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Deposition

Definition
 Rock Particles that have been picked
up and transported (eroded) to
another area will eventually be
deposited in that area
When does it occur?
 Deposition occurs
when wind/water
slow down/stop (or
ice melts)
Deposition agents
 The same erosional agents that made
sediments from one place to another will
act as a depositional agents.
 Wind
 Running water
 Ice
 Gravity
 Man
 Fast H2O = erosion Slow H2O =
Depostion
Sedimentation
 When the carrying power of an
erosional agent decreases, sediment
will begin to be deposited, this is
called sedimentation (takes place in
lakes oceans, and still bodies of
water)
Deposition Factors
 Particle Size
 Larger particles settle quicker than the
smaller ones, when carrying power
diminishes (velocity)
 Colloidal (extremely small) particles may
remain in suspension longer  will get
deposited in the middle of a lake or
ocean where water is not moving.
Sorting Sediments
 When a mixture of sediment sizes settles
in a still medium (air or water)…..sorting
takes place.
 Graded Bedding  shows vertical sorting.
Cross Bedding
 Sediments sorted at random sizes to the
horizon
Deposition Factors
 Particle Shape

Smooth and round  Faster Less Friction


Why?
Rough and angular  Slower More Friction
Deposition Factors
 Particle Density

Denser  Faster  At/Near bottom


Less Dense  Slower  At/Near Top
Factors that affect
DEPOSITION
 Particle Size: smaller = slower

 Particle Shape: more surface area


= slower

 Particle
Density: similar size, >D =
faster ↓
Sorting of Sediments
 Vertical Sorting:
 theroundest, largest, and
densest particles settle at the
bottom of a layer, while flatter,
smaller, less dense particles
settle on the top (landslide,
underwater landslides)
Deposition Factors
 Velocity (speed) of erosional agent
 Decreasing velocity produces horizontal sorting
 Large particles deposited by shore, smaller
particles deposited (carried) farther.
Sorting of Sediments
 Horizontal Sorting:
 for example, at the mouth of a
stream, size will decrease away
from the mouth, as the speed
slows enough to deposit smaller
particles; large particle fall right
away (DELTA!)
HORIZONTAL SORTING
Stream enters a large body of water,
the velocity decreases and deposition
occurs

Larger sediments are deposited first

Delta may form


A Simple DELTA
Drainage Patterns of
Watersheds

 Dendritic

 Radial

 Rectangular

 Trellis
Drainage Patterns of
Watersheds
 Dendritic

 Radial

 Rectangular

 Trellis
Drainage Patterns of
Watersheds
 Dendritic

 Radial

 Rectangular

 Trellis
Drainage Patterns of
Watersheds
 Dendritic

 Radial

 Rectangular

 Trellis
Deposition Factors
 Glacial Depostion
 Breaks the rules
 Will deposit sediments of all sizes
 Unsorted, all mixed up
 Till – Dropped by glacier
 Outwash – deposited by meltwater
 Erratics – Very large boulders
Factors that affect
DEPOSITION
 Particle Size: smaller = slower
 Particle Shape: more surface area
= slower
 Particle Density: similar size, >D =
faster ↓
 Velocity of transport: > speed =
slower
Erosional/Depositional
System
 Combines the erosional process, the
transporting agents and the process
of deposition
Energy Relationships
 Potential Energy:
Energy that can be
used
 Kinetic Energy:
Energy from
movement
 W and Y: High P.E.
Low K.E.
 X and Z: High K.E.
low P.E.
Dynamic Equilibrium of a
Stream
 Rate of Erosion = Rate of Deposition
 Maybe found at the mouth of a river
or the middle of a curve

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