Contents 



Page 



List of Illustrations 4 



Preface 6 



PART I. INTRODUCTION 



Gei^eral Characteristics of Stylolites 7 



Geologic Distribution of Stylolites 13 



Earliest Observations of Stylolites and Terms Applied to Them 13 



PART II. REVIEW OF PREVIOUS INVESTIGATIONS 



Phenomena Similar or Analogous to Stylolites 15 



1. ''Drucksiituren" 15 



2. ''Gerolleindrticke" (Impressed, or Pitted, Pebbles) 16 



Geologic Occurrence 18 



Previous Investigations and Theories of Origin 18 



Conclusions 21 



Theories of the Origin of Stylolites 21 



1. Theories Regarded as Unestablished 21 



Organism Theory 22 



Crystallization Theory 22 



Erosion Theory 23 



Gas Theory 24 



Bitumen Theory 24 



2. Two Principal Theories under Controversy 24 



Pressure Theory 25 



Pressure Theory of Marsh 25 



Ex]Deriment of Glimbel 27 



Pressure Theory of Rothpletz 28 



Solution Theory 29 



Investigations of Fuchs 29 



Investigations of Reis 30 



Investigations of Wagner 31 



Other Investigations 33 



Conclusions 34 



(2) 



