Podcast
Questions and Answers
Sediment is transported by water, wind, ice, and ______.
Sediment is transported by water, wind, ice, and ______.
mass wasting
Deposition is the process of laying down sediment and occurs on land and in the ______.
Deposition is the process of laying down sediment and occurs on land and in the ______.
ocean
Four principal sites of deposition on land include margins of glaciers, in streams, in lakes, and wherever wind blows ______.
Four principal sites of deposition on land include margins of glaciers, in streams, in lakes, and wherever wind blows ______.
strongly
Playas are classified as ______ that occur in arid or semi-arid regions.
Playas are classified as ______ that occur in arid or semi-arid regions.
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In river systems, the ______ refers to the flat land adjacent to a river that is prone to flooding.
In river systems, the ______ refers to the flat land adjacent to a river that is prone to flooding.
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In dry windy environments, ______ processes dominate.
In dry windy environments, ______ processes dominate.
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An ______ is a semi-enclosed body of coastal water where fresh water mixes with seawater.
An ______ is a semi-enclosed body of coastal water where fresh water mixes with seawater.
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The sedimentary deposit called a ______ commonly forms where a stream enters a standing body of water.
The sedimentary deposit called a ______ commonly forms where a stream enters a standing body of water.
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______ is the most common component of beach sand.
______ is the most common component of beach sand.
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In warm coastal areas, shell debris and reefs commonly dominate the ______.
In warm coastal areas, shell debris and reefs commonly dominate the ______.
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Thick deposits found at the foot of a continental slope are created by ______ currents.
Thick deposits found at the foot of a continental slope are created by ______ currents.
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The phenomenon that occurred in 1929 in the Grand Banks involved a submarine landslide caused by an ______.
The phenomenon that occurred in 1929 in the Grand Banks involved a submarine landslide caused by an ______.
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At a divergent plate boundary, a linear, fault-bounded valley is known as a ______ valley.
At a divergent plate boundary, a linear, fault-bounded valley is known as a ______ valley.
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A maximum speed of about ______ Km/h was estimated for the turbidity current that moved sediment in the Grand Banks event.
A maximum speed of about ______ Km/h was estimated for the turbidity current that moved sediment in the Grand Banks event.
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At convergent plate boundaries, one type of geological formation is called an ______, which occurs during continental collisions.
At convergent plate boundaries, one type of geological formation is called an ______, which occurs during continental collisions.
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Study Notes
Sediment Transport and Deposition
- Sediment is moved by water, wind, ice, and mass wasting.
- Water transports sediment along shorelines through waves and currents.
- Wind carries sediment, as seen in dust storms.
- Ice transports sediment, as seen in glaciers.
- Mass wasting involves gravity-driven movement of rock and sediment.
The Navajo Sandstone
- A large exposure of pink and white Navajo Sandstone is located in Zion National Park.
- The Wave, a Navajo sandstone formation, is in Arizona.
Transport and Deposition of Sediment (Environments)
- Deposition is the laying down of sediment on land and in the ocean.
- Environments such as braided meltwater streams, alluvial fans, glacial environments, playa lakes, and eolian environments, among others, all have unique depositional processes and sediment types.
- Sedimentary facies reflect the environment.
- Examples of environments include: lakes, streams, estuaries, shallow marine environments, the continental shelf, continental slope, submarine valleys, deep marine environments, and many others.
Different Environments and Sediment Types
- Different environments on Earth have unique sediment types associated with them.
- Sediments can be gravelly, sandy, or gravelly-sandy alluvial.
- Estuaries and beaches are some environments with distinctive sediment types.
Depositional Environments on Land
- Four principal sites for deposition on land are margins of glaciers, in streams, in lakes, and places where wind blows strongly.
Alluvial Fan
- Alluvial fans are landform features which form when a stream or river flows from a mountainous terrain into a flatter area.
- The deposit tends to have a fan-shape.
River Systems
- River systems include terraces (from abandoned floodplains), main channel flows, floodplains, and natural levees.
River Valley Types
- Valley shapes vary, from V-shaped valleys in young valleys (rapid erosion), to wider, meandering forms in mature valleys (slower erosion).
- Characteristics like the presence of levees and oxbow lakes can characterize valleys.
Braided Streams
- Braided streams exhibit multiple channels that are separated by gravel bars and other sediment deposits. Water flow is turbulent and the channels move and change shape.
Meandering Rivers
- Meandering rivers exhibit a winding, sinuous pattern. Point bars form on the inside bends of the curves. Channels erode on the outside bends.
Floodplains
- Floodplains are flat areas beside a river that become flooded during high flows. Natural levees are formed by sediment deposition during flooding events.
Glacial Environments
- These environments deposit sediment in locations with ice sheets or glaciers.
Playas or Dry Lakebeds
- Sediment is deposited in areas that frequently dry up, such as dry lakebeds.
Sand Dunes
- Sand dunes form in areas with strong and intermittent wind conditions.
Eolian Environments and Loess
- Eolian environments feature wind-blown sediment deposits, often called Loess.
- Loess is a type of wind-blown silt.
Coastal Deposits
- Coastal environments (swamps, estuaries, barrier islands, lagoons, reefs, and deltas) display various sediment types.
Depositional Environments Near the Ocean
- Sediment is commonly deposited around the edges of the ocean, in areas where current velocity decreases. Estuaries are semi-enclosed water bodies where fresh and saltwater mix.
Deltas
- Deltas are fan-shaped deposits formed where a stream enters a standing body of water.
Beaches
- Beaches predominantly consist of quartz, a common component of beach sand.
Barrier Islands
- Barrier islands are flat areas of sand parallel to the mainland coast. They're part of dune systems.
Tidal Flats
- Tidal flats are areas experiencing shallow, alternately wet and dry conditions.
Lagoons
- Lagoons are sheltered, calm bodies of water near the coast protected from high waves and currents.
Reefs
- Reefs are structures of coral, shell debris and other biogenic calcium carbonate sediment.
Atolls
- Atolls are ring-shaped coral reefs formed around sinking volcanic islands, creating a lagoon.
Limestone
- Limestone is a rock primarily composed of calcium carbonate. Often found in coastal, ocean, and reef environments. Often represents old or ancient reefs.
Deep Ocean Environments
- Deep ocean features such as continental slopes, abyssal plains, and turbidity currents are discussed. Turbidity currents are fast moving mixtures of water and sediment that occur in the continental slope/shelf. Submarine canyons can be present.
Plate Boundaries: Divergent
- Rift valleys are linear valleys along divergent plate boundaries or spreading centers, often resulting from tectonic activity.
Plate Boundaries: Convergent
- Structural basins collect sediment along mountain ranges formed by continental collisions.
Plate Boundaries: Convergent Features
- Accretionary wedges develop from sediment carried to trenches by subducting plates. Ophiolites are a specific type of geological formation.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the different processes of sediment transport and deposition. This quiz covers key concepts regarding environments where sediment is deposited, including glaciers, streams, and wind-affected areas. Additionally, explore the characteristics of playas in arid regions.
