BULLETIN OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 



Vol. 31, pp. 401-410 November 30, 1920 



RESEARCHES ON SEDIMENTATION^ 



BY THOMAS WAYLAND VAUGHAN 



(Read before the Society December 31, 1919) 



CONTENTS 



Page 



Purpose of this symposium 401 



Object of researches on sediments 401 



Modern sediments 403 



Ancient sediments 404 



Inadequacy of some earlier investigations of sediments 404 



Suggestions as to the means of furthering researches on sedimentation . . 406 



An institution for the study of sedimentation 409 



Conclusion 410 



Purpose of this Symposium 



The purpose of this symposium is not to give an inventory of present 

 information on sedimentation, nor is it to lay before you the definite 

 solution of specific problems; but it is rather to discuss certain needs in 

 the light of what we now know, and to consider ways and means of filling 

 those needs. Instead of "symposium," perhaps "conference" would be a 

 more appropriate name, for geologists should confer regarding this mat- 

 ter, and it is hoped that discussion will be full, and that those here will 

 give others the benefit of many suggestions. 



Object of Researches on Sediments 



Since geologists generally will admit that one of the objects of the in- 

 vestigations of sedimentary rocks and processes of sedimentation is to aid 

 in understanding the history of the earth, it is pertinent to ask how such 

 researches can help in the solution of problems of that kind, and the in- 

 quiry may begin by asking about any sedimentary rock certain questions: 



1. What is the rock, what are its constituents, and what are their 



Manuscript received ])y tlie Secretary of ttie Society February 2, 1920. 

 Published by permission of the Director of the U. S. Geological Survey. 

 This paper is one of a series composing a symposium on sedimentation. 



XXVIII— Bi:ll. Gkol. Soc. Am., Vol. .31. inin (401) 



