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Moraines and Varves: Origin, Genesis, Classification. Proceedings of an INQUA Symposium onGenesis and Lithology of Quaternary Deposits, Zurich, 10-20 September 1978 by Ch.SchlüchterReview by: John T. AndrewsArctic and Alpine Research, Vol. 12, No. 2 (May, 1980), p. 237Published by: INSTAAR, University of ColoradoStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1550520 .

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BOOK REVIEWS BOOK REVIEWS

MORAINES AND VARVES: ORIGIN, GENESIS, CLASSIFICATION. Proceedings of an INQUA Symposium on Genesis and Lithology of Qua- ternary Deposits, Zurich, 10-20 September 1978. Edited by Ch. Schliichter. 1979, A. A. Balkema, Rotterdam. 441 pp. (Available from Balkema, P.O. Box 1675, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, or in Canada and U.S.A. from MBS, 99 Main Street, Salem, NH 03079.) Dfl. 75.00, U.S. $37.50.

For many years it appeared that glacial geology was not advancing in its efforts to understand the mechanisms of glacial erosion and transportation, but during the last decade great strides have been taken towards better understanding and description of glacial sedi- ments. This process can be traced to several sources which include (not necessarily in order of importance) attraction to the field of young capable geologists and geomorphologists, the connections between glaciological theory and observation, an increase in studies on modern glaciers in a variety of different climatic and lithological environments, and a series of na- tional and international meetings which have focused on problems articulated by various organizers.

A good deal of credit for this resurgence in glacial geology has to be given to the Interna- tional Quaternary Association (INQUA) Commission on Genesis and Lithology of Quaternary Deposits, led by Professor A. Dreimanis of the University of Western Ontario, Canada. Moraines and Varves is a col- lection of papers presented at a symposium in Zurich, Switzerland, in 1978. Schliichter is to be commended for the dispatch with which he has produced this volume.

The volume contains some 43 individual contributions; some of which are extended ab- stracts while others are substantially longer. In keeping with the international flavor of the organization and contributors the papers ap- pear in English, French, or German, the ma- jority being in the English language. Some ab- stracts are printed in more than one language.

Several papers within this volume deserve and will receive detailed reading. Boulton and Eyles, for example, presented a paper on "Sedimentation by Valley Glaciers; a Model and Genetic Classification." This paper argues that sediments and landforms of valley glacia-

MORAINES AND VARVES: ORIGIN, GENESIS, CLASSIFICATION. Proceedings of an INQUA Symposium on Genesis and Lithology of Qua- ternary Deposits, Zurich, 10-20 September 1978. Edited by Ch. Schliichter. 1979, A. A. Balkema, Rotterdam. 441 pp. (Available from Balkema, P.O. Box 1675, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, or in Canada and U.S.A. from MBS, 99 Main Street, Salem, NH 03079.) Dfl. 75.00, U.S. $37.50.

For many years it appeared that glacial geology was not advancing in its efforts to understand the mechanisms of glacial erosion and transportation, but during the last decade great strides have been taken towards better understanding and description of glacial sedi- ments. This process can be traced to several sources which include (not necessarily in order of importance) attraction to the field of young capable geologists and geomorphologists, the connections between glaciological theory and observation, an increase in studies on modern glaciers in a variety of different climatic and lithological environments, and a series of na- tional and international meetings which have focused on problems articulated by various organizers.

A good deal of credit for this resurgence in glacial geology has to be given to the Interna- tional Quaternary Association (INQUA) Commission on Genesis and Lithology of Quaternary Deposits, led by Professor A. Dreimanis of the University of Western Ontario, Canada. Moraines and Varves is a col- lection of papers presented at a symposium in Zurich, Switzerland, in 1978. Schliichter is to be commended for the dispatch with which he has produced this volume.

The volume contains some 43 individual contributions; some of which are extended ab- stracts while others are substantially longer. In keeping with the international flavor of the organization and contributors the papers ap- pear in English, French, or German, the ma- jority being in the English language. Some ab- stracts are printed in more than one language.

