LESSONS FROM A FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR COMPUTER MODELS OF COAL-BEARING DELTAS

A computer-generated model of a coal-bearing delta would be desirable if it included enough detail to reproduce the cyclical nature of the sediments. At the present stage of development of computers, and with the present state of knowledge of the quantitative aspects of transportation and sedimentation, it is not yet possible to set up such a model. However, the logical arrangement in a flow-diagram of the processes and parameters involved in delta formation strongly suggests that cyclical sedimentation can occur without the need for an external cyclical cause, such as tectonic or climatic oscillations. Attempts to provide for appropriate checks of a computer model bring out overall regularities in the assemblages of cyclic types in three different coal basins.     

Zinc content in otoliths of mackerel from the Aegean

The zinc content in otoliths of the mackerel (Scomber japonicus colias) has been determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis. Six groups each of twelve specimens of the same age selected from three areas of the Aegean sea have been analysed. The zinc content was found to be a linear function of the age and body length.     

La contraction thermique peut-elle expliquer les déformations tectoniques?

The amount of energy used in tectonic processes is computed, and estimated as 2.10⁸ kw. It is shown that thermal contraction can yield only much smaller amounts of energy, and must be discarded. Tectonic energy is believed to come, either from convection currents in the mantle, either from gravitational differentiation, or both.     

The Danube River: an emerging regional bondDie donau: Eine bandregion der zukunftLe Danube: Un lien régional en formation

The Danube River, Europe's longest west of the Soviet Union, connects central and southeastern Europe. It flows through areas of great diversity of climates and land forms. Navigation has, in fact, been hindered by fluctuating water levels, ice, and defiles. Primarily for political reasons the river, prior to the middle of the 20th century, had never been a viable link of transportation and communication. Since the second world war, however, effective internationalization of the river, extensive navigation improvement projects, construction of dams and hydroelectric power plants, and greatly accelerated economic development in the Danube River basin in general, all point toward the river becoming one of Europe's principal axes and regional bonds.