These Paleozoic shell fossils, found near Reefton, have been distorted due to pressure and shear forces deep within the earth. At first geologists did not realise that the shape of the shells had been changed. Geologist Harold Wellman developed a way to work out the degree of deformation by examining parts of the shells that would have originally been straight (such as the hinge line that joins two halves of a shell). This technique, known as the ‘Wellman method’, is cited in textbooks and is widely used by geologists.
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Victoria University of Wellington
Photograph by Alastair McLean
This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.
Tāpiritia te tākupu hou