Geology Chapter: Deposition Terms

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Questions and Answers

What is deposition?

The process of erosion

The process in which materials are dropped down into different locations (correct)

The process of transporting sediments

The process of crystallization

What are sediments?

Bits and pieces of rock

What is another term for sedimentation?

Deposition

What is an erosional-depositional system?

The continuous removal, transport, and dropping of sediments within a given region Signup and view all the answers

When does deposition in water occur?

When water carrying sediments slows down or stops altogether Signup and view all the answers

How does particle size affect deposition?

The largest particles settle to the bottom most quickly and the smaller, lighter particles take longer to settle Signup and view all the answers

How does particle shape influence deposition?

The roundest particles settle to the bottom most quickly, the oval shapes are in the middle and the flat ones will be on top Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between particle density and deposition?

The more dense the particle, the faster it will settle Signup and view all the answers

What does sorting refer to in sediment deposition?

The separating of particles during deposition Signup and view all the answers

What is vertical sorting?

When the sorting occurs from bottom to top throughout a layer Signup and view all the answers

Where does graded bedding occur?

In shallow, quiet bodies of water and on the sea floor Signup and view all the answers

What happens to stream velocity and deposition?

Velocity decreases; deposition increases Signup and view all the answers

What defines horizontal sorting?

Occurs when a stream gradually slows down and deposits sediments one next to the other Signup and view all the answers

What occurs at the mouth of a river during sedimentation?

When a stream enters the sea or other large body of water, the velocity suddenly drops and sediments settle out Signup and view all the answers

What is a delta?

A sediment deposit that often occurs at the mouth of a river Signup and view all the answers

What are precipitates?

Crystallized ions Signup and view all the answers

What is the process of precipitation?

The process of ions becoming crystallized Signup and view all the answers

What are direct glacial deposits?

Sediments that are left by the ice itself when it melts (unsorted) Signup and view all the answers

What are indirect glacial deposits?

Sediments that have been carried by the glacial ice to a point and carried further by water produced from melting ice; they are somewhat sorted Signup and view all the answers

What is wind deposition?

The process by which sediments are deposited by a pattern of fine layers of well-sorted particles Signup and view all the answers

What happens in cross bedding?

Changes in wind direction cause some of the layers to tilt Signup and view all the answers

How does gravity affect deposition?

It causes materials to be deposited at the base of a slope, with no sorting Signup and view all the answers

What is dynamic equilibrium?

Where two opposing forces are exactly balanced Signup and view all the answers

What is a flood plain?

Sediments spread over a flat region on the sides of a stream after a flood Signup and view all the answers

What is a moraine?

A mound, ridge, or sheet of unsorted, unlayered sediments deposited directly from the edge or bottom of a glacier Signup and view all the answers

What is a drumlin?

A long narrow oval mound of unsorted sediments that is formed at the bottom of glaciers; steeper slope points to the direction the glacier came from Signup and view all the answers

What are kettle lakes?

Lakes formed when large blocks of ice buried in glacial sediments melt leaving an oval depression which becomes filled with water Signup and view all the answers

What is an outwash plain?

Sorted and layered sediments deposited in front of a glacier by running water from the melting ice Signup and view all the answers

What is a beach?

A strip of sediment built up at the coastline by waves Signup and view all the answers

What are sandbars?

Of sediments parallel to the coastline formed by more powerful longshore currents Signup and view all the answers

What is a barrier island?

A long narrow island parallel to the shore built of sand deposited by ocean waves Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Deposition and Sedimentation Concepts

Deposition: The process of dropping materials in new locations, integral to shaping landscapes.
Sediments: Small fragments of rock that accumulate in various environments.
Sedimentation: Synonymous with deposition; primarily refers to sediment settling out of transport mediums.

Erosional-Depositional System

Erosional-depositional system: Continuous cycle of removing, transporting, and depositing sediments within a region.
Water Influence: Deposition occurs when water carrying sediments slows or ceases.

Factors Influencing Deposition

Particle Size: Larger particles settle first while smaller particles take longer to deposit.
Particle Shape: Round particles settle faster than oval-shaped, which settle faster than flat particles.
Particle Density: Denser particles settle more rapidly than less dense ones.

Sorting of Sediments

Sorting: The process wherein particles are separated during deposition.
Vertical Sorting: Sorting occurs from bottom to top within a sediment layer.
Graded Beds: Layers of sorted sediment, typically found in quiet water environments.

Environmental Conditions for Deposition

Location of Graded Bedding: Forms in shallow, calm water bodies and on the sea floor.
Stream Velocity: Decreased velocity results in increased deposition of sediments.
Horizontal Sorting: Happens as a stream slows, depositing sediments sequentially.

River and Delta Dynamics

Sedimentation at River Mouths: When a river meets a larger body of water, its velocity drops suddenly, causing sedimentation.
Delta Formation: A sediment deposit at the mouth of a river, contributing to land formation.

Processes of Precipitation

Precipitates: Crystals that form from ion solutions.
Precipitation Process: The conversion of ions into crystallized forms.

Glacial Deposits

Direct Glacial Deposits: Unsorted sediments left directly by melting glaciers.
Indirect Glacial Deposits: Sediments transported by water from melting glaciers, partially sorted.

Wind and Erosion

Wind Deposition: Sediments deposited in well-sorted, fine layers due to wind patterns.
Cross Bedding: Layer orientation changes due to varying wind directions.

Erosion and Dynamic Equilibrium

Gravity's Role: Causes deposition at slope bases without sorting.
Dynamic Equilibrium: A state where erosion and deposition balance evenly.

Floodplains and Features

Flood Plain: Areas alongside streams where sediments spread after flooding.
Moraine: Mounds of unsorted sediments left by glaciers, indicative of glacial movement.
Drumlin: Oval mounds formed beneath glaciers, with the steep slope showing the glacier's origin direction.

Unique Landforms and Features

Kettle Lakes: Formed by melting ice blocks leaving depressions that fill with water.
Outwash Plains: Sorted sediments deposited by meltwater from glaciers.
Beach: Coastal strips of sediments accumulated due to wave action.
Sandbars: Form parallel to shorelines where strong currents deposit sediments.
Barrier Islands: Narrow, elongated islands formed by sand from ocean waves, protect coastlines from erosion.

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This quiz focuses on key terms related to deposition and sedimentation in geology. It covers definitions and processes including sediments and erosional-depositional systems. Test your knowledge on these fundamental concepts in earth sciences.