Sediment Gravity Flow

We have discussed two classes of flows

that can move particles:
Simple dry mass wasting; and
conventional fluid flow.

A third flow class, wet or fluid-assisted

mass wasting, has properties of both.

Four types of Sedimentary gravity flows

Four types of Sedimentary gravity flows

Grain flows-occurs
when cohesionless
sediments (ex. Dry
sand) moves
downward under
the pull of gravity.
Although there is air
or water trapped
between the grains,
it merely acts as a
lubricant and does
not actually propel
the grains.

Grain flow

The most familiar

examples of grain
flow are sand
avalanches. They
occur whenever a
sand dune
becomes steeper
than the angle of
repose (25-30 ).

Grain flow
Grain

flows also occurs in the deep sea,

where sand avalanches down the sides of
steep submarine canyons.

Fluidized Sediment Flows

Concentrated

dispersions of grains
supported by pore water in between.
They begin to flow when something
increases the pressure on the interstitial
pore water, turning the once-firm sand into
a soupy liquid, ex. quicksand.
Quicksand - grain shift and settle past one
another; liquefaction. A person should not
continue to sink (as in a swimming pool)
beyond your point of buoyancy. To get out
swim as you would in a pool. Lie flat.

Fluidized Sediment Flows

Liquefaction

occurs in others instances, for

example in shockwaves sent through
saturated soil by an earthquake.

Mudflows and Debris flows

Mudflows

are composed of a slury-like

mass of liquefied mud that move downhill
under the force of gravity.
If there are large particles, ranging up to
boulder size, they are known as Debris
flows.
Mudflows and Debris flows are most
common in steep mountain canyons
during heavy rainstorm.

Mudflows and Debris flows

These flows
have the
consistency of
wet cement and
can move as
fast as water in
a flash flood.

Sequence of aerial photograph of a debris

flow moving along a canyon bottom.

2 meters high
Bouldery front
At 1.3 m/s

Mudflows and Debris flows

Some beds exhibit

reverse (inverse)
grading, with the
coarsest material
at the top and the
finer at the bottom.
The pressure push
the largest grains
to the top, when
stop they settle.

Turbidity Currents
Turbidity

Currents are gravity flows in

which the sediment is supported by
upward turbulence of the fluid within the
flow.
It is trigger by gravity.
The mass of suspended sediment is
denser than water.
Typically produces normal graded
bedding.

Sedimentary
structures of
the four major
types of
sedimentary
gravity flow
deposits.