Pioneers of Marine Geology: Identifying the Basic Questions
3
Upper row, left to ri8ht N. M. Strachow (1900--1978), Philip H. Kuenen (1902-1976),
Maurice Ewing (1903- 1976). Lower row Harry H. Hess (1906- 1969), Sir E. C. Bullard (1907- 1980),
Bruce C. Heezen (1924-1977).
textbook truism that not true deep-sea deposits are found on land anywhere. This
doctrine was challenged when Ph. H. Kuenen (Fig. 0.1.8) demonstrated by experiment that clouds of sediment could be transported downslope on the sea floor at great
speed and to great depth, due to the fact that muddy water is heavier than the clear
water surrounding it. Sediment transported in suspension in this fashion settles out at
its site of deposition, heavy and large grains first, fine grains last. The resulting layer
is graded, and such layers are indeed common in the geologic record (e. g., Alpine
flysch deposits). Strong circumstantial evidence that Kuenen's concept is important in
deep-sea sedimentation was first presented by B. C. Heezen and M. Ewing, in 1952
(see Chap. 2.10). Kuenen made many other important contributions to marine geo-