Page 10 - Sedimentology and Stratigraphy

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Preface

There is pleasing symmetry about the fact that the complement the more numerical treatment of the
backbone of the first edition of this book was written topics provided by books such as Leeder (1999). Sedi-
within the Antarctic Circle in gaps between fieldwork mentary processes are covered in more detail in texts
with the British Antarctic Survey, while the bulk of such as Allen (1997) and a much more detailed anal-
this second edition has been written from within the ysis of sedimentary environments and facies is pro-
Arctic Circle during my tenure of a 2-year position as vided by Reading (1996). For a more comprehensive
Professor of Geology at the University Centre on Sval- treatment of some aspects of stratigraphy books such
bard. It is not that I have any great affinity for the as Coe (2003) are recommended.
polar regions, it just seems that I have almost literally
gone to the ends of the Earth to find the peace and
quiet that I need to write a book. Between my DEFINITIONS OF TERMS
sojourns in these polar regions 10 years have passed,
and both sedimentology and stratigraphy have moved This book does not include a glossary, but instead it is
on enough for a thorough update of the material to be intended that terminology is explained and, where
required. Just as importantly, technology has moved necessary, defined in context within the text. The
on, and I can provide a much more satisfying range of first occurrence of a technical term is usually cast in
illustrative material in digital form on a CD included bold italics, and it is at this point that an explanation
with the text. Geology is a wonderfully visual science, is provided. To find the meaning of a term, the reader
and it is best appreciated at first hand in the field, but should consult the index and go to its first listed
photographs of examples can also aid understanding. occurrence. There are differences of opinion about
I am an unashamed geo-tourist, always looking for some terminology, but it is beyond the scope of this
yet another example of a geological phenomenon, text to provide discussion of the issues: in most cases
whether on fieldwork or on holiday. The photographs the most broadly accepted view has been adopted; in
used in this book and accompanying CD-ROM were others simplicity and consistency within the book
taken over a period of 20 years and include examples have taken precedence.
from many ‘corners’ of the globe.

REFERENCES
AN UNDERGRADUATE TEXT
The references chosen are not intended to be compre-
This book has been written for students who are hensive for a topic, but merely a selection of a few
studying geology at university and it is intended to relatively recent publications that can be used as a
provide them with an introduction to sedimentology starting point for further information. Older sources
and stratigraphy. It is hoped that the text is accessible are cited where these provide important primary
to those who are completely new to the subject and accounts of a topic. At the end of each chapter there
that it will also provide a background in concepts and is a list of suggested further reading materials: these
terminology used in more advanced work. The are mainly recent textbooks, compilations of papers
approach is largely descriptive and is intended to in special publications and key review papers and