Challenge the future

Delft
University of
Technology
M.E. Donselaar
Fluvial deposits

2
Sedimentary environments
Continental: fluvial (braided, meandering)
lacustrine
aeolian
Coastal: deltas
linear (clastic, carbonate)
Marine: shelf
deep marine sands
pelagic
3
Fluvial deposits
Morphology
Relation channel shape sediment load
Fluvial architecture: Development in space and time
Braided rivers
Meandering rivers
4
5
Morphology: River flow path
Upstream part:
- Erosion
- Tributary pattern of channels
Midstream part:
- Sediment transport
(bypassing)
- Undivided flow path
Downstream part:
- Sedimentation
- Distributary pattern of
channels
http://www.crescent.edu.sg/ipw/1999/29g9-river/featur2.gif
6
Morphology: Example distributary
pattern Mississippi River
http://bldgblog.blogspot.com/2008/02/prosthetic-delta.html
7
River types
Meandering
Braided
Straight
Anastomosing


Miall (1977)
8
9
Relation morphology sediment load
Bed load
Suspended load
Mixed load
10
11
Development in space and time of river system by:
River switching within channel belt
Change of river flow path by avulsion
Accommodation development

Fluvial architecture
350 m
From: Steel (1993)
12
13
Channel belt
The total width of the area
where fluvial deposits can be
formed by lateral migration
of a single river

14
River avulsion
A channel belt is limited in time by avulsion
Avulsion: The process of river abandonment by
breakthrough of its levee, followed by a new river course
Smith et al. (1989)
15
Reasons for avulsion - 1
Breakthrough of river
bank during peak flow:
Weak parts of river
bank
In bends

Columbia River, Canada - Crevasse splay. Photo taken by Univ. of Utrecht group. http://faculty.gg.uwyo.edu/heller.
16
New path is steeper, therefore
more favorable for fluid flow:
Vertical aggradation of
channel floor within natural
banks (levees)
Compaction of area
adjacent to the river
(floodplain)
Reasons for avulsion - 2
17
Avulsion types
www.geo.uu.nl/fg/palaeogeography/
18
Multiple avulsions: Rhine river
www.geog.uu.nl/fg/palaeogeography/
19
Accommodation space
The space in a sedimentary basin
where sediment accumulation can take place
20
Interaction channel migration
accommodation development
Horizontal component:
Fluvial channel switches within channel belt

Vertical component:
Accommodation space added
21
22
Avulsion vs. subsidence
Fluvial sandstone connectivity
function of (1) lateral migration
within channel belt, (2)
avulsion frequency, and (3)
subsidence rate:
Highest connectivity: Lateral
migration + frequent avulsion
within limited space + slow
subsidence
Lowest connectivity: High
subsidence rate + frequent
avulsion
23
Labyrinth-type reservoir
KS44
KS28
KS31
KS47
KS27
Coal 45/ 2
Coal 45
Base sand
Coal 43/6
Coal 43/3
Coal 47
Coal 43/2
19 m
0 m
38 m
8

k
m
57 m
95 m
76 m
5

k
m
SE
argillaceous sandstone
(< 30 % clay)
claystone
(70-100% clay)
coaly claystone
24
24
Braided rivers
25
Braided rivers - characteristics
Sandy or gravelly braided rivers
Multiple channels
High width-thickness ratio
High gradient
Low sinuosity
Fluctuating run-off
Bed load transport
26
27
Morphology braided rivers: bar evolution
28
Multiple channels
29
Bar stabilisation
30
Sedimentary analysis
Geometry
Lithology
Sedimentary structures
Palaeo-current distribution
Fossils
Cores
Wireline logs
31
Sedimentary analysis: Geometry
Channel- & sheet geometry
Sand-on-sand contacts dominant, discontinuous shale

32
Geometry - 1
33
Geometry - 2
clay layer
34
Sedimentary analysis: Lithology
Coarse sand, gravel
Fine grained sediment in abandoned channels
Diagenesis: red colour caused by oxidation of organic
matter

35
Sedimentary analysis: Sedimentary
structures
Channel shape (pre-depositional)
Large scale cross bedding by bar growth
Imbricated pebbles
36
Bar growth
37
Sedimentary structures - 1
clay
X-bedded
bar front
38
38
Sedimentary structures - 2
X-bedded
bar front
Sharp,
erosional
base
Upward increase of
dip angle
Small
ripples
migrating
along the
bar front
39
Sedimentary analysis: Palaeocurrents
Unimodal distribution
Low scatter
N
270
o
90
o

