Deltaic systems form where rivers enter standing bodies of water. They include a mixture of fluvial and marine processes. Deltas can be recognized by thick accumulations of terrigenous sediment that interfinger with fluvial deposits inland and marine deposits basinward. As river flow enters standing water, it loses velocity and deposits coarse material in channel-mouth bars, diverting multiple smaller channels that build the delta outward. Estuarine systems form in drowned river valleys during marine transgression or early regression, and are dominated by fluvial and tidal processes on a smaller scale than deltas.

1. Deltaic Systems
epod.usra.edu/archive/images/modis1000192.jpg
Deltas are highly complex systems that form where a river enters a
standing body of water and include a mixture of both fluvial and
marine processes. Nearly all the facies associated with meandering
and anastomosed river systems and with beach, barrier island, and
tidal systems can be found within deltas.

2. Coastal Depositional Systems
A variety of depositional systems are found along a shoreline. Their
distribution, geometry, and extent are determined by proximity to a
sediment source, sediment abundance, energy conditions, and
fluctuations in base-level.
This lecture focuses on
deltaic and estuarine
systems, which are
produced during regressive
and transgressive
conditions, respectively.

5. Isopach PatternIsopach Pattern
Deltas can be recognized in part by a thick, relatively restricted
accumulation of terrigenous sediment that interfingers with fluvial
deposits in a landward direction and marine systems toward the
basin.

6. Channel BifurcationChannel Bifurcation
As fluvial flow enters a standing body of water, it rapidly loses
velocity, decreasing its capacity to transport sediment. The coarsest
material is deposited in mid-channel, forming a channel-mouth bar.
Flow diverts around the bar, depositing additional sediment in the
form of channel margin bars or levees. The process repeats for
increasingly numerous, but smaller, channels as the delta advances
basinward.

8. Photo by W. W. Little

9. Photo by W. W. Little

11. Splay DevelopmentSplay Development
Splays are particularly common in deltaic settings, forming as
smaller deltas within flooded areas adjacent to major channels.
Splay growth is the primary process for filling the space between
distributary channels in fluvially-dominated deltas.

14. Homopycnal FlowHomopycnal Flow
If stream flow density is equal to that of the basin, the two mix
thoroughly, leading to rapid deposition of both coarse- and fine-grained
sediment, producing Gilbert-type deltas. This is typical of delta-
building into freshwater lakes.

16. Gilbert-type Deltas
http://www.depauw.edu/acad/geosciences/tcope/SedStruct/HiRes/DeltaForesets2.jpg
Gilbert-type deltas are formed under conditions of homopycnal flow
and consist of three major components: bottomset beds of mud
deposited by suspension in advance of the delta; foreset beds composed
of sand and gravel forming the delta front; and fluvial topset deposits of
gravel, sand, and mud.

17. Hyperpycnal FlowHyperpycnal Flow
If stream flow density is greater than that of the basin, the flow remains
in contact with the basin floor, eroding the previous surface and
forming turbidite-like deposits. This can occur where cold, sediment-
laden water flows into a warm, clear lake or ocean.

18. Hypopycnal FlowHypopycnal Flow
If stream flow density is less than that of the basin, after dropping the
coarse load fraction, fine sediment spreads like a blanket across the sea
surface, slowly settling to the sea floor. This is the typical condition for
the generation of most marine deltas.

19. Photo by W. W. Little

20. Photo by W. W. Little

21. Photo by W. W. Little

22. Photo by W. W. Little

23. Simplified Models
Deltaic systems are typically subdivided into three major facies
associations: subaerial plain (fluvial), delta front (shoreface & tidal),
and prodelta (marine).

