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Flysch sedimentology in North America
74
BOOK REVIEWS
thinking on the genesis of the evaporites. Instead of the time-honored "bar-theory" by Ochsenius, or some fanciful new models of deep-water deposition, a third alternative has been suggested after the results of deep-sea drilling in the Mediterranean were analysed: "major salt deposits, such as the Zechstein, may have been deposited in an almost completely desiccated deep-basin, whose floor was more than a thousand meters below the sea-level." What physico-chemical model would Braitsch suggest if he had been alive today? Although Braitsch's work is the best single introduction to the field of evaporitegeochemistry, it probably would belong to what the trade-circles would call "the library books". At the price of 19.80, the ownership would be restricted largely to institutions and to specialists particularly interested in the geochemistry of the soluble salts. Much as I treasure my review copy, my graduate students are waiting for a cheaper, paper-covered edition. K. J. HSI] (Ziirich)
Flysch Sedimentology in North America. J. Lajoie (Editor). Special Paper, 7, Geological Association of Canada, Toronto, Ont., 1970, 272 pp., Can. $12.00. This is a collection of fourteen papers presented at a symposium held in Montreal in 1969. For its moderate price it is quite well prepared. It is recommended to marine and other geologists interested in the state of knowledge of the stratigraphy and origin of those thick ancient rock sequences composed of interbedded coarse and fine detrital sediments, to which the name "ftysch" is frequently applied. Displaying a rare combination of erudition and common sense, Hsti inquires into the meaning of the name "flysch". He favors Bertrand's concept of flysch as a recurring facies in the geosynclinal cycle, without restrictions of paleogeography or orogenic chronology. Eleven papers deal with flysch from all parts of North America, providing an unusual opportunity for comparing flysch in its diversity, from the cannibalistic multicycle Devonian-Holocene succession of the Cordilleran Geosyncline to the thin flyschoid sequence found on the flank of the cratonic Cincinnati Arch. Relationships of lithofacies within the flysch, and of the flysch itself to other facies, are not well known. Descriptions such as Trettin's of the Franklin Eugeosyncline and McBride's of the Marathon Basin are welcome. The authors accept turbidity currents as the mechanism of transport of the sands into deep water but many of the terms used to describe transport of gravels ("mass flow, turbulent f o w " ) conceal ignorance rather than illuminate. Perhaps channelized flow is more important than classical sheet turbidity currents, as suggested by the point bar like cross strata described by Hubert et al. Stanley suggests a possible modern analogue in the continental rise off the Atlantic Coast and, taking a larger view, the flysch of Newfoundland (an almost mid-Atlantic vantage point) is related to the birth of ocean basins and the style of continental margins.
BOOK REVIEWS
75
Two papers review general aspects: Walker discusses methods used to study the geometry of flysch basins including the analysis of rhythms and vertical sequence, and the concept of proximality. Middleton covers the role of experimental studies in understanding the transport and deposition of sediments. Marine geologists interested in the relationship of deep sea sedimentation to continental margins should not neglect the record found in ancient rocks. Engineers constructing offshore platforms may find food for thought in the product of mass transfer of sediment into the ocean depths. They and others will find this book a useful review of relevant studies in North America. E. MICHAELIS (Tulsa, Okla.)
An Annual Review of Oceanography and Marine Biology, 9. Harold Barnes (Editor). Allen and Unwin, London, 1971, 447 pp., £7.80. According to the dust jacket the present series has the following objects: "to consider, annually, basic aspects of marine research, returning to each in future volumes at appropriate intervals; to deal with subjects of special and topical importance; and to add new ones as they arise." Volume 9 offers seven review articles varying widely in subject matter but with heavy emphasis on marine biology. One of these articles is a second contribution to the series, and another is a continuation of review material planned to cover both the hydrography and marine biology of the Red Sea. The others contain new material for this series. All oceanographers, including marine biologists and geologists, will profit from the wealth of factual material on the physical chemistry of sea water presented by R. M. Pytkowicz and D. R. Kester. Some evidence for the thoroughness of their review is available in the list of 389 references cited in 49 text pages describing sea-water composition and structure as well as thermodynamics and physico-chemical properties. The second article by C. O. Heocha describes the history of investigations into the pigments of red algae and outlines some of the progress and problems remaining to be resolved. It appears that much remains to be done in this specialized area of investigation. A broad view of benthic marine diatoms and their habitats associated with surfaces permanently or tidally covered by the sea is given by F. E. Round. In addition a short section relative to diatoms of inland saline habitats has been included. Historical, physiological and ecological characteristics of marine gastrotrichs are briefly outlined by J. L. D'Hondt. The first volume of this series contained a review of the phylum Pogonuphora by E. C. Southward. This is now supplemented by a second by the same author some eight years later, during which time the literature has almost doubled. It seems reasonable to question how long a series such as this can continue if each subject area experiences a similar increase in publishing activity.
