In an earlier paper in this magazine it was stated that we were then engaged on a general study of the Yorkshire Dogger. This subject has proved to be so complicated and far-reaching that it is not possible to present all the results in a single paper of any reasonable length. Moreover, as will be seen later, owing to noteworthy local changes in lithology of the Dogger and to its stratigraphical relations certain very definite types can be recognized, characteristic of large and well-marked areas. This feature lends itself readily to serial publication and the present paper deals with the most accessible, if not perhaps the most interesting area, namely the coast from Peak (Ravenscar) to Saltburn. This part of the outcrop is referred to for convenience as the coastal Dogger.

Widespread over England and Wales there are superficial deposits of a structureless and rubbly character that can be classed neither with true glacial deposits nor with river drifts. These are especially noticeable beyond the southern limit of glaciation, but they also occur, with less frequency, within the glaciated regions. Geologists in the early part of the last century, unhampered by pre-conceived ideas, frequently described such deposits, and in 1839 De la Beche, probably adopting a quarryman's term for overburden, gave certain occurrences the name Head. In later years Pleistocene classification, embracing both glacial and river drifts, took little or no account of these apparently irregular accumulations. Only those cases that presented special characters or were extensive and thick were shown, under a variety of names, upon geological maps.

The Near East is steadily growing in importance as an oil producing region. Present annual production-rates in the various countries are (in round figures) as follows. S.W. Iran 10,000,000 tons, Iraq 4,000,000 tons, Bahrein and the N.E. coast of Arabia 1,000,000 tons, Egypt 600,000 tons. In addition, recently discovered oil-fields are being developed, and active exploration of extensive areas is proceeding in these countries and in Syria, Palestine, and Sinai. The oil possibilities of this immense region are, naturally, not of equal order throughout, but a success in one area draws attention to all geologically related provinces, at least for first-stage exploration.