This book arises from a two day international conference held at the Geological Society of London in November 1998. The meeting was organized with the purpose of bringing together sedimentologists, geomorphologists, archaeologists, environmental scientists and environmental managers to discuss recent research and topical issues relating to the interactions between natural processes, morphology and human activities in coastal and estuarine environments. More than 200 delegates, from 16 countries, attended the meeting over the course of the two days, stimulating lively discussion both about basic scientific issues and management implications. The meeting was sponsored by the British Sedimentological Research Group, the British Geomorphological Research Group, and English Heritage, and was also supported by the Environmental Sedimentology Committee of the International Association of Sedimentologists. The editors would like to thank these organizations, together with staff at the Geological Society and numerous daily helpers, especially postgraduate students and others from the University of Reading, for their generous assistance in making the meeting a great success

Here is the first complete manual on Coastal Geology. A book that gathers the knowledge of more than a century of research on different geological aspects of the coast: dynamics of geological processes, geomorphology, sedimentology and stratigraphy. They are also reflected from the applications of these sciences to the social problems and challenges of the communities occupying coastal areas. This manual collects many of my research experiences on different shores of the world, but almost everything written in this book I learned in other books.

Настоящий сборник включает в себя 13 работ, в которых рассматриваются различные вопросы геодинамики, стратиграфии, истории геологического развития, магматизма, метаморфизма, кинематики региона, находящегося на стыке Африки, Саудовской Аравии и восточной Европы с позиций тектоники плит, т.е. как зоны субдукции и связанной с ней орогении.

The Society makes every effort to ensure that the scientific and production quality of its books matches that of its journals. Since 1997, all book proposals have been refereed by specialist reviewers as well as by the Society’s Books Editorial Committee. If the referees identify weaknesses in the proposal, these must be addressed before the proposal is accepted.

Once the book is accepted, the Society Book Editors ensure that the volume editors follow strict guidelines on refereeing and quality control. We insist that individual papers can only be accepted after satisfactory review by two independent referees. The questions on the review forms are similar to those for Journal of the Geological Society. The referees’ forms and comments must be available to the Society’s Book Editors on request.

Although many of the books result from meetings, the editors are expected to commission papers that were not presented at the meeting to ensure that the book provides a balanced coverage of the subject. Being accepted for presentation at the meeting does not guarantee inclusion in the book.

More information about submitting a proposal and producing a book for the Society can be found on its web site: www.geolsoc.org.uk.

Froth flotation is an outstanding example of applied interfacial and colloidal science. It has roots in the nineteenth century discoveries concerning the separation and concentration of valuable minerals from ores, and is considered as one of the most important achievements of the twentieth century, which has significantly contributed to the vast expansion of the raw material industry. Efforts to understand the mechanisms governing flotation led to the research into the wetting and dewetting statics and dynamics, and the intervening free and wetting liquid films as early as the 1930s. Surface forces operating across the films were also appreciated at that time. These efforts have provided stimuli for advances in the theory of interparticle forces with the development of several sophisticated experimental techniques <...>