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As very few studies on geomorphological aspects of sandstones exist, this book demonstrates the significance of landforming processes from geological, geochemical and dynamic points of view. The worldwide examples include classic areas of sandstone research such as the Colorado Plateau, Saxony, France and England, but also emphasize the sandstone lands of the southern hemisphere. The authors give evidence for climatic influences on sandstone landforms, taking into account geochemical weathering processes and detailed comparative studies, and a new classification based on structural and tectonic settings is outlined. This comprehensive study, including modern techniques, can be recommended not only to geomorphologists but also to sedimentologists and hydrologists.
List of contents
1 Introduction.- 2 Cliffs.- 2.1 Strength, Stress and Brittle Fracture.- 2.2 Undercutting.- 2.3 Fatigue.- 2.4 Mechanisms of Brittle Fracture.- 2.5 Block Failure.- 2.6 Rotation and Gliding of Blocks.- 2.7 Evolution of Cliffs.- 3 Curved Slopes.- 3.1 Cross-Bedding.- 3.2 Jointing.- 3.3 Critical Partings.- 3.4 Weathering and Erosion.- 3.5 Polygonal Cracking.- 3.6 Alcoves, Arches and Natural Bridges.- 3.7 Amphitheatres.- 4 Chemical Weathering and Cavernous Weathering.- 4.1 Solubility of Silica.- 4.2 Karst Development.- 4.3 Cavernous Weathering.- 4.3 Tufas and Stalactites.- 5 Erosional Forms.- 5.1 Thermal Breakdown of Sandstone.- 5.2 Hillside Transportation.- 5.3 Sediment Accumulation in Upland Valleys and the Development of Dells.- 5.4 Erosion of Fractures.- 5.5 Slot Canyons.- 5.6 Canyon Sapping.- 5.7 Channel Cutting in Sandstone.- 5.8 Waterfalls and Channel Profiles.- 6 Climatic Zonation of Sandstone Terrain.- 6.1 Humid Tropics.- 6.2 Seasonally Dry Tropics.- 6.3 Arid and Semi-Arid Lands.- 6.4 Hyper-Arid Lands 11l.- 6.5 Mediterranean Lands.- 6.6 Humid Warm Temperate Lands.- 6.7 Humid Cool Temperate Lands.- 6.8 Glaciated Lands.- 6.9 Conclusions.- 7 Basin and Tectonic Constraints on Landforms.- 7.1 Basin Characteristics.- 7.2 Vertical Sequences.- 7.3 Lateral Changes.- 7.4 Syn-Depositional Deformation.- 7.5 Post-Depositional Deformation at the Micro- and Meso-Scale.- 7.6 Large-Scale Post-Depositional Deformation.- 7.7 Effects of Earthquakes.- 7.8 Erosion as a Cause of Deformation.- 7.9 Pianation.- 8 Conclusion.- References.