24. Basinward Progradation

25. Photo by W. W. Little
Delta plain (delta top, topset beds): subaerial portion of the delta
• Upper Delta Plain (above high tide)
– Fluvial (mostly meandering) channels
– Splays
– Swamps and marshes
• Lower Delta Plain (between low and high tides)
– Tidal deposits
– Distributary channels and levees
– Interdistributary splays
Delta front (delta margin, foreset beds): coastal portion of the delta
• Focus of active deltaic progradation)
• Distributary-mouth bars
• Beaches and barrier islands
• Tidal bars
• Bays
Prodelta (delta front, bottomset beds): deep water portion of delta
• Below wave/tide base
• Quiet water deposition by suspension settling
• Turbidity flows
• Slumping
Deltaic Sub-systems

26. Photo by W. W. Little

27. Delta Classification (morphology)Delta Classification (morphology)
Delta front morphology is determined by a balance between fluvial
input and reworking by waves and tides. The relative contribution of
these three factors leads to classification as river-, wave-, or tide-
dominated.
Constructional
Destructional

28. River-dominated Delta MorphologyRiver-dominated Delta Morphology
River-dominated deltas have irregular shorelines that extend
significantly away from the general shoreline into the basin. In some
cases, distributaries will prograde as finger-like extensions. Conditions
that favor river-dominated deltas include high fluvial discharge and
sediment load, low wave and tide activity, and a shallow basin.

30. River-dominated Deltaic Facies ModelRiver-dominated Deltaic Facies Model
River-dominated deltaic facies coarsen-upward from offshore and
prodelta mud through distributary and beach or barrier sand to mixed
fluvial and splay deposits.

33. Wave-dominated Delta MorphologyWave-dominated Delta Morphology
Wave-dominated deltas have relatively straight shorelines that extend
slightly to moderately away from the general shoreline into the basin. In
some cases, distributaries are mostly restricted to the major delta plain,
and the delta front is dominated by beach ride progradation. Conditions
that favor wave-dominated deltas include low fluvial discharge and
sediment load, high wave and low tide activity, and a deep basin.

38. Arno River Delta

39. Wave-dominated Deltaic Facies ModelWave-dominated Deltaic Facies Model
Wave-dominated deltaic facies coarsen-upward from offshore and
prodelta mud through distributary and beach or barrier sand mixed
with lagoonal, washover, and tidal deposits.

41. Photo by W. W. Little

42. Photo by W. W. Little

43. Photo by W. W. Little

44. Tide-dominated Delta MorphologyTide-dominated Delta Morphology
Tide-dominated deltas form highly irregular shorelines that extend slightly to
moderately away from the general shoreline into the basin. Distributaries tend
to be numerous, wide, irregular in shape, and cover most of the delta plain. The
delta front is dominated by tidal bars oriented perpendicular to the shoreline.
Conditions that favor tide-dominated deltas include low fluvial discharge and
sediment load, high tide, low to moderate wave activity, an embayed coast, and
a shallow basin.

45. Photo by W. W. Little

46. Photo by W. W. Little

50. Tide-dominated Deltaic Facies ModelTide-dominated Deltaic Facies Model
Tide-dominated deltaic facies coarsen-upward from offshore and
prodelta mud to sandy distributary and tidal bar deposits.

51. River-dominated
River-dominated/tidally-influenced Tide-dominated/wave-influenced
Wave-dominated Wave-dominated/river-influenced Wave-dominated/tide-influenced
Hybrid Delta MorphologyHybrid Delta Morphology
Most deltas show a mixture of fluvial, wave, and tide dominance.

56. Storm ImpactStorm Impact
Large storms, such as hurricanes can greatly impact delta front
depositonal patterns, producing diastems between aggradational
packages.

57. Delta Lobe SwitchingDelta Lobe Switching
As distributaries prograde basinward, channel gradient decreases. Once
the gradient reaches zero, the stream can no longer flow. The typical
response of a distributary is to avulse and find a shorter, steeper route to
the sea, shifting the focus of deposition and abandoning one delta “lobe”
to begin another. The abandoned lobe continues to compact and subside
and to be reworked by wave and tidal forces. Therefore, both
transgression and regression occur simultaneously in adjacent parts of
the same delta.

59. Estuarine Systems
Estuarine systems are deltaic systems that form within drowned
river valleys during the latter stages of marine transgression into
early stages of regression. They are smaller in scale than deltas and
tend to be dominated by a mixture of fluvial and tidal processes.

60. GEOL 553 - Introduction to
Facies Models - Kendall

61. Photo by W. W. Little

62. Photo by W. W. Little

63. Photo by W. W. Little