The Earth Contents

4. Rock Cycle

Most weathered material finds its way into the oceans, where differences in grain size and sedimentation rates can be observed

Ultimately, it is the fate of most particulate material produced during weathering to be deposited in the oceans, simply because gravitational processes always tend to bring particulates down to the lowest possible point. Coarser sediments are deposited first, as the rivers slow down on entering the estuaries, rather finer material is transported to the continental shelves, and only a tiny fraction of the sediment (the very finest fraction) is able to stay in suspension long enough for transportation away from land and into the deep oceans to deposit on the abyssal plain. This separation by grain size has an important effect in that most material is deposited near the continental margins, and relatively little reaches the deep ocean.

Most weather material finds its way into the oceans, where differences in grain size and sedimentation rates can be observed

In what order will the following sediments be deposited from the mouth of a river? Clay, sand and silt.