Theory and experiments show that a component of compressive strain parallel to layering is necessary to develop drag folds. The component of shear strain needed for the monoclinic symmetry of such folds is not sufficient to form the wavy pattern. Based upon fluid dynamic theory and experiments with layered rubber slabs it is suggested that drag folds on flanks of major folds generally evolve as follows: Layer-parallel compression of more or less straight layered rocks causes some layers to shorten essentially by more or less uniform compressive strain and thickening (thick and not-so-competent layers), other layers to shorten essentially by buckling (thin and most component layers). In the course of time, however, the rate of buckling of the thick layers becomes significant relative to the rate of arc-shortening, and the thin layers with the early formed short buckles are forced to mimic the larger folds of the thick layers more or less passively. In this process the early formed short buckles become tilted and assume the typical drag-fold shape.

The Lower New Red Sandstone of Devon outcrops in a north-south band near Torquay to Exmoor. It rests unconformably on the Devonian and Culm. Westwards of Tiverton and again west of Exeter the outcrop extends into the Culm synclinorium. The Lower New Red sediments in the second and longer of these narrow tongues, together with the associated Hatherleigh, Highhampton and Essworthy outliers, form the subject of this paper.

The succession of Lower Old Red Sandstone rocks found in the Welsh Borderland, is reinterpreted to reveal a shifting pattern of facies of far greater complexity than was hitherto realized. The sequence of vertebrate faunas is examined in conjunction with the sediments, and in this way a fuller account is given of the conditions of life of these early vertebrates, than was previously possible. The boundary between the Downtonian and Dittonian Stages is revised to coincide with the major palaeontological break in the region, and this is shown to approximate to a major lithological break, which is here accepted as the division between the local rock units known as the Downton and Ditton Series.

In North Jan Mayen agglutinate is recognized as an important and widespread pyroclastic deposit of recent parasitic activity associated with the Beerenberg volcano. Lips of agglutinate along fissures, areas up to one square kilometre composed entirely of agglutinate, and other smaller morphological features are described. It is proposed to term the more widespread areas of agglutinate, “agglutinate fields,”, owing to their superficial resemblance to aa lava fields. Two varieties of agglutinate, one composed mainly of pancakes and bombs and the other of driblets of ankaramitic basaltic material are described, and conclusions given on their significance and formation.

The distribution of Tertiary to Recent lavas in part of south-west Kenya is outlined, and attention drawn to the predominance of nepheline-rich Miocene lavas over other types west of the Rift Valley, which contrasts with the Pliocene olivine basalt-trachytecomendite association predominating within the Rift Valley. It is inferred that widespread Miocene phonolites west of the Rift Valley derived from a parent of approximate mela-nephelinitic composition, while within the Rift Valley extensive Pleistocene trachytes differentiated from an olivine basaltic parent. Plots of normative feldspathoid: feldspar versus silica, for analysed lavas from Kenya and Tanganyika, are used to illustrate the trends envisaged. The frequent association of nephelinitic lavas and carbonatite complexes in Kenya is discussed and the possibility mooted that the presence of nephelinite lavas may be indicative of nearby carbonatite complexes.

Dykes with melilite occur in the area peripheral to the Rangwa complex. A flow-lineated alvikite dyke situated in the area just outside the North Ruri complex contains calcitic pseudomorphs of phenocrysts, and it is suggested that the majority of these are after melilite. The significance of the observed restriction of melilitic dykes to the peripheral area of the complexes is considered in the light of the recognition of a gradational progression from kimberlite-alnöite dykes to beforsite and alvikite dykes at Alnö island and its environs in Sweden. The possibility that cauldron subsidence is involved in some of the Kenya complexes is considered.