As the General Preface accompanying Volume I contains an introduction to the work as a whole, it is only necessary for me here to outline the scope of the second volume.
Volume I1 is about sedimentary structures found in relatively complex physical settings, where groupings or hierarchies of features are often of most interest, and more emphasis is placed than in the first volume on cohesive as opposed to cohesionless beds. Secondary currents can exist for a number of reasons in boundary-layer flows, giving rise to flow-parallel sedimentary structures on both kinds of bed.

The countries of the Middle East (Fig. 1.1), the region reviewed in this book, cover parts of the lands of the eastern Mediterranean and the greater part of Arabia (Arabian Shield, Arabian Platform and Arabian Gulf), and the western Zagros Thrust Zone, an area enclosed between 13 ° and 38 ° N and 35 ° and 60 ° E (Figs. 1.2 and 1.3). Topographically, the higher elevations generally lie to the west in the Arabian Shield and pass eastward into the lower-lying areas occupied by the Arabian (Persian) Gulf and the Tigris-Euphrates Valley.

This Atlas is designed to be a useful work of reference in an easily-handled format amenable to future expansion both by the E.A.E.G. and the users themselves. It is intended for geoscientists in both the industrial and academic spheres who are at an early career stage, and who would find it of value to see how the interpretation of a wide variety of types of structure is approached on actual examples. The notes accompanying the examples have been kept as concise as is consistent with clarity, and some guidance for further study has been given in the form of a list of key words, and brief references with each group of examples; these in turn will open up the literature.

This work began while Satinder Chopra worked for Coherence Technology Company (CTC), which later became part of Core Laboratories. Chopra is particularly indebted to Vasudhaven Sudhakar (Sudha), who first introduced him to coherence-cube technology. Sudhakar’s belief in Chopra’s abilities sustained him in this work, wherein the intriguing and fascinating aspects of an emerging technology are revealed. Chopra also is indebted to his former CTC/Core Laboratories colleagues Bob Stevens, Laura Evins, and Vladimir Alexeev, who were always willing to help. Thane McKay and Rob Howey have been particularly encouraging and supportive of this writing effort and are gratefully acknowledged. Several examples included in the text have been borrowed from the work of Chopra’s other former colleagues, which he and Kurt J. Marfurt gratefully acknowledge. <...>