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Why study ancient and present deltas ?

Components of a delta
Process of formation of a delta
Delta classification
Fluvial-dominated delta
Mixed fluvial to wave-dominated
Tide-dominated delta
Wave-dominated delta

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 Most described ancient deltaic sequences are river-dominated
systems (that are characterized by major coarsening-upward
sequences many 10s m thick, from marine sediments perhaps
limestones passing up into increasingly non-marine mudrocks -
sandstones and then coals).

The deltaic sediments of the Carboniferous strata in W. Europe and

E. USA are good examples contain important coal reserves.

The repetition of deltaic cycles in the Carboniferous may be due to:

(a) compaction-induced subsidence, (b) tectonic subsidence, or (c)
eustatic sea-level changes.

Deltaic sandstones are major oil reservoirs in some basins e.g.

(1) the Middle Jurassic Brent Sands of the North Sea.
(2) the Tertiary of the Gulf Coast of Texas and Louisiana.
An active delta consists of one or
more river-mouth systems to which
prodelta and delta front deposition are
directly coupled, a distrubutary
network, interdistributary and
distrubutary-margin deposits, and a
delta shoreline

Subaqueous component

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Deltaic environments
Deltas form where a river enters a standing body of water (ocean,
sea, lake) and forms a thick deposit
The delta plain is the subaerial part of a delta (gradational
upstream to a floodplain); the delta front (delta slope and
prodelta) is the subaqueous component

Delta plains are commonly characterized by distributaries and

flood basins (upper delta plain) or interdistributary bays (lower
delta plain), as well as numerous crevasses plays

Upper delta plains contain facies assemblages that are very similar
to fluvial settings

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 Deltas develop where river systems debouch into the ocean,
inland seas and lakes.

Their form is controlled by a number of factors, chief of

which is the relative effectiveness of river discharge
compared to the tidal and wave energies of the receiving
basin.

- Sediment input
- Wave energy
-Tidal energy

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 Sea level

Delta
growth

Bottomset beds Foreset beds topset beds

According to classical concept, a delta is made up of topset, foreset and bottomset deposits
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 When a stream flows into a large standing
body of water, such as a lake, the stream
water quickly loses velocity and the heaviest
particles drop out, forming a coarse, steeply
sloping layer. Most of the fine suspended load
is carried farther out, eventually settling out
to form a gently sloping, triangular deposit.

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 Seaward

Marsh

Depositional surface
Delta front
Silt & Sand Time lines
Prodelta silty clay

Offshore clay

Original depositional surface

During the growth of a delta, diffrent environnements migrate toward the sea
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 Abandoned delta
Active prograding delta

Channels

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Mississippi River (U.S.A)
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 Delta
(distribury)
channel

River channel Levees

Inter-distributary bay

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Norman River (Australia)
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 Tide-dominated deltas are characterised by
relatively high tide energy at the mouth compared
with wave energy, and are distinguished from tide-
dominated estuaries by high river energy.
Tidal energy is greatest slightly landward of the
mouth due to constriction by the funnel shaped
mouth.
Wave energy is dissipated on shoals seaward of the
mouth, and declines rapidly landwards.
River energy remains moderate to high along the
channel, but drops off significantly as the channel
widens towards the mouth.
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Nil River (Egypt)

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 Wave-dominated deltas are characterised by relative
high wave energy at the mouth compared to tide energy,
and are distinguished from wave-dominated estuaries by
high river energy.
Total energy at the mouth is high because of high wave
energy at the coast.
Total energy declines immediately landward of the
mouth because wave energy is dissipated on the barrier.
The dominance of river energy further landward means
total energy is relatively high along the channel.
Maximum tidal energy occurs in the constricted inlet
mouth.
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Mahakam delta (Indonesia)
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From Storm et al; (2005). Sedimentary geology
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 Mixed Fluvial dominated Fluvial dominated
classical delta +/- tidal influence bird-foot delta (elongate)

Wave-dominated delta (cupside) Tide-dominated delta

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http://www.pnronline.com.au/article.php/108/1963 25
Deltaic environments
Delta morphology reflects the relative importance of fluvial, tidal,
and wave processes, as well as gradient and sediment supply

River-dominated deltas occur in microtidal settings with limited wave

energy, where delta-lobe progradation is significant and redistribution of
mouth bars is limited

Wave-dominated deltas are characterized by mouth bars reworked

into shore-parallel sand bodies and beaches

Tide-dominated deltas exhibit tidal mudflats and mouth bars that are
reworked into elongate sand bodies perpendicular to the shoreline

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 Mouth bars form at the upper edge of the delta front, at the
mouth of distributaries; they are mostly sandy and tend to coarsen
upwards

The delta slope is commonly 1-2 and consists of finer (usually

silty) facies; the most distal prodelta is dominated by even finer
sediment

Progradation (basinward building) of deltas leads to coarsening-

upward successions, and progradation rates depend on sediment
supply and basin bathymetry (water depth)

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Deltaic environments

Coarse-grained deltas are composed of gravelly facies and form

where alluvial fans or relatively steep braided rivers enter a water
body

Delta cycles are the result of repetitive switching of delta lobes,

comparable to avulsion in fluvial environments; this leads to
characteristic vertical successions with progradational facies and
transgressive facies

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