evolution. However, there are two components to estuaries, i.e., the biotic and the abiotic (that underpins biodiversity). Geoheritage and geoconservation are concerned
with the recognition and preservation of the abiotic world
and in this context can be directed to the recognition and
preservation of the geodiversity of estuaries. For instance,
based on a world map of estuary types and their uniqueness or representativeness, it can involve the recognition
and geoconservation of end-member types of estuaries as
global “type examples” of the variety forms expressed
around the world in response to climate, hydrodynamic
setting, sediment types, and framework geology. At this
scale, geoheritage recognizes the range of estuarine systems that are manifest around the world and attempts to
address the significance of the variety of these estuaries
that have formed in different geological, hydrological,
sedimentological, and climatic settings within a variable
biogeographic context. At the next level, geoheritage and
geoconservation can involve the geoconservation of geological processes and products operating and occurring
within estuaries, e.g., deltaic sedimentation and its variety
of landforms, sand platforms and their surface bedforms,
evolution of estuarine stratigraphy, stratigraphic/hydrologic interactions, and styles of hydrochemical mixing.
At the finest scale, geoheritage and geoconservation can
involve the recognition and geoconservation of microscale
processes and products, often specific to an environmental
setting and climate, e.g., diagenetic features such as
calcitization of shoreline rush rhizomes, occurrence of
dolomite, formation of pyrite nodules, the permineralization of skeletons, and the effects of freshwater seepage.
It should be noted that just as biologic systems are
diverse, geological systems are also diverse
(geodiversity), and in the case of estuaries, estuarine systems are also diverse and there are a large range of estuarine types, as exemplified by variation in their setting,
shape, size, estuarine landforms, hydrology, and internal
functioning. The classification of estuary types, using the
geoheritage tool kit, has attempted to address this. Similar
to the objective of nature conservation, to conserve the
vast diversity of life forms, an objective of the conservation of sites of geoheritage significance in estuaries would
be the conservation of the variety of their forms on the
earth. In this context, the conservation of a single “estuary” as an example of an estuarine system as representative of the full variety of estuarine types globally is
insufficient. If estuaries, for instance, exhibit a large diversity of geometric and hydrologic types, stratigraphic fills,
and origins, then at the least their conservation should
encompass an example of each of the types.
Bibliography
Brocx, M., 2008. Geoheritage: From Global Perspectives to Local
Principles for Conservation and Planning. Perth, WA: Western
Australian Museum. Available from http://www.museum.wa.
gov.au/oursites/perth/shop/newreleases.asp
Brocx, M., and Semeniuk, V., 2007. Geoheritage and
geoconservation – history, definition, scope and scale. Journal
of the Royal Society of Western Australia, 90, 53–87.
Brocx, M., and Semeniuk, V., 2009. Developing a tool-kit for
geoheritage and geoconservation in Western Australia. ProGeo
News, 2009(1), 5–9.
Brocx, M., and Semeniuk, V., 2011. Assessing geoheritage values:
a case study using Leschenault Peninsula and its estuarine
lagoon, south-western Australia. Proceedings of the Linnaean
Society of New South Wales, 132, 115–130.
Doyle, P., Easterbrook, G., Reid, E., Skipsey, E., and Wilson, C.,
1994. Earth heritage conservation. In Wilson, C. (ed.), United
Kingdom. City Print (Milton Keynes) Ltd., Bletchley, Milton
Keynes.
Ellis, N. V., Bowen, D. Q., Campbell, S., Knill, J. L., McKirdy,
A. P., Prosser, C. D., Vincent, M. A., and Wilson, R. C. L.,
1996. An Introduction to the Geological Conservation Review,
GCR Series No. 1. Joint Nature Conservation Committee.
Peterborough.
Fairbridge, R. W., 1980. The estuary: its definition and geodynamic
cycle. In Olausson, E., and Cato, I. (eds.), Chemistry and Biogeochemistry of Estuaries. Chichester: Wiley.
Fisher, W. L., 1969. Facies characterization of Gulf Coast basin
delta systems, with some Holocene analogues. Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies Transactions, 19, 239–261.
Nichols, M. N., and Biggs, R. B., 1985. Estuaries. In Davis, R. A.
(ed.), Coastal Sedimentary Environments. New York: Springer,
pp. 77–186.
Perillo, G. M. E., 1995. Definitions and geomorphic classifications
of estuaries. In Perillo, G. M. E. (ed.), Geomorphology and Sedimentology of Estuaries. New York: Elsevier Science. Developments in Sedimentology, Vol. 53, pp. 17–47.
ProGEO, 2002. Natural and Cultural Landscapes: The Geological
Foundation. Paper read at ProGEO Dublin 9-11/9/2002 at
Dublin Castle Dublin Ireland.
Roy, P. S., Thom, B. G., and Wright, L. D., 1980. Holocene
sequences on an embayed high-energy coast: an evolutionary
model. Sedimentary Geology, 26, 1–19.
Semeniuk, V., 2000. Sedimentology and Holocene stratigraphy of
Leschenault Inlet. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia Special Issue on the Leschenault Inlet Estuary, 83,
255–274.
Semeniuk, V., Semeniuk, C. A., Tauss, C., Unno, J., and
Brocx, M., 2011. Walpole and Nornalup Inlets: Landforms,
Stratigraphy, Evolution, Hydrology, Water Quality, Biota,
and Geoheritage. Perth: Western Australian Museum
(Monograph), 584 p.
Wimbledon, W. A., Benton, M. J., Black, R. E., Bridgeland,
D. R., Cleal, C. J., Cooper, R. G., and May, V. J., 1995. The
development of a methodology for the selection of British
geological sites for conservation: part 1. Modern Geology,
20, 159.
Wimbledon, W. A. P., 1996. GEOSITES: a new IUGS initiative to
compile a global comparative site inventory as an aid to international and national conservation activity. ProGEO 1996–4,
pp. 1–5.
Zouros, N., 2000. 2nd European Geoparks Meeting: The
European Geoparks Network, History Museum of the
Levos Petrified Forest (Island of Lesbos) Greece. [cited June,
2002] www.aegeangr/petrified.forFramesest//HTML/English/
EGMeeting.htm
Cross-references
Geoheritage
196
DETERMINING GEOHERITAGE VALUES
with the recognition and preservation of the abiotic world
and in this context can be directed to the recognition and
preservation of the geodiversity of estuaries. For instance,
based on a world map of estuary types and their uniqueness or representativeness, it can involve the recognition
and geoconservation of end-member types of estuaries as
global “type examples” of the variety forms expressed
around the world in response to climate, hydrodynamic
setting, sediment types, and framework geology. At this
scale, geoheritage recognizes the range of estuarine systems that are manifest around the world and attempts to
address the significance of the variety of these estuaries
that have formed in different geological, hydrological,
sedimentological, and climatic settings within a variable
biogeographic context. At the next level, geoheritage and
geoconservation can involve the geoconservation of geological processes and products operating and occurring
within estuaries, e.g., deltaic sedimentation and its variety
of landforms, sand platforms and their surface bedforms,
evolution of estuarine stratigraphy, stratigraphic/hydrologic interactions, and styles of hydrochemical mixing.
At the finest scale, geoheritage and geoconservation can
involve the recognition and geoconservation of microscale
processes and products, often specific to an environmental
setting and climate, e.g., diagenetic features such as
calcitization of shoreline rush rhizomes, occurrence of
dolomite, formation of pyrite nodules, the permineralization of skeletons, and the effects of freshwater seepage.
It should be noted that just as biologic systems are
diverse, geological systems are also diverse
(geodiversity), and in the case of estuaries, estuarine systems are also diverse and there are a large range of estuarine types, as exemplified by variation in their setting,
shape, size, estuarine landforms, hydrology, and internal
functioning. The classification of estuary types, using the
geoheritage tool kit, has attempted to address this. Similar
to the objective of nature conservation, to conserve the
vast diversity of life forms, an objective of the conservation of sites of geoheritage significance in estuaries would
be the conservation of the variety of their forms on the
earth. In this context, the conservation of a single “estuary” as an example of an estuarine system as representative of the full variety of estuarine types globally is
insufficient. If estuaries, for instance, exhibit a large diversity of geometric and hydrologic types, stratigraphic fills,
and origins, then at the least their conservation should
encompass an example of each of the types.
