-----Original Message-----
From: "Ted Nield" <*************>
To: <**********>
Subject: RE: Your dearest friend Sam, Man Mountain

> Dear Sgt Roberts,
>
> Thank you for asking our advice about having your friend Sam declared the world's first sentient mountain.
>
> Despite the accidental failure of my coleagues at the RGS to reply to your = > letters, you were quite right in approaching them before us, since what constitutes a mountain is definitely more a geographical question than a geological one.
>
> You could also ask the Ordnance Survey of course, for they have their own definitions. However I think that to suit theirs, your dearest friend will have to be over 1000 feet high (or metric equivalent) on a fairly consistent basis.
>
> From our (geological) point of view, the question might rest on whether Sam is in isostatic equalibrium or not. If he is (and I suspect he is) then there's a problem; as a proper geological mountain he would have to display negative gravity anomalies owing to his possession of relief-compensating roots of less dense, sialic material.
>
> I applaud your evident freedom from too much gravity, and Sam certainly sounds anomalous. But alas although I cannot say for certain, it sounds as though his material is more sima than sial.
>
> However, good luck with your project. Science needs people of vision.
>
> Best wishes
>
> Dr Ted Nield > Science & Communications Officer > The Geological Society of London > > -----Original Message----- > From: Linda Cliff > Sent: 18 October 2004 12:46 > To: Ted Nield > Subject: FW: