A diverse fauna of trilobites, graptolites, inarticulate brachiopods, sponges, and a worm is described from the Tremadoc rocks cropping out in the Llangynog district, SW of Carmarthen. It permits identification of the Clonograptus tenellus Zone and older Tremadoc strata; younger Tremadoc strata are apparently absent. The fauna shows closest affinities with the Shineton Shales of Shropshire, while some of the trilobites also indicate a close relationship with those from the Tremadoc of NW Argentina.

Geochemical analyses of fresh bedrock samples indicate that the Afu biotite granites are characterized by enhanced values of a suite of trace elements, including Sn, Nb, W, Zn, Rb, Li, F th, Y and depleted in Ba Sr, and Mn. These geochemical data are also examined by R-mode factor analysis with the primary objective of isolating the significant factors accounting for the sample composition as derived from mineralization, alteration and lithology.

The Orthogonal varimax solution yields a five-factor model that accounts for 76% of the total data variance. Factors 1 (Nb, Rb, Li F) and 3 (Sn, W) can be attributed to the effect of mineralization and postmagmatic alteration; while Factor 2 (Mn, Sr, Ba Zr) is lithological, associated with barren rocks, unaffected by metasomatism. Factor 4 (Th, Y, Ga) and Factor 5 (Pb and Zn) are also associated with prominent mineralization. Thus the mineralized granites are characterized by high concentrations of Sn, Nb, W, Zn, Rb, Li F, Th, Y and Pb but ore formation is considered a product of postmagmatic processes.

Calymene quadrata King is re-described. Two new species of similar age and provenance are erected and considered to be closely allied to quadrata; all three forms are thought to be best placed in genus Gravicalymene Shirley. G. pontilis sp.nov., the stratigraphically oldest form suggests derivation of the group from an ancestor such as G. deani Ingham. G. arcuata sp.nov. is the youngest form. Variation in the preglabellar area between the three forms argues for an expansion of the diagnosis of genus Gravicalymene; this would allow it to contain forms previously placed in genus Sthenarocalymene Siveter.

A revised stratigraphy is presented for the rocks which lie between the Upper Cretaceous Semail ophiolite and its post-emplacement sediment cover of uppermost Cretaceous to Tertiary age. Above the pelagic sediments of the ophiolite (Suhaylah Formation, Cenomanian–Turonian) occur ophiolite-derived clastic sediments (Zabyat Formation, ?Turonian–?Campanian) related to early stages of ophiolite emplacement. These formations are structurally overlain by the Batinah Complex, comprising Triassic to Cretaceous lithologies, all previously equated with the Hawasina rocks that now lie tectonically beneath the ophiolite. We recognize a lower melange unit to the complex, which demonstrably includes Hawasina lithologies. The melange formed by superficial rather than deep processes, but the mechanism by which Hawasina material was supplied to the ophiolite surface is unproven. The upper unit of the Batinah Complex shows a coherent stratigraphy which contrasts with that of the Hawasina. It comprises three main allochthonous tectonic sheets, within which we recognize three formations and one other informal unit. The upper Batinah Complex may have been tectonically derived not from the now subjacent Arabian margin but from another margin with a passive Mesozoic history.

Thick subaerial volcanic sequences of probable mid Triassic age rest unconformably on Permo-Carboniferous limestones in the ‘Phyllite Series’ within the Gavrovo-Tripolitsa zone of the external Hellenide nappes. The volcanic rocks are varied in character. Pyroclastic rocks (often reddened) predominate, but minor basalt or andesite and rhyolitic hypabyssal intrusions and flows are also found. The rocks have experienced low-grade metamorphism and the only relict primary minerals are pyroxene and rare plagioclase in basic rocks and potash feldspar in acid rocks. The most important metamorphic phases are albite, chlorite, potassium mica, epidote, hematite, quartz and pumpellyite. Twenty-seven whole-rock major-element analyses suggest that there has been some exchange of Na2O and K2O for CaO during metamorphism, but that other elements have been relatively stable. A genetic interpretation of the rocks is attempted using published geochemical discriminator diagrams. The basic rocks are tholeiitic in major element chemistry and pyroxene composition. Trace element (Hf, Ta, Th, Ce, Yb) distribution suggests magma generation at a destructive plate margin.

Potassium-argon ages measured on 11 volcanic rocks, mainly lavas, from Tristan da Cunha range from 0.21 ± 0.01 to 0.01 ± 0.02 Ma, and confirm the youthfulness of this volcano, which lies on the Walvis Ridge just to the east of the crest of the Mid Atlantic Ridge.

Costacadoceras bluethgeni gen. et sp.nov. and Articoceras harlandi sp.nov. are described from the base of the Kongsøya Formation of Kong Karls Land, Svalbard, and dated as mid boreal Bathonian (early ishmae Zone).