Spencer,

thanks for the help.
below is a sample of several rows of data, the different decriptors are usually seperated by a comma. i have searched and replaced all the examples of '&'.
i wasnt sure if it would be useful to seperate the data using the data to columns function to leave just a single entry in each cell?? or perhaps there is a way to enable the formula to cope with multiple entries?

from to lith description
25.50 27.50 RD Recrystallised Dolomite
27.50 29.20 RD Diss Zn
29.20 34.20 RD ZnS
34.20 42.70 RD Zn2SiO4, Fe
42.70 46.00 RD ZnS, PbS
0.00 7.90 RD Recrystallised Dolomite
7.90 11.00 RD Cavity, mud
11.00 15.50 RD Zn2SiO4, Dolomite
15.50 18.70 RD Diss Zn
18.70 28.30 RD Zn2SiO4
0.00 53.00 MGD Massive Grey Dolomite
53.00 87.00 RD Recrystallised Dolomite
0.00 6.40 RD Recrystallised Dolomite
6.40 7.00 RD Zn2SiO4
7.00 9.60 RD Recrystallised Dolomite

i hope that this helps.
regards
nigel