DEPOSITION

Group 6 Handout
11-Bayma

What is Deposition?
➔ A geological process where sediment is transported by wind, water, ice, or gravity and
accumulates in a new location.
➔ Process in which sediments settle out of the transporting medium.
➔ This process is essential in shaping the Earth's surface, creating landforms like beaches,
deltas, and sand dunes.
➔ Deposition has been occurring for millions of years, playing a crucial role in the formation
of various geological features.
➔ It is a continuous process that is influenced by various factors, including climate,
topography, and human activities.

➔ When a glacier melts, the rocks are deposited on the ground. When the velocity of water
or wind decreases, gains of particular size are also deposited.
➔ Bed - layer formed when the materials are laid down; varies in thickness depending on
the volume of the sediments.
➔ Sorting - distribution of grain size in a layer.
● Poor sorting can happen if the grain size consists of a mixture of very fine
(clay-size) and very coarse (boulder size) grains
➔ Clasts - largest sediments where in a mixture with various grain sizes.
➔ Matrix - surrounding fine-grained sediments.
➔ A layer can have a gradational change in grain size when there is a sequential variation
such as from coarse to fine.
Sedimentary Environment - area where sediments are deposited.
10 types of environment:
1. Glacial environment - areas where glaciers and ice sheets are found such as in
high-altitude mountains and in polar regions. At the end of the glacier, a pile of clay to
boulder-sized sediments called glacial till.
2. Mountain Stream environment - turbulent streams can carry large sediments like
boulders and cobbles during flood, forming thick layers of gravel and boulders.
3. Desert environment - loses its energy and decreases in velocity when a stream
enters the flat area at the base of a mountain. This process creates an alluvial fan - a
landform primarily composed of sand-to boulder-sized sediments.
4. Lake (lacustrine) environment - streams carrying sediments deposit coarse
sediments on lake margins, only silt and clay are deposited from suspension in deeper
parts of the lake.
5. River (fluvial) environment - rivers are slow moving and commonly carry an
assortment of pebbles, sand, silt, and mud in flat areas. The coarser sediments tumble
along the river bed, while the finer ones move along in suspension.
➔ Mud - deposited on the floodplain after flood events.
➔ Pebbles and Sand - deposited on the inner bend of
a meander.
6. Delta environment - when a river enters the sea, it
empties its load in a delta, which extends to the shallow
coastal area.
➔ Upper - consists mostly of coarse sand and gravel
➔ Middle - contains fine sand and silt
➔ Basal - mostly silt and clay

7. Beach environment - tidal currents transport sands along the coastline. The waves
reduce out the finer sediments, leaving only well-sorted and well-rounded sand grains
that form ripples.
8. Shallow Marine environment - mud and silt removed from the shoreline and from
river mouths are transported by tidal currents and deposited in quieter waters below the
wave zone. It forms well-sorted and well-rounded silt and mud layers inhabited by
various organisms like worms and mollusks.
9. Shallow Water Carbonate environment - where supply of sediments is limited,
marine organisms develop where the water is fairly warm, clear, and full of nutrients.
➔ Carbonate sediments - most of the sediments are derived from the shell and
coral fragments.
10. Deep Marine environment - slope failures from the steep slopes of submarine
canyons generate submarine landslides which create sediments of varying
sizes.Turbidity currents carry the finer sediment components, ranging from sand to clay
to a submarine fan where turbidite deposit/sequence is formed.
➔ Chalk - formed from very fine calcite shells
➔ Chert - derived from siliceous shells

● Sedimentary environment sinks slowly to accommodate more sediment.

● Buried sediments experience compaction due to increasing pressure and the
grains are packed tighter.
● Cement - dissolved chemicals in the water occupying the pore spaces in
between the grains precipitate and form new minerals.
● Cementation - process which binds together the individual grains.
● Recrystallization - formation of new mineral particles from pre-existing ones as
a result of ions spreading solid-state in reaction to changes in the rock system's
composition, temperature, or pressure.
● Diagenesis - process of compaction, cementation, and recrystallization.
● Sedimentary Rock Formation - as layers of sediments accumulate and undergo
compaction, cementation, and recrystallization, they transform into sedimentary rocks
through the process of diagenesis and lithification.

How does deposition work?

● This works for example, when warm moist air is inside the house then
comes into contact with freezing cold windowpane. Definitely, water
vapor in the air changes into tiny ice crystals.

● Second example is if the glacier melts, the

rocks are deposited in the ground.
 ● Last example, is if the velocity of the water or wind decreases, grains of particular size
are also deposited.

Examples of deposition include:

● Frost: Forms on cold surfaces when water vapor in the air freezes.
● Snow: Falls from the sky when water vapor in clouds directly turns into ice.
● Geyser Deposits: Minerals deposited by geysers as the hot water cools.
● Stalactites and Stalagmites: Formations in caves created by the deposition of minerals
from dripping water.
● Sublimation: The direct change from a solid to a gas, like dry ice turning into carbon
dioxide gas.
● Condensation: The process where a gas (like water vapor) changes into a liquid (like
dew). While not strictly deposition, it involves a similar phase change.
 Causes of Deposition

Deposition occurs when the energy or velocity of transporting agents (water, wind, or ice)
decreases, causing them to drop the sediments they are carrying. This can happen due to:

● Glacial Melting: In glaciers, when the ice melts, the sediments it carries are released
and deposited.
● Decreased Water or Wind Velocity: In water and wind environments, deposition occurs
when the speed of the water or wind slows down, reducing its ability to transport
sediments.
● Environmental Changes: Changes in the environment, such as rivers entering flat
areas or wind losing strength in deserts, can also trigger deposition.

