The Silurian and Lower Devonian graptolite-bearing strata are widely distributed in both the platform and geosynclinal areas in the USSR. They are represented by black clay and siliceous shales, marlstones and argillites. In the main area of their distribution the regional zonal standard is established based on graptolites. They serve as the most detailed stratigraphical base for geological mapping and exploration and are used in the regional and inter-regional correlations. Correlation with other countries and continents is carried out by comparison of regional zonal successions with the unified standard of graptolite zones. The latter is compiled from the regional zonal subdivisions of the British, Czechoslovakian and Polish type sections. The zonal stratigraphy based on graptolites allows the establishment of the limits of the Silurian System and Stages/Series in the USSR. The Silurian and Lower Devonian sediments in the USSR are characterized by various geographically widespread graptolite assemblages. The most complete zonal subdivision is worked out for the Lower Silurian. The Upper Silurian and Lower Devonian zonal stratigraphy requires elaboration and precision in the future. The importance of graptolites in solving general geological problems particularly for establishing detailed stratigraphy of regions of industrial explorations considered.

In the Karawanken Mountains (SE Austria) spilites (pillow lavas and sills) are found intercalated in a sequence of Paleozoic slates and graywackes. The petrogenesis of these spilites is interpreted as follows: The pillow lavas and sills consolidated as mugearites and hawaiites, which were derived from an alkali olivine-basaltic magma by fractional crystallization. Under low temperature metamorphic conditions water entered into the rocks predominantly from external sources. The primary minerals (Na-Ca plagioclase, pyroxene and glass) were thus replaced either partially or completely by minerals characteristic of spilites (albite, chlorite, epidote and others). The spilites analysed are of secondary origin. They are compared with spilites and basalts of other (continental and oceanic) areas.

Examination of Kaiserstuhl loess material by scanning electron microscopy reveals fine material adhering to the major particles, fracture features, carbonate overgrowths and signs of particle weathering; all of which appear typical of loess material. The carbonate overgrowths included discrete rhombic crystals, which are possibly dolomite. Alpine and Northern glaciers could have provided fine quartz material for the Kaiserstuhl loess; an Alpine source seems more likely, with perhaps some fluvial transportation involved.

Carboniferous conodonts are reported from knoll limestones of B2 age in North Wales and of P1a age in the Isle of Man. The faunas from both localities are associated with Goniatites crenistria Phillips and other diagnostic goniatites. The faunas are closely similar and indicate a correlation with the Avonian conodont zone of Mestognathus beckmanni–Gnathodus bilineatus.

The first European occurrence of ‘Didymograptus’ spinosus Ruedemann, 1904, is reported. A re-description of this species is provided, based on the lectotype and new material from the West of Ireland. ‘D.’ spinosus is shown to possess the essential characteristics of the genus Holmograptus Koztowski, 1954, to which it is accordingly referred.

Didymograptus nodosus Harris, 1926, and Tylograptus regularis Mu, 1957, together with certain other species of Tylograptus described by Mu (1957), are junior synonyms of Holmograptus spinosus. Holmograptus Kozlowski, 1954, is a senior synonym of Tylograptus Mu, 1957.

Regional mapping in the eastern escarpment of the Ethiopian plateau indicated Precambrian block-faulted structures which have been felt in sedimentation and tectonics for more than 1000 m. y. and which controlled to some extent the opening of the Afar.

The mineral assemblages of the pelitic rocks of the chlorite and biotite zones of the Kumaon Himalaya are characteristic of the quartz–albite–muscovite–cnlorite and quartz–albite–epidote–biotite sub-facies of the greenschist facies. The appearance of garnet in the sericite–chlorite pelites is due to bulk composition which plots above the muscovite–chlorite join in the AKF diagram. The variation in composition of coexisting sericite and chlorite is related to bulk composition of the rock.