Physical Geodesy, Admont, Austria, August 25 to September 5, 1986

This book reports new developments in research on the Zechstein basin which is one of the classical saline giants. Recently much information was gathered which changes earlier ideas on the deposition and diagenesis of the Zechstein basin.

The particular behavior of trace metals in the environment is determined by their specific physico-chemical form rather than by their total concentration. The introduction of atomic absorption spectrometry has lead to a plethora of scientific papers and reports in which metal concentrations in the environment are only reported as total concentrations. Only recently has the need for improved knowledge on the various forms and bioavailability of metals been realised. Considerable research effort is now devoted to measuring the concentrations of trace metals in surface waters. Efforts are made...

Characteristic examples of evaporite basins, mostly of moderate size, are discussed in terms of type (playas, continental sabkhas, barred basins), deposits, fossils, relics and pseudomorphs of gypsum found, and complex of diagenesis, e.g. in the Red Sea Miocene where reef complexes predate the deposition of massive evaporites. Two models, the sabkha model and the deep desiccation basin model, are both employed to explain the formation of "evaporite basins." In many cases both models must be combined as many evaporites were formed in subaqueous environments.

The first part of the volume contains theoretical considerations of the physical properties of soils and rocks. Articles on the mechanical and kinematical behavior of rocks as well as mathematical models are the base for the understanding of the physical properties of natural systems. In the second part articles deal with experiments and applications regarding creep deformation of clay, underground cavities, tunnels and deformation of sand and lamistrine sediments.