Effects of Deposition

Deposition has several significant effects on the Earth's surface:

● Formation of Sedimentary Layers (Beds): When sediments settle down, they form
beds, which can vary in thickness and composition based on the volume and size of the
sediments.
● Sorting of Sediments: During deposition, sediments are often sorted by size.
Well-sorted deposits contain particles of similar size, while poorly sorted deposits have a
mixture of fine and coarse materials.
● Creation of Landforms: Deposition results in the formation of various landforms,
including:
○ Glacial Till: Found in glacial environments, glacial till is a mixture of rock
fragments and sediments deposited by glaciers.
○ Alluvial Fan: Formed at the base of mountains, alluvial fans are cone-shaped
deposits of sediment carried by streams.
○ Sand Dunes: Found in desert environments, sand dunes are hills of sand formed
by wind erosion and deposition.
○ Delta: Formed at the mouth of a river, deltas are triangular-shaped deposits of
sediment carried by the river.
 Environmental Impacts

● Acid Rain: Atmospheric deposition of sulfur and nitrogen oxides contributes to acid rain,
which can harm forests, lakes, and human health.
● Water Pollution: Sediment deposition in water bodies can lead to erosion, deforestation,
agricultural runoff, and water quality degradation, affecting aquatic ecosystems and
human activities.
● Marine Acidification: The release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere contributes to
ocean acidification, threatening marine life, such as coral reefs and shellfish.
● Eutrophication: Nutrient deposition from agricultural runoff can cause eutrophication,
leading to harmful algal blooms and dead zones in water bodies, disrupting ecosystems
and affecting fisheries.
● Air Pollution: Dust deposition from arid lands can exacerbate air pollution, causing
respiratory problems and affecting human health.

Industrial Challenges

● Environmental Sustainability: Deposition techniques like CVD and PVD, used in

electronics and nanotechnology, often face environmental sustainability concerns due to
the materials involved and the associated emissions.
● Material Precision: Achieving precise material deposition in industries like electronics is
crucial but can be challenging, leading to efficiency and quality issues.

Preventing Deposition

Deposition, while a natural geological process, can have effects on our environment,
particularly when it leads to flooding and damage to ecosystems. By understanding the
causes of deposition and implementing preventive measures, we can protect our natural
resources and mitigate its negative impacts.

Effective ways to prevent deposition:

1. Vegetation Management:

● Plant cover crops: Cover crops like legumes, grasses, and grains can help
absorb excess water, reduce soil erosion, and minimize sediment transport.
● Reforestation: Planting trees and shrubs can stabilize slopes, prevent erosion,
and intercept rainfall, reducing the amount of water that reaches the ground.
 ● Maintain natural vegetation: Preserve existing vegetation, especially in riparian
areas, to act as natural barriers against erosion and sedimentation.

2. Land Use Planning:

● Avoid deforestation: Deforestation can lead to increased soil erosion and

sedimentation in waterways.
● Limit development in vulnerable areas: Restrict development in areas prone to
flooding or erosion to minimize the impact of deposition.
● Implement sustainable farming practices: Promote sustainable agriculture
techniques like contour plowing, crop rotation, and no-till farming to reduce soil
erosion and conserve water.

3. Infrastructure Management:

● Use erosion-resistant materials: Employ materials like gabions, riprap, and

vegetated slopes in drainage systems to withstand the force of water and prevent
erosion.
● Maintain drainage systems: Regularly inspect and clean drainage channels,
culverts, and ditches to ensure they function properly and prevent blockages.
● Construct retention ponds: Create retention ponds to capture and slow down
stormwater runoff, allowing sediments to settle before entering waterways.

4. Water Management:

● Reduce stormwater runoff: Implement green infrastructure solutions like rain

gardens, bioswales, and permeable pavements to capture and infiltrate
stormwater, reducing its volume and velocity.
● Manage water flow: Control water flow through dams, weirs, and other
structures to prevent excessive erosion and sedimentation.
● Promote water conservation: Encourage water conservation practices to
reduce the overall amount of water flowing through rivers and streams.

For millions of years, the natural process of deposition created the Earth's surface.
Although excessive deposition can have a negative impact on the environment, it is
crucial for the formation of landforms and the preservation of soil fertility. We can
preserve our ecosystems and provide a sustainable future by grasping the causes and
effects of deposition and taking action to prevent it.
References:

NSC 102 Book

Habig, K. (1986). Chemical vapor deposition and physical vapor deposition coatings:

Properties, tribological behavior, and applications. Journal of Vacuum Science &

Technology a Vacuum Surfaces and Films, 4(6), 2832–2843.

https://doi.org/10.1116/1.573687

Reduce soil erosion and sediment deposition | USDA Climate Hubs. (n.d.).

https://www.climatehubs.usda.gov/approach/reduce-soil-erosion-and-sediment-d

eposition

Sabhadiya, J. (2024, October 5). Examples of Gas to Solid (Deposition examples).

Mechdaily. https://www.mechdaily.com/deposition-examples/

Members:

Jairel Amansec

Aleyah Canoy

Eleane Capinpuyan

Symon Lagria

Kian Sombong

Drewlyka Sudaria