BOOK REVIEWS
thinking on the genesis of the evaporites. Instead of the time-honored "bar-theory" by Ochsenius, or some fanciful new models of deep-water deposition, a third alternative has been suggested after the results of deep-sea drilling in the Mediterranean were analysed: "major salt deposits, such as the Zechstein, may have been deposited in an almost completely desiccated deep-basin, whose floor was more than a thousand meters below the sea-level." What physico-chemical model would Braitsch suggest if he had been alive today? Although Braitsch's work is the best single introduction to the field of evaporitegeochemistry, it probably would belong to what the trade-circles would call "the library books". At the price of 19.80, the ownership would be restricted largely to institutions and to specialists particularly interested in the geochemistry of the soluble salts. Much as I treasure my review copy, my graduate students are waiting for a cheaper, paper-covered edition. K. J. HSI] (Ziirich)
Flysch Sedimentology in North America. J. Lajoie (Editor). Special Paper, 7, Geological Association of Canada, Toronto, Ont., 1970, 272 pp., Can. $12.00. This is a collection of fourteen papers presented at a symposium held in Montreal in 1969. For its moderate price it is quite well prepared. It is recommended to marine and other geologists interested in the state of knowledge of the stratigraphy and origin of those thick ancient rock sequences composed of interbedded coarse and fine detrital sediments, to which the name "ftysch" is frequently applied. Displaying a rare combination of erudition and common sense, Hsti inquires into the meaning of the name "flysch". He favors Bertrand's concept of flysch as a recurring facies in the geosynclinal cycle, without restrictions of paleogeography or orogenic chronology. Eleven papers deal with flysch from all parts of North America, providing an unusual opportunity for comparing flysch in its diversity, from the cannibalistic multicycle Devonian-Holocene succession of the Cordilleran Geosyncline to the thin flyschoid sequence found on the flank of the cratonic Cincinnati Arch. Relationships of lithofacies within the flysch, and of the flysch itself to other facies, are not well known. Descriptions such as Trettin's of the Franklin Eugeosyncline and McBride's of the Marathon Basin are welcome. The authors accept turbidity currents as the mechanism of transport of the sands into deep water but many of the terms used to describe transport of gravels ("mass flow, turbulent f o w " ) conceal ignorance rather than illuminate. Perhaps channelized flow is more important than classical sheet turbidity currents, as suggested by the point bar like cross strata described by Hubert et al. Stanley suggests a possible modern analogue in the continental rise off the Atlantic Coast and, taking a larger view, the flysch of Newfoundland (an almost mid-Atlantic vantage point) is related to the birth of ocean basins and the style of continental margins.
BOOK REVIEWS
75
Two papers review general aspects: Walker discusses methods used to study the geometry of flysch basins including the analysis of rhythms and vertical sequence, and the concept of proximality. Middleton covers the role of experimental studies in understanding the transport and deposition of sediments. Marine geologists interested in the relationship of deep sea sedimentation to continental margins should not neglect the record found in ancient rocks. Engineers constructing offshore platforms may find food for thought in the product of mass transfer of sediment into the ocean depths. They and others will find this book a useful review of relevant studies in North America. E. MICHAELIS (Tulsa, Okla.)
An Annual Review of Oceanography and Marine Biology, 9. Harold Barnes (Editor). Allen and Unwin, London, 1971, 447 pp., £7.80. According to the dust jacket the present series has the following objects: "to consider, annually, basic aspects of marine research, returning to each in future volumes at appropriate intervals; to deal with subjects of special and topical importance; and to add new ones as they arise." Volume 9 offers seven review articles varying widely in subject matter but with heavy emphasis on marine biology. One of these articles is a second contribution to the series, and another is a continuation of review material planned to cover both the hydrography and marine biology of the Red Sea. The others contain new material for this series. All oceanographers, including marine biologists and geologists, will profit from the wealth of factual material on the physical chemistry of sea water presented by R. M. Pytkowicz and D. R. Kester. Some evidence for the thoroughness of their review is available in the list of 389 references cited in 49 text pages describing sea-water composition and structure as well as thermodynamics and physico-chemical properties. The second article by C. O. Heocha describes the history of investigations into the pigments of red algae and outlines some of the progress and problems remaining to be resolved. It appears that much remains to be done in this specialized area of investigation. A broad view of benthic marine diatoms and their habitats associated with surfaces permanently or tidally covered by the sea is given by F. E. Round. In addition a short section relative to diatoms of inland saline habitats has been included. Historical, physiological and ecological characteristics of marine gastrotrichs are briefly outlined by J. L. D'Hondt. The first volume of this series contained a review of the phylum Pogonuphora by E. C. Southward. This is now supplemented by a second by the same author some eight years later, during which time the literature has almost doubled. It seems reasonable to question how long a series such as this can continue if each subject area experiences a similar increase in publishing activity.