SEDIMENTATION

Sediments

 Sediments are loose, unconsolidated, solid particles from weathering

and erosion of pre-existing rocks, precipitation of minerals dissolved
in water, and remains of plants and animals.

Sedimentation

 The process in which solid materials are deposited horizontally after it

is transported by different agents of sediment transport such as water
and wind is called sedimentation.

Properties of Sediments

 Roundness and Sphericity

o Sphericity refers to the degree by which a material approaches
the shape of a sphere.
 Roundness describes the degree of abrasion as shown by the
o
sharpness of the sediment’s edges and corners. These two
measures the sphere-like shape of clasts. 
 Sorting
o It describes the degree of uniformity of grain sizes of
sediments.
o Well-sorted particles are usually found in beach, and wind-
blown deposits since the energy of the medium are constant
resulting in particles composed of the same sizes.
o Poorly-sorted particles in stream deposits comprised of high
energy currents which result in different sizes of particles. 

Sorting

 It describes the degree of uniformity of grain sizes of sediments.

 Well-sorted particles are usually found in beach, and wind-blown
deposits since the energy of the medium are constant resulting in
particles composed of the same sizes.
 Poorly-sorted particles in stream deposits comprised of high energy
currents which result in different sizes of
Properties of Sediments

 Size and Velocity of Sediments

o Sediments are classified based on sizes. The Wentworth
Scale proposed in 1922 by C. K Wentworth quantitatively
describes detrital or clastic sediments by assigning names to
particular size ranges.
o When the velocity of the transporting medium becomes low,
heavier sediments are left behind and begin to be deposited.
The final sediments therefore reflect the energy of the
transporting medium
Effects of Excessive Sedimentation

 Corals are mostly affected when there is excessive sedimentation.

 Siltation is a type of pollution that occurs when silt or clay dominates

a body of water.