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Encyclopedia of Engineering Geology pp 1–2Cite as

Sediments

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Part of the Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series book series (EESS)

Synonyms

Accumulation; Deposit

Definition

Sediments are solid, fragmented particulate matter (silt, sand, and gravel), which are transported and deposited by physical processes such as water, wind, and ice. Sediments consist of loose, solid particles originating from the weathering and erosion of rocks, or chemical precipitation from solution, including secretion by organisms in water.

Sediment Characteristics

Sediments vary in terms of particle size, shape (round, oblong, and angular), density, and composition. For example, the most common mineral in river sediment is normally quartz (Williams 2012). Over time sediments become sedimentary rocks through lithification. Sedimentary rocks are basically clastic, chemical, or organic in nature. Common sedimentary structures include bedding (cross-bedding, graded bedding), mud cracks, ripple marks, and fossils.

Sediment Classification

Sediment classification is based on particle size (texture), location (grain deposition), source, and...

Keywords

  • Alluvial Environments
  • Upward Velocity
  • Sediment Classification
  • Settling Velocity
  • Vegetation Mantle

These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece

    Nicolas R. Dalezios

  2. Department of Water Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology (IUT), Isfahan, Iran

    Saeid Eslamian

  3. Department of Civil Engineering, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran

    Kaveh Ostad-Ali-Askari

  4. Department of Civil Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology (IUT), Isfahan, Iran

    Shahab Rabbani

  5. Department of Civil Engineering, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran

    Ali Saeidi-Rizi

Authors
  1. Nicolas R. Dalezios
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  2. Saeid Eslamian
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  3. Kaveh Ostad-Ali-Askari
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  4. Shahab Rabbani
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  5. Ali Saeidi-Rizi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nicolas R. Dalezios .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Natural Resources Canada, Geological Survey of Canada Natural Resources Canada, Sidney, Ontario, Canada

    Dr. Peter Bobrowsky

  2. London, United Kingdom

    Dr. Brian Marker

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Dalezios, N.R., Eslamian, S., Ostad-Ali-Askari, K., Rabbani, S., Saeidi-Rizi, A. (2018). Sediments. In: Bobrowsky, P., Marker, B. (eds) Encyclopedia of Engineering Geology. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-12127-7_254-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-12127-7_254-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-12127-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-12127-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Earth & Environm. ScienceReference Module Physical and Materials Science

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