ABSTRACT
Terrain is the surface expression of deeper geology. Its interpretation, especially on remotely sensed imagery, is basic to the understanding of underground structures, stratigraphy, and the disposition of commercially important minerals. Such interpretation is most straightforward in areas of competent rocks undergoing degradation, but is usually also possible where they are buried under drift or covered by forest. The last decades have seen a number of studies of the surface forms of specific rocks in different climates, such as those by Mainguet (1972) on sandstones, Twidale (1982) on granites, and Sweeting (1972), Fenelon (1975), Nicod (1982), and Ford and Williams (1989) on limestone karst.