Several papers within this volume deserve and will receive detailed reading. Boulton and Eyles, for example, presented a paper on "Sedimentation by Valley Glaciers; a Model and Genetic Classification." This paper argues that sediments and landforms of valley glacia-

tion can be differentiated into supraglacially derived and subglacially eroded debris. Depo- sition is classified as presenting two till facies-facies A representing deposition dur- ing retreat of the ice and facies B resulting from glacial advance or stillstand. This dis- tinction is important for interpretation of Quaternary glacial deposits in mountain valleys.

In another paper Dreimanis tackles the thorny problem of defining terms for tills de- posited in or beneath glaciers terminating in seas or lakes. "The Problems of Waterlain Tills" in essence consists of three depositional models: (1) till deposited beneath a floating or partly grounded ice ramp, (2) till deposited by the slumping of glacially transported debris brought to the ice front along upward com- pressive flow lines, and (3) till deposited by meltout after grounding on an iceberg.

This volume also contains a long summary of the work of Rothlisberger and Schneebeli on "Genesis of Lateral Moraine Complexes, Demonstrated by Fossil Soils and Trunks; In- dicators of Postglacial Climatic Fluctuations." This paper is well illustrated and shows a large number of situations where soils and other or- ganics have been preserved along the margins of glaciers in the Swiss Alps.

It is frankly impossible to do justice to the 43 papers: those noted above reflect, to a de- gree, my own interests. The breadth of the book is amply illustrated by reference to its major sections, namely "Geology and Genesis of Moraines," "Varves and Glaciolacustrine Sedimentation," and "Contributions Related to the Field Excursion." This volume is some- what uneven, but nevertheless it should be re- quired reading for all interested in the Genesis and Lithology of Quaternary Deposits.

JOHN T. ANDREWS

Department of Geological Sciences and Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research University of Colorado, Boulder

MAN AT HIGH ALTITUDE: THE PATHOPHYSIOL-

OGY OF ACCLIMATIZATION AND ADAPTATION.

By Donald Heath and David Reid Williams. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 1977. viii + 292 pp. (Churchill Livingstone, Medical Division of Longman Group, Ltd., 23

tion can be differentiated into supraglacially derived and subglacially eroded debris. Depo- sition is classified as presenting two till facies-facies A representing deposition dur- ing retreat of the ice and facies B resulting from glacial advance or stillstand. This dis- tinction is important for interpretation of Quaternary glacial deposits in mountain valleys.

In another paper Dreimanis tackles the thorny problem of defining terms for tills de- posited in or beneath glaciers terminating in seas or lakes. "The Problems of Waterlain Tills" in essence consists of three depositional models: (1) till deposited beneath a floating or partly grounded ice ramp, (2) till deposited by the slumping of glacially transported debris brought to the ice front along upward com- pressive flow lines, and (3) till deposited by meltout after grounding on an iceberg.

This volume also contains a long summary of the work of Rothlisberger and Schneebeli on "Genesis of Lateral Moraine Complexes, Demonstrated by Fossil Soils and Trunks; In- dicators of Postglacial Climatic Fluctuations." This paper is well illustrated and shows a large number of situations where soils and other or- ganics have been preserved along the margins of glaciers in the Swiss Alps.

It is frankly impossible to do justice to the 43 papers: those noted above reflect, to a de- gree, my own interests. The breadth of the book is amply illustrated by reference to its major sections, namely "Geology and Genesis of Moraines," "Varves and Glaciolacustrine Sedimentation," and "Contributions Related to the Field Excursion." This volume is some- what uneven, but nevertheless it should be re- quired reading for all interested in the Genesis and Lithology of Quaternary Deposits.

JOHN T. ANDREWS

Department of Geological Sciences and Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research University of Colorado, Boulder

MAN AT HIGH ALTITUDE: THE PATHOPHYSIOL-

OGY OF ACCLIMATIZATION AND ADAPTATION.

By Donald Heath and David Reid Williams. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 1977. viii + 292 pp. (Churchill Livingstone, Medical Division of Longman Group, Ltd., 23

BOOK REVIEWS / 237 BOOK REVIEWS / 237

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