Submarine Sedimentary Features on Bahama Banks and Their Bearing on Distribution Patterns of Lenticular Oil Sands

In flying from Miami to eastern Cuba, the route lay for a distance of 208 miles over the Bahama Banks. For the entire distance the sea bottom was visible through the water. A striking pattern of bars and giant ripples was revealed that may aid in explaining the distribution pattern of certain lenticular oil and gas sands that seem to have been deposited at considerable distance off-shore. The patterns on the Bahama Banks were photographed and mapped by photogrammetric methods. The pattern revealed is compared with that of the distribution of gas and oil sands in part of the Chnton sand area of Ohio. Remarkable similarity in pattern is revealed, but the scale of the Bahama Banks features is considerably smaller.