Bibliography
Brocx, M., 2008. Geoheritage: From Global Perspectives to Local
Principles for Conservation and Planning. Perth, WA: Western
Australian Museum. Available from http://www.museum.wa.
gov.au/oursites/perth/shop/newreleases.asp
Brocx, M., and Semeniuk, V., 2007. Geoheritage and
geoconservation – history, definition, scope and scale. Journal
of the Royal Society of Western Australia, 90, 53–87.
Brocx, M., and Semeniuk, V., 2009. Developing a tool-kit for
geoheritage and geoconservation in Western Australia. ProGeo
News, 2009(1), 5–9.
Brocx, M., and Semeniuk, V., 2011. Assessing geoheritage values:
a case study using Leschenault Peninsula and its estuarine
lagoon, south-western Australia. Proceedings of the Linnaean
Society of New South Wales, 132, 115–130.
Doyle, P., Easterbrook, G., Reid, E., Skipsey, E., and Wilson, C.,
1994. Earth heritage conservation. In Wilson, C. (ed.), United
Kingdom. City Print (Milton Keynes) Ltd., Bletchley, Milton
Keynes.
Ellis, N. V., Bowen, D. Q., Campbell, S., Knill, J. L., McKirdy,
A. P., Prosser, C. D., Vincent, M. A., and Wilson, R. C. L.,
1996. An Introduction to the Geological Conservation Review,
GCR Series No. 1. Joint Nature Conservation Committee.
Peterborough.
Fairbridge, R. W., 1980. The estuary: its definition and geodynamic
cycle. In Olausson, E., and Cato, I. (eds.), Chemistry and Biogeochemistry of Estuaries. Chichester: Wiley.
Fisher, W. L., 1969. Facies characterization of Gulf Coast basin
delta systems, with some Holocene analogues. Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies Transactions, 19, 239–261.
Nichols, M. N., and Biggs, R. B., 1985. Estuaries. In Davis, R. A.
(ed.), Coastal Sedimentary Environments. New York: Springer,
pp. 77–186.
Perillo, G. M. E., 1995. Definitions and geomorphic classifications
of estuaries. In Perillo, G. M. E. (ed.), Geomorphology and Sedimentology of Estuaries. New York: Elsevier Science. Developments in Sedimentology, Vol. 53, pp. 17–47.
ProGEO, 2002. Natural and Cultural Landscapes: The Geological
Foundation. Paper read at ProGEO Dublin 9-11/9/2002 at
Dublin Castle Dublin Ireland.
Roy, P. S., Thom, B. G., and Wright, L. D., 1980. Holocene
sequences on an embayed high-energy coast: an evolutionary
model. Sedimentary Geology, 26, 1–19.
Semeniuk, V., 2000. Sedimentology and Holocene stratigraphy of
Leschenault Inlet. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia Special Issue on the Leschenault Inlet Estuary, 83,
255–274.
Semeniuk, V., Semeniuk, C. A., Tauss, C., Unno, J., and
Brocx, M., 2011. Walpole and Nornalup Inlets: Landforms,
Stratigraphy, Evolution, Hydrology, Water Quality, Biota,
and Geoheritage. Perth: Western Australian Museum
(Monograph), 584 p.
Wimbledon, W. A., Benton, M. J., Black, R. E., Bridgeland,
D. R., Cleal, C. J., Cooper, R. G., and May, V. J., 1995. The
development of a methodology for the selection of British
geological sites for conservation: part 1. Modern Geology,
20, 159.
Wimbledon, W. A. P., 1996. GEOSITES: a new IUGS initiative to
compile a global comparative site inventory as an aid to international and national conservation activity. ProGEO 1996–4,
pp. 1–5.
Zouros, N., 2000. 2nd European Geoparks Meeting: The
European Geoparks Network, History Museum of the
Levos Petrified Forest (Island of Lesbos) Greece. [cited June,
2002] www.aegeangr/petrified.forFramesest//HTML/English/
EGMeeting.htm
Cross-references
Geoheritage
196
DETERMINING GEOHERITAGE VALUES