PREFACE 



This symposium considers the practical applications of sedimenta- 

 tion. It is designed (1) to describe aspects of mutual interest to the 

 geologist and to the engineer so that each can understand the other's 

 problems and thus cooperate more effectively in their work; (2) pro- 

 vide information for the consulting geologist who may not be com- 

 pletely familiar with specific problems; and (3) acquaint students 

 with the many practical applications of sedimentation so that they may 

 be more fully informed as to possibilities for a career in this field. 

 Each chapter is a summary of a comprehensive subject. Bibliographies 

 are given for benefit of readers who may wish to pursue topics further. 

 Key articles are characterized by an asterisk in the lists of references. 



The work has been prepared under the sponsorship of the Committee 

 on Symposium on Sedimentation of the Division of Geology and Ge- 

 ography of the National Research Council. The Committee wishes 

 to express its appreciation to Dr. Arthur Bevan, Chairman of the 

 Division, and to Miss M. L. Johnson, Secretary of the Division, for 

 their help in the preparation of the symposium; and to Mr. G. D. Meid, 

 Business Manager of the National Academy of Sciences, and Dr. David 

 M. Delo, Executive Secretary of the Division, for aid in arranging 

 publication. Special credit is due Dr. Arthur B. Cleaves, Professor 

 of Engineering Geology, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, 

 for assistance in organizing chapters on engineering topics in Part 2 

 of the symposium. Acknowledgment is also due the University of 

 Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation for a grant that helped me 

 in early work on the symposium. 



The practical applications of sedimentation are so large in number 

 and so complicated in scope that the Committee felt that it would 

 accomplish more good by inviting a group of specialists to write chapters 

 in their own field of interest rather than by trying to prepare a hand- 

 book itself, a handbook which in places would be only a compilation. 

 As it has not been practicable to procure articles in all fields, the cover- 

 age of the subject is not complete. A sufficient number of articles, 

 however, is included to indicate the general usefulness of sedimenta- 

 tion in practical endeavor. 



The geologist is constantly called upon to indicate the character of 

 sediments at some place beneath the surface of the earth where he 

 cannot see them either in outcrop or in samples from drill holes. He 



