'Deep-Sea Sediments' focuses on the sedimentary processes operating within the various modern and ancient deep-sea environments. The chapters track the way of sedimentary particles from continental erosion or production in the marine realm, to transport into the deep sea, to final deposition on the sea floor.

This exceptionally well-illustrated book at a high scientific level describes mud volcanism as a complex, multidimensional phenomenon requiring multidisciplinary study. Mud volcanoes can be used as “cheap windows” to search for gas-hydrates and other mineral resources in the Black Sea region. Nothing similar has been published before, and as one of its unique features the book includes a vast amount of new data unavailable so far to the western reader. The book includes new data on driving forces, mechanisms, origin, geological and geomorphological features of mud volcanoes as well as new data on composition of solid, gaseous, and liquid components of erupted material. It covers a wide geographic region, and its subjects range from geological to environmental to industrial applications.

The areas visited during the 10th Training-through-Research Programme were the Portuguese Margin, the Gulf of Cadiz, the Lucky Strike area of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the Rockall Trough, the Southern Faeroe margin, and the Varring Plateau (Norwegian margin). The investigations were aimed atstudying such geological processes as neotectonics, fluid migration and escape, sediment processes in canyons and sediment reworking and benthic biology in areas swept by deep-sea bottom currents as well as hydrothermal manifestations on mid-ocean ridges. A seismic and sidescan survey of the Marques de Pombal structure (Portuguese margin) allowed a better understanding of a fault system known here from previous studies such as the ARRIFAN0 and BIGSET projects. The fault pattern has been mapped and acoustic images have helped to evaluate the status of their activity. The Marques de Pombal structure showed little evidence of recent activity and is being covered by sediments. Shallow slides found in the vicinity of the structure may, however, indicate some occasional activity disturbing the overlying sedimentary cover. The Pereira de Sousa fault was found to be much more active. Six new mud volcanoes were discovered and studied in the Gulf of Cadiz. Most of them were proved to be recently active. The mud volcanism of the Gulf of Cadiz can be considered as two characteristic regions with different mud breccia lithological composition. Several types of lava sulphite ores sampled during the Azores campaign of Leg 2 allowed a better understanding of volcanic evolution and associated processes of this area. A short 3.5 kHz survey across the Porcupine Seabight mouth, combined with existing swath bathymetry data and a few cores from the area, confirmed the findings of the TTR-7 cruise that the Gollum channel system is currently inactive. The study of a canyon on the northeastern Rockall Trough margin showed that the system is inactive at the present time and the last pulse of active downslope sediment transport took place in immediate pre-Holocene time. Debris flows were found mostly on the flanks of the canyon while the axial zone showed numerous signs of erosion. Sand was not particularly common in the studied area. It is suggested that significant amounts of sand are trapped in the canyon head, possibly due to slumps blocking the narrower waist area. Abundant traces of seabed erosion found immediately beyond the canyon mouth indicate that this area is a bypass zone and sand deposition may occur further into the canyon mouth indicate that this area is a bypass zone and sand deposition may occur further into the basin plain. An extensive collection of TV-guided grab samples and seafloor video records, obtained from sites in the Northern Rockall Trough, Wyville-Thomson Ridge and Southern Faeroe Plateau, provided GOOd insight on the distribution of bottom fauna, including deep-water corals, and of coarse glaciagenie debris. New data on a BSR distribution pattern were obtained on the southeastern part of the Verring Plateau and they suggest that the formation of the Storegga Slide was not directly related to the dissolution of gas hydrates. The investigation also provided a new insight into gas hydrate formation and distribution in the area.

Rocky landforms dominate large portions of the world’s coast. Cliffs and shore platforms form spectacular landscapes, yet when compared to other landforms they are relatively unstudied with many contemporary controversies dating back to the mid-nineteenth century. The past decade has seen a reinvigoration of research driven by advances in technology that now enable precise measurements of erosion to the micron scale and quantification of wave energy onto and through cliff edifices to be made, as well as being able to directly date rock surfaces. In order to integrate this diverse range of research this volume’s regional approach first integrates the latest data with longstanding theory and then analyses this research through the boundary conditions that exist in each area. The volume brings together the research leaders in the field; includes chapters on nearly all the major rock coasts of the world and identifies future research needs.