INTRODUCTION

Sedimentary rocks are formed by 5 processes, there are erosion, weathering, transport,
deposition, and diagenesis process. These 5 processes with 4 types of rocks make up a cycle
that is known as sedimentary cycle. The properties of sedimentary rocks such as sediment
textures and structures, are formed by chemical, physics and biological processes.
Depositional process and the properties of rock has really close genetic relationship.

Depositional environment is part of earth surface that has certain chemical, biology,
and physics characteristics where sediments are laid on. There are 3 kinds of depositional
environments, they are continental, transitional and marine environments. Each environment
has certain characteristic which make each of them different than others and different
depositional environment, will have different structure and texture of sediments.

There are 4 major kinds of continental environments, they are fluvial, desert,
lacustrine, and glacial. Fluvial deposits, also known as alluvial deposits, involves sediments
that are formed by activities of river, stream, and associated with gravity flow process. There
are 2 kinds of environmental settings from fluvial deposits, which are alluvial fan and river.

Rivers are channels that contain water that is flowing downhill. The flowing water is
carrying sediment and that sediment is eventually transported to large standing bodies of
water like lakes and where we live, the oceans. When the flowing water of the river channel
meets the sea, it immediately slows and this results in a tremendous amount of sediment
deposition. Rivers are considered to be the largest of the channels. Creeks, streams and
ditches are all smaller versions of rivers.

There are many types of rivers, but the three most common are meandering, braided
and anastomosing. The two form in response to different slopes. Meandering rivers form in
areas of shallow slope; braided rivers form on steeper slopes. The term “slope” really is
meaningless when applied to rivers. It is better to use the term gradient.