180
o

40
Sedimentary analysis: Fossils
Oxidation of fossil remains: low preservation potential
Lag deposits at channel base
41
Subsurface characteristics
Seismic:
Sharp top and basal reflection
Few or no internal reflectors
Cores:
massive sand sequence with internal erosional surfaces
Logs:
dipmeter: green pattern in shale, foreset dips of bars
gamma-ray: uniform sand sequence
42
Well log expression - 1
43
Well log expression - 2
0 90 45
44
Example: Caister Ss. - 1
45
45
Example: Caister Ss. - 2
46
Example: Caister Ss. - 3
47
47
Meandering rivers
48
Meandering rivers: Characteristics
Single channel
Vegetated lowland
Stabile discharge
Low relief
Bed load, mixed load or suspension load
49
50
Meandering rivers: Sub-environments
Floodplain
Active channel
Abandoned channel
Crevasse splay
51
floodplain
active channel
abandoned channel
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/radar/sircxsar/sc-miss.gif
Meandering rivers: Sub-environments
52
Meandering rivers: Floodplain
Area on both sides of the active channel

Only flooded at peak run-off
Lithology: mainly silt & clay, fine sand: settles out of suspension
Geometry: massive, sheet shape
Sedimentary structures: fine laminations, wave ripples, shrinkage
cracks
Palaeo-currents: none
Fossils: root horizons, coal
53
54
Meandering rivers: Active channel
Single, non-branching channel

Erosion in outer bend (cut bank)
Bordered by natural dikes (levees)
Sedimentation in inner bend (point bar)
Cause: helicoidal flow in bend
55
Helicoidal flow - 1
56
Helicoidal flow - 2
57
point bar
cut bank
Helicoidal flow - 3
58
Meandering rivers: Point bar accretion
59
60
Levee
development
http://craton.geol.brocku.ca/faculty/rc/teaching/1F90/index.html
61
Levee break-through
At peak run-off
Small, fan-shaped sediment bodies
Crevasse delta
Crevasse splay
62
Crevasse splay
http://www.geo.uu.nl/fg/berendsen/pictures/photography/alaska/Crevasse.jpg
63
Crevasse delta:
Sedimentary structures & logs
64
Crevasse splay:
Sedimentary structures & logs
65
Sedimentary analysis: Geometry of
active channel deposits
Lens- to sheet shaped geometry
Labyrinth-type stacking, continuous shale
66
Lens-shaped channel
67
Labyrinth-type reservoir - 1
KS44
KS28
KS31
KS47
KS27
Coal 45/ 2
Coal 45
Base sand
Coal 43/6
Coal 43/3
Coal 47
Coal 43/2
19 m
0 m
38 m
8

k
m
57 m
95 m
76 m
5

k
m
SE
argillaceous sandstone
(< 30 % clay)
claystone
(70-100% clay)
coaly claystone
68
Labyrinth-type reservoir - 2
69
Sedimentary analysis: Lithology
Coarse sand, gravel at the base: lag deposit
Fining-upward sequence
70
Lithology - 1
71
Lithology - 2
72
Sedimentary analysis: Sedimentary
structures
Channel shape (pre-depositional)
Cross bedding by point bar growth - 1: lateral accretion
Cross bedding by point bar growth - 2: ripples

73
Sedimentary structures - 1
74
Lateral accretion
surfaces
Sedimentary structures - 2
75
Sedimentary log of point bar
Overbank mud and thin sand
with soils and roots
Fining-up point-bar succession
Upward decrease of cross-bed
set thickness ripple cross-
lamination
Lateral accretion surfaces
oblique to cross beds
Scoured case of channel with
lag deposits
76
Log expression
Lateral accretion
surfaces
Ripples climbing up the
accretion surface
77
Sedimentary analysis: Palaeo-currents
Unimodal distribution
Large scatter
N
90
o
270
o

180
o

78
Sedimentary analysis: Fossils
Oxidation of fossil remains: low preservation potential
Lag deposits at channel base
79

Oxbow lakes
Cut bank erosion in opposing
bends:
Cut-off of entire meander bend
Converted to oxbow lake

http://www.daviddarling.info/images/oxbow_lake.jpg
80
Oxbow lake evolution
81

Oxbow lake sediment
After cut-off: Only receives
water during peak run-off
Organic carbon-rich clay
sediment
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/39211485
82
Links
http://www.geog.uu.nl/fg/palaeogeography/
http://faculty.gg.uwyo.edu/heller/Sed%20Strat%20Class/Se
dstrat4/sedlect_4.htm
http://www.virtual-geology.info/sedimentology/fluvial.html
83
Compulsory reading
Chapter 9, Sections 9.1 9.4