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Palynological and stratigraphic investigations have been conducted on sediment cores for three sites in Lothian Region, Scotland: Balgone House, Broxmouth and Corstorphine. All phases of the Lateglacial period, as far as they are manifested in the Lothians at the sites studied, have been investigated with particular reference to the Younger Dryas, the main Interstadial, or Allerod, and also the evidence for the colder conditions that preceded it which are presumed to represent Older Dryas-type vegetation. Further light has been cast on the development of the Postglacial broad - leaved forests. The Cambridge computer program POLLDATA MKV was used to perform the necessary calculations and controlled a graph plotter to generate pollen diagrams. A series of subroutines is described that translated the calls to the Cambridge graphics subroutine library. This may serve as a model for other installations. Objective numerical zonation methods are applied to the pollen data. These methods are used not only to zone the pollen series but also to aid in the generation of hypotheses regarding vegetation changes. Chemical analyses of the sediments from Balgone House were undertaken. The results obtained are at variance with those from published work and it is proposed that the reason is that the chemical pre-treatment of samples employed locally may be less efficient in leaching the cations from the mineral fraction.

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The East Kirkton Limestone outcrops in the Bathgate Hills area of central Scotland. The deposit is Visean (Lower Carboniferous) in age and is the site of a tropical freshwater lake set within a richly vegetated volcanic terrain. The succession consists of an unusual sequence of laminated, spherulitic and massive limestone beds, interbedded with thin mudstones, siltstones and abundant volcaniclastic horizons. This study investigates the palaeoenvironment of the East Kirkton lake, and for the first time presents convincing evidence for the presence of hot springs at East Kirkton. Two distinct mounds of massive limestone are located at the north end of the East Kirkton quarry and are interpreted as hot spring vent deposits. Calcite samples from the Lower Mound have light δ¹⁸O_PDB values consistent with precipitation at elevated temperatures ranging from 45°C to ˜80°C, whereas samples from the laminated lake sediments have heavier δ¹⁸O_PDB values, consistent with precipitation at lower temperatures. The East Kirkton Limestone is unique because it contains a variety of unusual radial fibrous calcite (RFC) precipitates, including mm-sized spherules, oncoids, and laminated botryoidal accretions. These are found within the laminated limestone and also within the Lower Mound of massive limestone, and many of them contained filamentous and cellular microbial remains and are within the definition of microbial carbonates. This study provides good evidence for a microbial involvement in the formation of the East Kirkton laminated accretions. A study of modern stromatolites from Lake Tasek Dayang Bunting, Malaysia highlights close similarities with the East Kirkton accretions in terms of morphology and microstructure. Both have a nodular growth morphology and laminated interior consisting of layers of radial fibrous carbonate botryoids interspersed with organic-rich micritic laminae. The modern stromatolites are covered by a microbial community comprising filamentous bacteria and cyanophytes, plus diatoms and associated mucilage, and microbes are thought to have played an essential role in the morphogenesis of both the modern and ancient examples.

Palaeosol development is controlled by topography, drainage, substrate, climate and time. The types and maturities of soil developing within fluvial systems are also controlled by avulsion and terracing. Soil forming models relate variations in pedogenic maturity and morphology to these processes. The pedofacies model and pedofacies sequences apply to lateral and vertical packages deposited under aggradational conditions while the chronosequence model applies across floodplain terraces. The Upper Triassic, Upper Petrified Forest Member, Arizona contains fluvial channel sandstones encased in thick mudstones. Differences in palaeosol development were produced by variations in sedimentation rate, terracing and drainage conditions. The pedofacies and chronosequence models apply to these palaeosols. The Owl Rock member was deposited in lacustrine and lacustrine margin environments. Soil forming models were not recognised here because pedogenic horizons were subject to intense burrowing and reworking by advancing lacustrine margins. Continued basin subsidence and decreasing sediment supply caused the change in depositional environments between the two Members. The Upper Silurian, Old Red Sandstone, Dyfed comprises thick fluvial deposits and numerous stacked palaeosols. Fluvial architecture and palaeosol development was controlled by avulsion, phases of erosion and influxes of volcanic ash. Channel morphologies were broad and sheet-like. Soil morphology and structure reveals complex cycles of varying aggradation and erosion within the sediments. Palaeosols contain variations in maturity consistent with the pedofacies relationship and pedofacies sequences. Upper Triassic to Lower Jurassic Lunde and Statfjord Formations, Snorre Field, North Sea comprise fluvial channels which change from isolated ribbons encased in thick mudstones to laterally extensive channels and palaeosol development decreases from moderate to poor. Regional changes in climate and basin configuration controlled the evolution of the fluvial regime and patterns of pedogenic maturity were not apparent.