Challenge the future

Delft
University of
Technology
M.E. Donselaar
Delta deposits

2
Sedimentary environments
Continental: fluvial (braided, meandering)
aeolian
lacustrine
Coastal: deltas
linear (clastic, carbonate)
Marine: shelf
deep marine sands
pelagic
3
Contents
Introduction
Deltas: origin and morphology
Flow properties
Sedimentation
Sequences

4
Subdivision coasts
Dominant sediment type:
- Clastic coasts
- Carbonate coasts
5
Clastic coasts: Morphology
Linear coasts
Nile delta
Barrier island - Alabama
Delta coasts
http://www.geosci.unc.edu/faculty/glazner/Images/Coastlines/BarrierIslands/BogueBanks.jpg
6
Coastal deposits: Processes
Sediment supply
Coastal morphology
Tidal action
Wave action
Tectonics
Sea level fluctuations
http://legacy.eos.ncsu.edu/eos/info/mea/mea101_info/NASA_by_landform/landforms/c_river_deltas_estuaries/16_Burma_Irrawaddy_delta2.html
7
8
Delta evolution - 1
At river mouth: collision
between (1) outflowing river
water and (2) standing
marine water body
Hence:
Drop in river flow
velocity
Deposition bed load
sediment at river mouth
Suspended load
transported far out into
sea
http://www.oberlin.edu/faculty/dhubbard
9
Delta evolution - 2
Deposition bed load
sediment at river mouth:
mouth bars
Mouth bars form obstacle
River is forced to take
another course: Change of
river bed

Suspension load spreads far
out into sea
Dr. John Anderson Georgia Perimeter College, Dunwoody Campus
10
Delta evolution - 3

Continued supply of sediment
to river mouth creates delta
platform
Delta expands seaward over
its delta platform
delta slope
pro-delta
delta platform
coastal plain
The Open University (1989)
11
12
Delta morphology
River dominated deltas
Wave dominated deltas
Tide dominated deltas
13
14
Relation delta morphology - processes
The Open University (1989)
15
River dominated deltas
Delta protrudes far into the
marine basin
Weak tidal and wave action,
hence:
Delta sediment is not re-
transported and
Delta shape not modified
Mississippi delta
http://cass.jsc.nasa.gov/images/soce/soce_S29.gif
16
Wave dominated deltas - 1
Along-shore transport by wave-
generated currents of sediment
that reaches the delta mouth:
Formation of spits on both
sides
Asymmetrical spits caused by
oblique approach of waves
(arrows)
Delta protrudes into marine
basin

Ebro delta
17
Wave dominated deltas - 2
Waves transport delta
sediment laterally away from
distributary mouth
Sediment deposited as beach
ridge complexes
Delta grows seaward by beach
ridge accretion
Wave-dominated Grijalva delta, Mexico
18
Tide dominated deltas
Strong tidal currents are
oriented perpendicular to the
coast and redistribute the
sediment
Delta distributary channels
oriented parallel to each other
and perpendicular to the coast
Delta does not protrude into
marine basin
http://www.escati.com/seasia_hi-def.htm
Irrawaddy river, Bay of Bengal
19
19
Delta sub-environments - 1
distributary
channels
10 km
interdistributary
bays
swamp
20
20
Delta sub-environments - 2
levee
interdistributary
bay
crevasse splay
2 km
distributary channel
21
Water density & sedimentation
Depends on densities of river and sea water:
- Hypopycnal flow: density of river water < density of sea
water
- Hyperpycnal flow: density of river water > density of sea
water
- Homopycnal flow: density of river water = density of sea
water
22
Water density & sedimentation
Water with lower density forms wedge overlying water with
higher density
Boundary: turbulence and mixing of water, hence:
Energy loss and sedimentation
http://www.ozestuaries.org/indicators/In_turbidity_f.html
23
Hypopycnal flow - 1
Density of river water < density of sea water
The Open University (1989)
24
24
Hypopycnal flow - 2
The Open University (1989)
25
Hypopycnal flow 3: sedimentation
In sub-aqueous levees formed at the side of the jet, where
speeds are slowed by mixing
in a distributary mouth bar, where a combination of
spreading and mixing reduce speed and competence
Finer sediment is carried farther out and is deposited from
suspension. It may be carried and distributed by offshore
currents and is eventually deposited as prodelta muds. This
results in lower depositional slopes and more extensive
deposits
26
Water density & sedimentation
Depends on densities of river and sea water:
- Hypopycnal flow: density of river water < density of sea
water
- Hyperpycnal flow: density of river water > density of sea
water
- Homopycnal flow: density of river water = density of sea
water
27
Hyperpycnal flow - 1
Density of river water > density of sea water
Forming of turbidity currents common. Mainly concerns small rivers
with a high sediment load during peak run-off
28
Hyperpycnal flow - 2
Where the river inflow is more dense than the basinal water
(e.g., due to sediment concentration), sediment moves
along the base of the basin. It is usually deposited quite
rapidly, but the finer portions may move farther as
sediment gravity (turbidity) flows. These are generally
associated with coarser sediment loads, and resulting deltas
are small, elongate and generally steeply dipping

29
Water density & sedimentation
Depends on densities of river and sea water:
- Hypopycnal flow: density of river water < density of sea
water
- Hyperpycnal flow: density of river water > density of sea
water
- Homopycnal flow: density of river water = density of sea
water
30
Homopycnal flow - 1
Density of river water = density of sea (or lake) water
Rapid mixture of two water types, and formation of Gilbert-type
deltas. Mainly concerns rivers that end in lakes with a low salinity
31
Homopycnal flow - 2
The Open University (1989)
32
Delta shape in cross-section
Selley (1985)
normal to coast
parallel to coast
33
Sedimentary sequences
Seaward progradation of
delta:
Delta platform deposits
gradually cover delta slope
and pro-delta deposits
Coarsening upward succession
delta slope
pro-delta
delta platform
coastal plain
The Open University (1989)
34
Sequences - 1
Vertical sequence varies with
location in the delta
environment
Vertical sequence varies with
delta type (river-, wave- or
tide-dominated)
Selley (1985)
35
Log response also varies
with location in the delta
Coleman & Prior (1982)
Sequences - 2
36
37
38
Prograding delta succession
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
Delta switching - 1
Delta sediments build positive relief
Sediment stack forms obstacle
Entire delta switches to new position by upstream avulsion
Accommodation increase in time: delta may return to
(subsided) former position, hence:
Autocyclic sequences
46
47
Delta switching - 2
Example: Mississippi delta
switching from positions 1-7
Total time: 5000 y
http://www.utdallas.edu/research/fyi/060106/images/figure1.jpg
48
49
Compulsory reading
Nichols - Chapter 12:
Sections 12.1 12.3
Sections 12.4.5 12.4.7
Sections 12.5 12.7