MSA Short Course on Marine Minerals

196 In C h a p t e r 4 S c h u m m explores applied fluvial g e o m o r p h o l o g y particularly with regard t o the p r e d i c t i o n o f f l o o d peaks, r u n o f f and s e d i m e n t yield. In particular S c h u m m discusses the n a t u r e o f g e o m o r p h i c thresholds which result in a b r u p t and u n e x p e c t e d l a n d f o r m change arguing t h a t i d e n t i f i c a t i o n of, for example, t h r e s h o l d slopes is o f use to m a n a g e m e n t practice. Soil m e c h a n i c s m e t h o d s in t h e c o n t e x t o f slope stability are reviewed by Chandler in Chapter 5, with, in particular, a discussion o f the care n e e d e d in c o r r r e c t m o d e l calibration ensuring a m o n g s t o t h e r things t h a t p o r e w a t e r pressures are m e a s u r e d at the shear surface using p i e z o m e t e r systems. Desert resources and m a n a g e m e n t problems, e x e m p l i f i e d b y case studies are reviewed b y C o o k e in C h a p t e r 6. Desert terrrain description receives attenton, as d o u r b a n and rural e n v i r o n m e n t s in desert areas where m a n a g e m e n t schemes m a y help in erosion and stability p r o b l e m s -- the semi-arid area o f Los Angeles is discussed in this l a t t e r c o n t e x t . As t h e e d i t o r points o u t in the preface, the search for resources in progressively m o r e r e m o t e areas makes the c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f periglacial e n v i r o n m e n t s b y D e r b y s h i r e in C h a p t e r 7 particularly p e r t i n e n t . C h a p t e r 8 b y Ollier reviews terrain classification, with a clear discussion o f m e t h o d s , applications and principles. Finally, Hails examines the role o f applied g e o m o r p h o l o g y in coastal z o n e m a n a g e m e n t programmes. This is a well p r e s e n t e d t e x t , with a m o s t c o m p l e t e b i b l i o g r a p h y and well p r o d u c e d illustrations. Many o f the c o n t r i b u t i o n s , a l t h o u g h o f a review type, have a u n i q u e and stimulating a p p r a o c h which will carry this v o l u m e above m a n y o t h e r t e x t s in u n d e r g r a d u a t e courses. It is all t o easy for a reviewer to p o i n t to omissions, b u t m a n y readers m a y have wished for a m o r e positive and substantive inclusion o f w a t e r c h e m i s t r y and w a t e r p o l l u t i o n problems. Nevertheless Hafts is to be c o m m e n d e d u p o n editing a v o l u m e which t h r o u g h the i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y k n o w n c o n t r i b u t o r s will give and academically refreshing stimulus t o a subject area within g e o m o r p h o l o g y which w i t h o u t it could easily begin to falter into a c a t a l o q u e o f case studies u n s u i t e d t o generalisations in an academic research modelling f r a m e w o r k . M.G. ANDERSON (Bristol)

Announcement

MSA SHORT COURSE ON MARINE MINERALS A Short Course on Marine Minerals, sponsored by the Mineralogical Society of America, will be held at La Jolla, California, during November 2--3, 1979. It precedes the annual meetings of the Geological Society of America and associated societies in San Diego during November 5--8, 1979. Lectures, demonstrations and exhibits are planned on the following marine minerals: phosphorite, barite, evaporites, silica potymorphs, zeolites, clays, placer deposits, iron oxides, manganese oxides and ferromanganese deposits. The purpose of the short course is to provide an overview of the mineralogy, geochemistry, paragenesis and economic potential of minerals on the seafloor or in the ocean. Further information and registration forms may be obtained from Roger G. Burns, 54-816, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139.