The Effect of China Clay on the Sediments of St Austell and Mevagissey Bays

Abstract

Although a good deal of attention has been paid to the type of sediments found in the south-western English Channel as a whole (see, for example, Allen, 1899; Stride, 1959, 1963; Flemming & Stride, 1967) very little work has been done on the local distribution of sediments in the immediate coastal area. The only data on the sediments in St Austell and Mevagissey Bays appear to have been given by Holme (1961), but even he provides details for only three stations. Some information on sediments in these bays in less recent times can be obtained from early Admiralty surveys, although the accuracy of some of the very old data may be questioned.