of cooler conditions. A number of thermophilic species at Walton are not reported from younger Pliocene deposits in eastern England, perhaps reflecting a less equable climate after Northern Hemisphere cooling at 2.55 Ma.