Comparative Sedimentological Study of Lacustrine and Marine Deltas

Part 1 Constituent Grains, Internal Structure, and Morphology

Abstract

Rivers characterized by suspended load and bed load tend to build fine-grained deltas and coarse-grained deltas, respectively. Gilbert-type deltas consisting of topset, foreset, and bottomset beds are recognized in marine environments as well as in lakes. Coarse-grained deltas tend to be Gilbert-type deltas. However, fine-grained deltas built in deep-water rivermouths and in wave-dominated rivermouths are mostly Gilbert-type deltas.
Bird foot, lobate, cuspate, and estuarine deltas are recognized in marine environments. In contrast, estuarine deltas do not occur in lakes, since lakes are less subjected to tidal influences than seas.