1. Sorting of Sediments & Age of a Stream
Aim: How is the deposition of sediments sorted?

2. Sorting of Sediments

3. Sediment left behind by glaciers and gravity falls are UNSORTED

4. Sediments that are left behind by streams and wind are SORTED by size.
Decreasing size

5. Horizontal Sorting
As a river flows and enter into an ocean, heavier/larger sediments are dropped off first while smaller particles are carried longer.

6. Horizontal Sorting

7. Vertical Sorting
As rivers enter into standing bodies of water, (example Lakes), sediments are deposited according to size.

8. Graded Bedding
This can occur where a stream enters a lake. Each spring the snow melts causing there to be more water allowing it to carry larger particles and therefore depositing larger particles. By the winter the river has slowed down carrying only small particles and depositing small particles. The whole process will repeat again in the spring.

9. Graded Bedding

10. Stages of a Streams Life
A stream passes through a series of stages in its lifetime each having certain characteristics.
3 Main Life Cycle Stages
Youth
Maturity
Old Age
Oh Man! Look at the curves on that…
STREAM