Some geophysical aspects of deep-sea drilling

More than 300 locations covering all the major ocean basins of the world, except the Arctic, have now been explored by deep-sea drilling. Results from deep-sea drilling permit the accurate calibration of seismic reflection profiles but at the same time emphasize the need for caution in interpreting the stratigraphic significance of such records. Basement ages determined from core samples are in close agreement with ages predicted by the concept of sea floor spreading, demonstrating both the validity of that concept and the validity of the paleomagnetic time scale. There also appears to be a demonstrable relationship between the age of the sea floor and its present depth. at many locations permits the documentation of changes in ocean currents, surface and bottom water temperatures, climate, and water depth.     

The Spey Bay geomorphological study

The Spey Bay coastline and the estuary of the River Spey exhibit a rapidly evolving planform. They provide an opportunity to study geomorphological changes in a coupled coastal/estuarine system which can be measured over hours and days rather than the years and decades associated with more slowly evolving landscape features. Attempting to understand coastal and estuarine geomorphology provides engineers and earth scientists with an exciting intellectual challenge. This is not, however, simply an academic challenge because the successful management of coastal and estuarine environments depends on improving this understanding. The impetus behind our work in this area is the protection of land-use interests. It is in this context that Babtie Dobbie Limited have been employed in studying the River Spey since 1962. This paper is based on a practical case study performed for coastal and river engineering purposes between 1990 and 1992. The case study was formulated using the results and conclusions of earlier geomorphological studies of the area undertaken over the past 32 years. Knowledge gained from previous studies was crucial in designing the detailed methods and techniques employed in the 1990–1992 geomorphological study. Methods used included historical analyses, photogrammetry, numerical modelling, geographic information systems (GIS) and interpretation of the complex processes which drive landform changes in the estuary and along the adjacent shoreline. The improved understanding of geomorphological processes that has been achieved has enabled engineers to formulate a new management strategy. Central to this strategy are engineering solutions to river and coastal stability and flooding problems which are in sympathy with the environment and which take maximum advantage of our understanding of geomorphological processes.     

Cavities in the reefs of the Wenlock Limestone (Mid-Silurian) of Shropshire,England

Studies of the growth attitudes and internal structure of organisms in the Wenlock reefs show that cavities existed during reef growth between knobs of reef builders, between individual reef builders, between the branches of reef builders and within skeletons. Only the well sealed growth cavities escaped fill by particulate sediment on burial. The location and nature of diagenetic cavities are governed by the growth fabric of the reefs. Diagenetic cavities were formed by the dislocation of reef components during compaction and by dissolution of organisms, particularly bryozoans, that neighboured growth cavities.

---

Zusammenfassung Studien der Wuchsformen und des inneren Baues von Organismen der Wenlock-Riffe zeigen, daß Hohlräume während des Riffwachstums zwischen einzelnen Riffstöcken, zwischen individuellen Kolonien sowie zwischen dem Gerüst und im Inneren der Skelette von Riffbildnern vorhanden waren. Nur vollkommen abgeschlossene, konstruktive Hohlräume sind während der Sedimentation in den Riffen nicht mit Ablagerungen gefüllt worden. Die Lage und Natur diagenetischer Hohlräume werden von den Wuchsformen der Riffe bestimmt. Hohlräume entstehen während der Diagenese durch Verlagerung von Komponenten im Gefolge von Kompaktion und durch Lösung des organischen Karbonatgerüstes; hier werden besonders Bryozoenskelette aufgelöst, die an bestehende Hohlräume angrenzen.

---

Résumé Des études de positions d'accroissement et de structures intérieures des organismes dans les récifs de Wenlock montrent que des cavités existaient pendant l'accroissement du récif entre les bosses des pinacles coralliens, entre les pinacles coralliens individuels, entre les branches des pinacles coralliens et à l'intérieur des squelettes. Seules les cavités tout à fait fermées pendant l'accroissement ne furent pas comblées de sédiments détritiques lors de l'ensevelissement. La situation et la nature des cavités diagénétiques sont gouvernées par la structure des récifs. Des cavités diagénétiques furent formées par la dislocation des parties constituentes du récif pendant le tassement et par la dissolution des organismes, en particulier des bryozoaines qui bordaient les cavités formées pendant l'accroissement.

---

Wenlock, , , , . . . , ; , .