E-Book Overview
This comprehensive, one-volume encyclopedia covers the sedimentological aspects of sediments and sedimentary rocks. It features more than 250 entries by some 180 eminent contributors from all over the world, excellent indices, cross references, and extensive bibliographies.
E-Book Content
Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SEDIMENTS AND SEDIMENTARY ROCKS Volume Editor
Gerard V. Middleton is Professor Emeritus of Geology at McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. He was co-author of "Origin of Sedimentary Rocks" (Prentice-Hall), "Mechanics in the Earth and Environmental Sciences" (Cambridge), and author of "Data Analysis in the Earth Sciences using MATLAB" (Prentice-Hall). He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, and in 2003 received the Twenhofel Prize of SEPM, the Society for Sedimentary Geology. Aim of the Series The Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series provides comprehensive and authoritative coverage of all the main areas in the Earth Sciences. Each volume comprises a focused and carefully chosen collection of contributions from leading names in the subject, with copious illustrations and reference lists. These books represent one of the world's leading resources for the Earth Sciences community. Previous volumes are being updated and new works published so that the volumes will continue to be essential reading for all professional earth scientists, geologists, geophysicists, climatologists, and oceanographers as well as for teachers and students. See the back of this volume for a current list of titles in the Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Go to www.eseo.com to visit the "Earth Sciences Encyclopedia Online" - the online version of this Encyclopedia Series. About the Editors
Professor Rhodes W. Fairbridge has edited more than 30 Encyclopedias in the Earth Sciences Series. During his career he has worked as a petroleum geologist in the Middle East, been a WW II intelligence officer in the SW Pacific and led expeditions to the Sahara, Arctic Canada, Arctic Scandinavia, Brazil and New Guinea. He is currently Emeritus Professor of Geology at Columbia University and is affiliated with the Goddard Institute for Space Studies. Professor Michael Rampino has published more than 100 papers in professional journals including Science, Nature, and Scientific American. He has worked in such diverse fields as volcanology, planetary science, sedimentology, and climate studies, and has done field work on six continents. He is currently Associate Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences at New York University and a consultant at NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies.
Contents
List of Contributors
xiii
Preface
xxvii
Guide to the Reader
xxix
Algal and Bacterial Carbonate Sediments Roberl Riding
1
Allophane and Imogolite Roger L. Parfitt
3
Alluvial Fans Adrian M. Harvey
5
Authigenesis James R. Boles
11
Autosuspension Henry M. Pantin
30
Avalanche and Michael J. Bovis
31
Avulsion Norman D. Smith
34
Bacteria in Sediments
37
Nora Nofjfke
Anabranching Rivers Gerald C. Nanson and Martin R. Gihling
Ball-and-Pillow (Pillow) Structure Geraint Owen
39
Ancient Karst Brian Jones
11
15
Bar, Littoral Brian Greenwood
40
Angle of Repose Paul D. Komar
16
Barrier Islands Duncan M. FilzGerald and Ilya V Buynevich
43
Anhydrite and Gypsum Lawrence A. Hardie
19
Bauxite Ray L.Frost
48
Ankerite (in Sediments) James P. Hendry Armor Rob Ferguson
Beachrock Eberhard Gischler
51
2'
Bedding and Internal