Geosciences

GEOSCIENCES BY PETER J. SMITH Department of Earth Sciences Open University Milton Keynes, U.K. " A new type of carbonate-platform margin has been recognized in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean regions. Named a “scalloped margin,” it comprises a series of irregular embayments, convex on the platform side, and is thought to be largely an erosional feature produced by large-scale failure triggered by earthquakes or resulting from undercutting by dissolution. H.T. Mullins, A.C. Hin

Written byPeter Smith
| 2 min read

Register for free to listen to this article
Listen with Speechify
0:00
2:00
Share

BY PETER J. SMITH
Department of Earth Sciences
Open University
Milton Keynes, U.K.

" A new type of carbonate-platform margin has been recognized in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean regions. Named a “scalloped margin,” it comprises a series of irregular embayments, convex on the platform side, and is thought to be largely an erosional feature produced by large-scale failure triggered by earthquakes or resulting from undercutting by dissolution.

H.T. Mullins, A.C. Hine, “Scalloped bank margins: Beginning of the end for carbonate platforms?,” Geology, 17,30-3, January 1989. (Syracuse University, Syracuse, N.Y; University of South Florida, St. Petersburg)

The angular momentum and orbital characteristics of the Earthmoon system, and the chemical and density differences between .the Earth and the moon, can all be explained on the assumption that the moon formed from the mantle of a single body (slightly larger than Mars) that collided with the Earth.

H.E. Newsom, S.R. Taylor, ...

Interested in reading more?

Become a Member of

The Scientist Logo
Receive full access to digital editions of The Scientist, as well as TS Digest, feature stories, more than 35 years of archives, and much more!
Already a member? Login Here

Meet the Author

Published In

Share
Illustration of a developing fetus surrounded by a clear fluid with a subtle yellow tinge, representing amniotic fluid.
January 2026

What Is the Amniotic Fluid Composed of?

The liquid world of fetal development provides a rich source of nutrition and protection tailored to meet the needs of the growing fetus.

View this Issue
Human-Relevant In Vitro Models Enable Predictive Drug Discovery

Advancing Drug Discovery with Complex Human In Vitro Models

Stemcell Technologies
Redefining Immunology Through Advanced Technologies

Redefining Immunology Through Advanced Technologies

Ensuring Regulatory Compliance in AAV Manufacturing with Analytical Ultracentrifugation

Ensuring Regulatory Compliance in AAV Manufacturing with Analytical Ultracentrifugation

Beckman Coulter Logo
Skip the Wait for Protein Stability Data with Aunty

Skip the Wait for Protein Stability Data with Aunty

Unchained Labs

Products

Sino Biological Logo

Sino Biological's Launch of SwiftFluo® TR-FRET Kits Pioneers a New Era in High-Throughout Kinase Inhibitor Screening

SPT Labtech Logo

SPT Labtech enables automated Twist Bioscience NGS library preparation workflows on SPT's firefly platform

nuclera logo

Nuclera eProtein Discovery System installed at leading Universities in Taiwan

Brandtech Logo

BRANDTECH Scientific Introduces the Transferpette® pro Micropipette: A New Twist on Comfort and Control