Stockdale: Stylolites 



19 



This phenomenon, Rothpletz pointed out in his later papers 

 (1894, 1900), is analogous to that of ''Drucksuturen", even 

 in the smallest details. However, he distinguished sharply 

 between "Drucksuturen" and stylolites (see p. 16). 



After a careful study of the pitted pebbles of the Bunter 

 conglomerate of England, Reade (1895, pp. 341-345, pi. XI) 



Fig. 9. — Diagram of the contact of two impressed limestone 

 pebbles, showing the minute interteething. Four times 

 natural size. See Fig. 10. (After Rothpletz.) 



Fig. 10 — Enlargement, 50 diameters, of the intertoothed con- 

 tact of two impressed limestone pebbles, Fig. 9. (After 

 Rothpletz.) 



« 



gave a complete summary of the evidence pointing to the 

 theory that the ''pitted pebbles are the result of contact-solu- 

 tion, the water being retained at these spots by capillary at- 

 traction". His most important points follow: 



If the pittings or depressions were due to mechanical pressure, the 

 material of the pebble which was "indented" would show signs of dis- 

 tortion. This it never does in any of the pebbles I have examined, A 

 reference to the photograph (pi. XI) will show this clearly. . . . 

 The material formerly occupying the depression has been removed, not 

 displaced. 



4—22663 



