EPICONTINENTAL SEDLMENTATION 481 



Solution is evidently moderate where Globigerina ooze collects in 

 spite of adequate ventilation. It must be active in many lime-free 

 clay areas because shells are certainly raining down onto the bot- 

 tom. The high carbonate content of the sediments in the Sulu Sea 

 forms a striking contrast with its absence in the deposits of the 

 neighboring Celebes Sea at similar depths. The low oxygen con- 

 tent of the Sulu Sea bottom water indicates poor ventilation. 

 But how is the ventilation in the Celebes Sea brought about and 

 at what speed? I once ventured a primitive attempt at evaluating 

 the available energy for flushing the deep basins of the Moluccas, 

 by using an assumed rate of heat flow from the earth, tidal action, 

 and the burning of oxygen to carbon dioxide, but obviously others 

 could have done this more competently. 



Similar questions arise concerning the organic matter in the 

 sediments. Here emphasis is not only on its preservation or de- 

 struction but also as strongly on its production. This is a meeting 

 point for physical, chemical, biological, and geological oceanology. 

 The work on these questions carried out off California and certain 

 theoretical studies of the shelf elsewhere are fine achievements, 

 but those engaged in these questions will be the first to admit that 

 no more than a start has been made. Because of the paramount 

 importance to oil geology it should be possible to raise funds for 

 further investigations. 



The change from a recent deposit on the sea floor to a consoli- 

 dated hard rock is a process involving, besides compression, mainly 

 bacterial action and slow chemical reactions to pressure, heat, 

 and groundwater flow. The chemical oceanographer is justified in 

 delegating this subject to geochemists, but the alterations, es- 

 pecially of organic matter, start and even make good headway 

 before the deposit is buried beyond the reach of a corer and while 

 there is still active interchange with the sea water above it. Hence, 

 it cannot be denied that there is a gradual passage from straight- 

 forward oceanological problem to true diagenesis ( = consolida- 

 tion to "rock") and even to rock metamorphism. 



The products of chemical reactions taking place on the sea 

 floor or in unconsolidated deposits are numerous and of great 

 geological importance. Thus many ancient rocks contain phos- 



